Industry insiders are predicting that 'Furious 7' will enjoy an opening week of more than $100 million, which would be a record.
With still more than a week to go until it makes its official U.S. premiere, movie industry insiders are predicting a record-breaking first week of box office sales for Furious 7, according to Variety.
Tracking services and analysts are suggesting that the Universal picture, the seventh instalment of the wildly successful franchise The Fast & The Furious, will make as much as $115 million in its debut week. If that happens, it will set a new record for an opening week during April, topping the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier which made $95 million last year.
'Furious 7' star Vin Diesel
Furious 7, which features Vin Diesel, Ludacris and the final contributions of the late Paul Walker, who was killed in a car crash in November 2013, has been a trending social media topic since it made its world premiere at South By Southwest festival last weekend. However, it isn’t widely available until April 3rd.
BoxOffice.com’s Phil Contrino is quoted in Variety as saying “It’s going to blow up really big. It’s similar to what we saw from American Sniper and Guardians of the Galaxy. Everybody wants to talk about the film and be able to discuss the ending and how they handled the Paul Walker situation.”
More: Paul Walker fans pay tribute at surprise screening of ‘Furious 7’ festival screening
April Mendoza of Cinepolis USA adds: “Moviegoers have grown up with the storyline and characters, so seeing the film is more than just another movie in a series. It’s about reliving your youth, seeing your heroes continue to succeed and saying goodbye to a beloved character and actor who you respected and loved.”
According to social media research firm Fizziology, the volume of discussion around the new film is “40% higher” than it was for its predecessor Fast & Furious 6.
Despite Walker’s tragic death, Furious 7 was able to be completed through a slight script alteration, and through Walker’s brothers Cody and Caleb stepping in to help finish the few unfinished scenes that remained.
More: Paul Walker jokes to be cut from broadcast of Justin Bieber’s Comedy Central roast
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