Thieves By Tuesday*

FRIDAY 10:00 p.m. (Pacific): The Dark Knight (Warner Bros) has battled back from a tough Wednesday and Thursday to score a probably photo finish win over Sony's Pineapple Express on Friday. My sources are projecting $7.8M for the Caped Crusader vs. $7.65M for the Judd Apatow-produced stoner comedy. The big news from this is that Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins sequel will score a staggering 4th consecutive weekend win with something in the range of $26.52M compared to $22.95M or so for Express.

This has been an exceedingly tough week to make accurate projections. A mega-hit in its 3rd week, a marijuana-fueled comedy with a strong R rating opening on a Wednesday, a midweek opening for a "girl power" sequel and the added dynamic of the start of the Beijing Olympics have all conspired to make forecasting difficult. There is no question, however, that TDK has "come from behind" for the weekend win.

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS EARLY FRIDAY ESTIMATES
1. The Dark Knight (Warner Bros) - $7.8M, $1,938 PTA, $423.31M cume
2. Pineapple Express (Sony) - $7.65M, $2,490 PTA, $25.72M cume
3. The Mummy 3 (Universal) - $5M, $1,323 PTA, $59.55M cume
4. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Warner Bros) - $3.85M, $1,422 PTA, $12.79M cume
5. Step Brothers (Sony) - $2.73M, $858 PTA, $74.73M cume
6. Mamma Mia (Universal) - $2.68M,$842 PTA, $98.62M cume
7. Journey To the Center of the Earth (Warner Bros) - $1.22M, $622 PTA, $78.12M cume
8. WALL-E (Disney) - $932,000, $435 PTA, $207.99M cume
9. Swing Vote (Disney) - $786,000, $355 PTA, $9.68M cume
10. Hancock (Sony) - $892,000, $395 PTA, $219.3M cume

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS EARLY 3-DAY ESTIMATES
1. The Dark Knight (Warner Bros) - $26.52M, $6,589 PTA, $442.03M cume
2. Pineapple Express (Sony) - $22.95M, $7,471 PTA, $41M cume
3. The Mummy 3 (Universal) - $16.1M, $4,259 PTA, $70.65M cume
4. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Warner Bros) - $10.58M, $3,911 PTA, $19.52M cume
5. Step Brothers (Sony) - $9M, $2,831 PTA, $81M cume
6. Mamma Mia (Universal) - $8.87M,$2,779 PTA, $104.81M cume
7. Journey To the Center of the Earth (Warner Bros) - $4.41M, $2,240 PTA, $81.31M cume
8. WALL-E (Disney) - $3.35M, $1,566 PTA, $210.42M cume
9. Hancock (Sony) - $2.97M, $1,317 PTA, $221.38M cume
10. Swing Vote (Disney) - $2.16M, $977 PTA, $11.05M cume

I am so wanting to see TDK on IMAX. Its such an EYEGASM!

It's going to be my fourth time watching TDK and I'm looking for a change. Stoner or not--this weekend's gonna be all about Pineapple Express.

  VS 

After seeing the movie posters (which I think are funny), I started to like the prospect of stoner James Franco.

But this trailer--WHEW! Seth Rogen is my man.

Loved it to bits!

And M.I.A.'s Paper Planes rock this trailer out!