Will Ready Player One Be the Next Big Box Office Phenomenon?

They say that the month of March either goes in like a lion and out like a lamb, or vice versa, and, at least from abox officestandpoint, the month will seemingly go in like a lion and out like a lion too. The month kicked off with Marvel’sBlack Panthercontinuing its epic winning streak with an impressive $66.3 million in its third weekend, with the final weekend of March looking to be easily conquered by newcomerReady Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. Armed with strong reviews and positive word of mouth, we’re predicting a $43.6 million debut forReady Player One, which will easily be enough to take the top spot from last weekend’s holdovers and two newcomers as well, Lionsgate’sTyler Perry’s Acrimonyand PureFlix’sGod’s Not Dead: A Light in the Darkness.

For one,Ready Player Oneis shaping up to debut with the highest theater count of the year, with an estimated 4,100 theater rollout. This will come in just higher thanBlack Panther, which debuted in 4,020 theaters in mid-February. Still, while the 4,100-theater rollout is quite huge, it comes nowhere close to the all-time record of last year’sDespicable Me 3, which broke the seven-year record of 4,468 theaters set byThe Twilight Saga: Eclipsein 2010. Paired with this large rollout is strong word-of-mouth from its SXSW premiere and reviews, with the movie currently scoring an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while there are not enough reviews in forTyler Perry’s AcrimonyandGod’s Not Dead: A Light In the Darknessquite yet.

We’re predicting the top 5 will be rounded out by newcomerTyler Perry’s Acrimonyin second place with $16.2 million, debuting in roughly 2,000 theaters, followed byPacific Rim Uprisingin third with $13.6 million,Black Pantherin fourth with $10.2 million andI Can Only Imaginein fifth with $8.6 million. This is Tyler Perry’s first directorial effort that isn’t a Madea movie since 2014’sThe Single Mom’s Club, with the director reuniting with star Taraji P. Henson after they worked together on 2008’sThe Family That Preysand 2009’sI Can Do Bad All By Myself.

We’re predicting the top 10 will be rounded out bySherlock Gnomes($6.3 million),God’s Not Dead: A Light in the Darkness($5.8 million),Tomb Raider($5.2 million),A Wrinkle in Time($4.5 million) andLove, Simon($4.2 million). Also debuting in limited release this weekend is Neon’sGemini, Vertical Entertainment’sBirthmarked, Cinedigm’sCaught, Magnolia’sThe China Hustle, Roadside Attractions’Finding Your Feet, Parade Deck Films’FourPlay, IFC’sLove After Love, The Orchard’sOutside Inand Vertical Entertainment’sStatus Update. There is no indication yet if any of these films will expand into a nationwide release.

Looking ahead to next weekend, thefirst frame of Aprilbrings four new releases, withUniversal’s R-rated comedy Blockers, Paramount’s thrillerA Quiet Place, Entertainment Studios' thrillerChappaquiddickand Mirror/LD’sThe Miracle Season. Take a look at our top 10 projections below, and check back for the top 10 estimates on Sunday, courtesy ofBox Office Mojo.