The Hitman's Bodyguard Likely To Top Logan Lucky At Weekend Box Office

Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds are going to face off at the box office this weekend, and it looks like Reynolds will win. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds' The Hitman's Bodyguard is on track to more than double the haul of Tatum's Logan Lucky in what should be another slow weekend at the summer box office.

The Hitman's Bodyguard stars Reynolds as an executive protection agent tasked with protecting Samuel L. Jackson's former hitman from a ruthless dictator played by Gary Oldman. The movie, which also stars Elodie Yung and Salma Hayek, was directed by The Expendables 3's Patrick Hughes. 

The Hitman's Bodyguard has had a heavy advertising push, and, while reviews are not great, it does fall at a 44 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The action comedy also has the benefit of having two big name stars with great chemistry, which are helping to push it towards a projected $18 million opening.

Logan Lucky stars Tatum as Jimmy, a down on his luck former construction worker, who, after losing his job, decides to team with his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) to rob the Coca-Cola 600 race, the biggest race of the year at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Daniel Craig, Katie Holmes, Riley Keough, and Hilary Swank are among the rest of the star-studded cast for the film, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh. 

Logan Lucky is a favorite with critics, falling at a 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and being hailed by some as even better than Soderbergh's Ocean's movies. However, the film, released outside of the studio system, has received a smaller advertising push and may not be as forefront in the minds of consumers, leading to $8 million tracking. It is certainly possible that the film's positive reviews could help to push it higher, though.

Also potentially in the mix for a high rank is last weekend's winner Annabelle: Creation, which could still top The Hitman's Bodyguard if it sees somewhere less than a 50 percent drop. Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk also continues to be a strong presence, although it likely won't be able to top either of the new notable releases. 

While we wait to see who wins the weekend box office, see some underappreciated movies you already missed out on this year.