Top Movies - Opening in Theaters 4/24/15 - Rotten Tomatoes

Top Movies - Opening in Theaters 4/24/15 - Rotten Tomatoes

The last week in April is where the studios dump everything that seems to have no prayer of success.

Only one film is getting the full distro treatment: The Age of Adaline (2900 theaters, PG-13.) "After miraculously remaining 29 years old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance." (54% positive reviews)

Ex Machina will be in about 1200 theaters. If you have a taste for sci-fi, this is probably your best bet for the weekend, as it has accumulated 89% positive reviews. It's also the one you want if you're seeking lots of R-rated nudity. Claire Selby, Symara A. Templeman, Sonoya Mizuno and Alicia Vikander all show their nekkid bits at one time or another.

Little Boy (1000 theaters) is a faith-based PG-13 film, and apparently a really bad one. (12% positive reviews). One critic described it as "more artificial than a polyester teddy bear stuffed with Splenda and Cheez Whiz." The Washington Post called it "as phony as a game of three-card monte."

The Water Diviner, a "horrors of war" film directed by and starring Russell Crowe, will be in limited release (300 theaters or so). "An Australian man travels to Turkey after the WW1 Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons." Critics were split (60% positive), tending to praise Crowe's performance, but not always his direction. Many thought it would have been a better movie without a tacked-on romance, in that sense recalling another war movie "Enemy at the Gates."

By the way, two old meanies came along and spoiled Paul Blart's 0% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, although the "top critics" remain unanimously negative.

Box Office: Furious 7 and Blart should retain the top two spots. The Age of Adaline may sneak into third, but if so, it will only be because of a lack of competition. It will be lucky to gross $10M. Ex Machina should gross around $5M, which would just miss the top five. Little Boy will probably pull in around three million, and that could place it anywhere between 7th and 11th. Next week: the 600-pound gorilla!