Charlie Brown doesn't seem like a classic James Bond villain at first glance. But maybe that bald, round head, not unlike that of 007's arch-villain Ernest Stavro Blofeld, is telling.
"The Peanuts Movie" is going to put a dent in the opening grosses of "Spectre," the 24th chapter in the blockbuster 007 movie franchise that arrives in theaters Friday along with Charlie Brown and his posse. The question is, how much will Snoopy's bite hurt?
"Spectre" will debut at around $80 million, industry analysts say, in the same range as the previous Bond film "Skyfall," which went on to gross $1.1 billion globally in 2012 and become the highest-grossing film in the series. Fox's "The Peanuts Movie" is expected to come in at around $50 million, but if families drive it higher, it will take a larger toll on Bond.
"Anything over $35 million is probably coming out of Bond," Jeff Bock, senior analyst at Exhibitor Relations, told TheWrap Tuesday. "While 'The Peanuts Movie' would seem to be aimed at much younger fans, families will go to both movies and I think Charlie Brown will bring some teens in, too."
Fox distribution president Chris Aronson agreed, noting that while there doesn't seem to be much overlap on paper, there really is.
"Adult women will be an interesting group to watch," he said, citing a group that will include moms choosing between "Peanuts" with the kids and the sexy super spy. Aronson is more conservative than the analysts, and says that "any number with a four in front of it" would make him happy.