Mark Wahlberg will try to launch a successful action franchise this weekend, starring as the title character in Max Payne, based on the hit video game. The film should perform pretty well, making about $18M this weekend, and a possible $80M - $90M overall. 

Oliver Stone releases his latest bio pic about a President of the US, this time while the President is still in office. W chronicles the life and times of President George W. Bush from his early adulthood to present day. Based on Stone’s earlier looks at Presidents Kennedy and Nixon, I’m sure W will be a fair and balanced account of Bush’s life. That last line was dripping with sarcasm. I’m going to go on record that I don’t think it is fair to release this film while George W. Bush is still in office. Hate him or love him, I just think it is disrespectful and it sends the wrong message to countries around the world (specifically the Middle East). Anyway, I believe that much of the country is sick of Bush (although no one seems to acknowledge the fact that he served as President during the toughest time in America’s history, with 9/11, Katrina and the current economic crisis and of course the War on Terror), and aren’t ready to watch a film about him. W will make about $10M this weekend. 

Queen Latifah leads an all star cast in The Secret Lives of Bees, a story about a 14 year girl dealing with her past in South Carolina, circa 1964. The film also stars Dakota Fanning, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson. The film is based on the bestselling novel by but the reviews haven’t been great and will definitely eat into its box office. Look for The Secret Lives of Bees to make about $9M this weekend.

The last new release is the raunchy comedy, Sex Drive. This film stars mostly unknowns, but does feature Seth Green and James Marsden (why would he do this movie!?). The movie has a real original concept. It’s about a boy who desperately wants to lose his virginity. I know… great idea right. How’d no one ever make a movie about this? Obviously I’m kidding. This movie will be lucky if it makes $3M this weekend. For the rest of my predictions, see the chart below.