Box Office Challenge

What movie will be No. 1 at the box office?

Hitting the screens this weekend ...

The Change-Up Rise of the Planet of the Apes The Guard (limited) The Future (limited) The Devil's Double (limited) Another Earth (expanding)

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So what exactly are we looking at this week? We're looking at The Change-Up versus Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Magic Trip will not be a wide enough release to compete, nor would its subject matter capture the hearts of millions if it were. It'll be a non-factor at the box office. I'll be surprised if it makes the top 10.

I like Rise of the Planet of the Apes' chances here, for the number one box office slot. It looks ridiculously goofy, but it's got James Franco at the helm, and that's gotta count for something. Freida Pinto, of Slumdog Millionaire, should provide a bit of a draw as well. Director Rupert Wyatt is untested in the way of the summer blockbuster, so that might work against the picture a bit, and the writing team behind this film is also relatively green -- Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa, whose previous offerings were The Relic and Eye for an Eye, have joined forces once again.

The Change-Up has a much more vaunted writing team behind it, in Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the fellas behind mega-hits The Hangover and The Hangover Part II (AKA brace yourself for the crass). It's also got some big names in the acting department, in Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman and Olivia Wilde. And it's got veteran David Dobkin in the director's chair (Wedding Crashers, Shanghai Knights). All of this sounds rather grand, doesn't it? However, based on how the average comedy has fared at the box office lately, and based upon early reviews (generally positive for Wyatt's sci-fi thriller and generally negative for the Dobkins comedy), it looks like Rise of the Planet of the Apes should easily dominate this weekend.

Each week Calhoun Kersten and Aaron Ruffcorn go head to head in a Box Office Challenge. Who will win? Maybe you. Aaron will be back Monday with the Box Office Review. Tune in to find out who wins.

We’ll take a look at the box office and see if we can’t nail the Number 1 film in the U.S. Whoever is closest, wins. But really, if they aren't within $2 million, it's not very impressive.

It’s harder than you think. If you don’t believe, let’s see what your answers are.

Calhoun Kersten's prediction for the weekend of August 5-7 …

1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($35 Million)

Aaron Ruffcorn's prediction for the weekend of August 5-7 …

1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($39 Million)

So what are your guess for the Number 1 movie at the box office this weekend?