By PAUL DERGARABEDIAN, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Universal's "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" has taken root at the top of the domestic box office, with robust midweek growth of $3 million or so per day and a likely second-weekend gross of around $50 million following its year-topping $70 million opening.
Meanwhile, Disney's $250 million action-adventure "John Carter" in 3-D and IMAX has much to prove as it lands in 3,749 theaters amid weak reviews and an expected gross of around $30 million.
A potentially disappointing domestic performance for "Carter" will put a lot of pressure on overseas returns to make up the difference for the PG-13 release, which is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars."
Warner Bros.' R-rated comedy "Project X" partied its way to a better-than-expected $21 million debut last weekend and looks to still be raging as it heads into its sophomore frame, with a likely gross in the low-teens.
Open Road Films will open its real-time horror flick "Silent House" at around 9 million in real-time dollars. "Inspired by true events," the 88-minute, R-rated film tells the story of a young woman trapped inside her family's lakeside retreat.
Rounding out the top five, Relativity Media's "Act of Valor" continues to be a solid performer as it enters its third weekend of release with a $7 million more destined for its war chest.
But look for Paramount's debuting "A Thousand Words," starring Eddie Murphy, to try to fast-talk its way into the top five with an expected gross in the $6 million to $8 million range.
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Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com and provides box office analysis for The Associated Press.
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