Adam Sandler and Bieber fever to heat up box office

After reports that film attendance in January was the lowest in 20 years, according to Box Office Mojo, February should pick up with the release of Justin Bieber: Never Say Never in 3D and Adam Sandler's comedy Just Go With It.

The concert film shows the rise of a small-town Canadian street performer to internet phenomenon and pop superstar with behind-the-scenes glimpses and 3D footage of a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. It features appearances by Usher, Ludacris and Jaden Smith.

The film could match Miley Cyrus's film Best of Both Worlds, which opened at $31.1 million. Special sold-out $30 previews on February 16 for the multi-platinum teen idol's movie were expected to add $1 million to the opening totals.

Based on statistics that show it grabbing 71 percent of the advance ticket sales from Fandango, an online cinema sales source in the US, Bieber's documentary should sweep the North American box office. Even critics are praising the portrait as "engaging" and able to "make believers out of all," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Just Go With It, starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker, is only pulling 7 percent of advance ticket sales, but this trend should change Saturday night when couples celebrating Valentine's Day choose to see a romantic comedy. This story finds a surgeon convincing his assistant to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife to cover up a lie he told his girlfriend.

Also opening is Gnomeo and Juliet, a 3D animated comedy about garden gnomes with a "Romeo and Juliet" theme that will appeal to families. This weekend, its audience will skew younger than the tween girls rushing to see Bieber. The cast of voices includes James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, and Ozzy Osbourne.

The Eagle, an action epic set in ancient Roman-ruled Britain, shows in 1,000 fewer cinemas than Never Say Never, so it is not likely to draw the audiences of Clash of the Titans or Robin Hood. Starring Channing Tatum ( Dear John), Jamie Bell ( Billy Elliot) and directed by Kevin Macdonald ( State of Play).

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UJL_Q0NqDA
http://www.justinbieberneversaynever.com/

Just Go With It trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHNieMwYbmQ
http://www.justgowithit-movie.com/

RC