Angelina vs. Brad: Who's the Real Breadwinner in This Family?

Jolie and Pitt battle it out at the weekend box office—but how will Kung Fu Panda fare against the award-winning Tree of Life?

By Gina Serpe May 27, 2011 4:17 PMTags
Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt Fame Pictures

All's fair in love and box office war.

So forget Team Angelina vs. Team Jennifer (that's so 2005), this weekend it's all about Team Angie vs. Team Brad (well, that, and a day off work) as the couple battle it out for movie supremacy, the public's adoration—and, more importantly, dinner table bragging rights.

We're guessing that Maddox can really throw some eye daggers.

Unfortunately (for Brad Pitt), it's not exactly a fair fight: while his new release, Tree of Life, apparently showcases some A1 navel-gazing and has not only won the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and sparked some early awards show buzz, it's under no illusions of being mainstream fare.

In fact, while it's taken in some excellent reviews, not many of them seem to be crystal-clear on what the movie is even about—and this is from people who make their living sussing out plotlines. But what's most working against Pitt's opus (well, Terence Malick's opus, really), is accessibility. The film is opening this weekend, but in limited release.

Meanwhile, opening in the widest release possible is Angelina Jolie's new flick, Kung Fu Panda 2. Add Jack Black's nonstop promotion, the success of the first one, the fact that the movie is also raking in some glowing reviews and the fact that it's a kid-friendly film opening on a holiday weekend, and you have the equation for box office greatness.

In fact, the film is being projected to pull in between $65 and $70 million in its three-day opening weekend—and let's be honest here. If Tree of Life manages to pull that in over the course of its entire run, it would be quite a feat.

As for the 3-D DreamWorks 'toon, it's already pulled in a solid $6 million yesterday alone.

So, Angelina, right? Well, if it's between her and Brad, then obviously, yes. But in terms of total box office supremacy, barring some bizarre rip in the space-time-movie continuum, she'll still fall far from the top spot.

That's expected (practically fated) to be secured by The Hangover II. The R-rated sequel took in more than $30 million just yesterday, already making it one of the highest Thursday grosses of all time. It's also got the wide-release thing going for it, opening in more theaters (3,615, if you're interested in that sort of thing) than any R-Rated movie ever.

Sure, it isn't drawing the best reviews, but really, that's not going to stop anyone from going to see it. As for its projections, the Bradley Cooper flick is expected to gross between $110 and $125 million.

Maddox, get those eye daggers ready.