"The Fault in our Stars" might pull off what aliens couldn't do to Tom Cruise, kill him-at least in box-office sales, as the Shailene Woodley drama is poised to relegate "Edge of Tomorrow" into an underdog.
"The Fault in our Stars" is expected to double or triple its $12 million production budget as the film could debut at around $35 million to $45 million, even as 20thCentury Fox estimates hover around the $20 million mark, Brent Lang wrote forVariety.
In contrast, the Tom Cruise's "Edge of Tomorrow" is projected to debut at around $20 million in nearly 3,500 locations, "which would be a disappointment for such an expensive film," the magazine noted.
The production cost for "The Edge of Tomorrow" was pegged at $178 million but it's considered a wise investment considering the bankable A-listers involved, the CGI and action scenes as well as the clever plot.
However, the "Edge of Tomorrow" box-office sales could be affected by the similarities to another Tom Cruise sci-fi film, "Oblivion," even if the new film received high critical praise along with a 91% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatores, Varietyadded.
The success of "The Fault in our Stars," headlined by Shailene Woodley, compared to Tom Cruise's "Edge of Tomorrow" signifies that studios need more than star power to rule the box-office, said Rob Leane of Den of Geek website.
"A movie star's name on a poster doesn't cut it in an era dominated by the likes of Marvel Studios, Pixar, sequels and big fan-favourite fantastical franchises," he wrote.
"We live in a time where studios entrust big money to the likes of Bryan Singer ("X-Men"), Jon Favreau ("Iron Man"), Joss Whedon ("The Avengers"), Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man") and Marc Webb ("The Amazing Spider-Man"), not to ensnare a star, but to find a good match for their characters and make the best spectacle possible with whoever that might be," he added.
