Movies With Butter

This week’s set of new releases is fairly dark in terms of subject matter—an action film and a suspense-horror thriller. Unfortunately, it's also looking pretty dark in terms of ratings, as well.

Coming out today is Snitch, an action film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a father whose son is framed for drug dealings; the father strikes a deal with the DA to go undercover and risk everything to clear his son’s name.

Critics are split more or less evenly on this one—Rotten Tomatoes rates the film at 51%. Johnson’s acting is supposedly at its best in this film, but it is still an action movie, so any subtlety is likely buried in explosions and violence. Its opening weekend gross is predicted to be between $12 million and $13 million, according to HSX.

This week’s other new release is Dark Skies, a suspenseful thriller following a suburban family beset by dark, unnatural forces. When things get increasingly out of control, the family is forced to take matters into their own hands, and find out what these mysterious forces want with them.

The Tomatometer was not as kind to this movie—critics currently put it at 33%, on the grounds that it has very little original, provocative material, choosing instead to steal some basic plot elements from other films and coast on the genre’s appeal. Weekend profits are estimated at $9-$10 million.

• Prev:  Megan Fox to Play April O'Neil in Michael Bay-Produced 'Ninja Turtles'
• Next:  James Marsden Joins 'Anchorman 2'