Thrillers Face Off: 'The Running Man' and 'Now You See Me 3' Challenge 'Predator: Badlands' at the Box Office

In a battle for box office supremacy, two new releases are gearing up to take on the reigning champion, Disney's Predator: Badlands. The dystopian thriller, The Running Man, and the heist threequel, Now You See Me: Now You Dont, are each targeting debuts of 20 million to 25 million, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. But can they dethrone the Predator franchise, which is expected to decline by only 50% in its second weekend, still raking in a respectable 18 million to 20 million? Behind the scenes, the stakes are high for Paramount, which produced The Running Man, a film that's been touted as a potential franchise-starter. The movie's star, Glen Powell, has been making waves with his performances in films like Top Gun: Maverick, and this new project is expected to catapult him to even greater heights. "Glen has a proven track record of delivering high-octane performances, and we're confident that he'll bring the same level of energy to The Running Man," says a source close to the production. Meanwhile, the Now You See Me franchise has been a surprise hit, with each installment performing better than the last. The first film grossed over 100 million worldwide, while the second installment raked in over 300 million. With a talented cast, including Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg, and a clever script that keeps audiences guessing, it's no wonder that fans are eagerly anticipating the third installment. But what's driving the appeal of these films? According to industry insiders, it's a combination of factors. "Audiences are craving escapism right now, and these films offer just that," says a studio executive. "They're big, bold, and exciting, with plenty of action and suspense to keep viewers on the edge of their seats." For fans of the Predator franchise, the decline of Badlands may be a disappointment, but it's not a surprise. "The Predator franchise has always been about big, over-the-top action, and while Badlands delivered on that front, it may not have had the same level of staying power as some of the other installments," says a fan. "I'm excited to see what The Running Man and Now You See Me: Now You Dont have to offer." As the box office battle heats up, one thing is clear: audiences are hungry for more. And with The Running Man and Now You See Me: Now You Dont set to debut in the next few weeks, it's anyone's game. Will these newcomers be able to dethrone the Predator franchise, or will Badlands continue to reign supreme? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: it's going to be a wild ride. In the end, the success of these films will depend on a combination of factors, including marketing, casting, and, of course, the quality of the films themselves. But one thing's for sure: with The Running Man and Now You See Me: Now You Dont on the horizon, audiences are in for a treat. And as the box office battle rages on, one thing's clear: the future of cinema is looking brighter than ever.