'Transformers' set to dominate US, world box office

(All Rights Reserved)

The third installment of the Transformers franchise, Dark of the Moon, opens this week with an expected US haul of at least $101 million for the weekend, and up to $177 million through the July 4 holiday, according to BoxOffice.com.

With the film opening in 110 countries, the international picture looks big, too. The sci-fi action-adventure could grab more for the franchise than the previous film's $434.1 million international gross.

Fandango, the US online film ticket website, states that Transformers is pulling 73 percent of the sales. Among the survey of 1,000 moviegoers, 48 percent were female.

The early 3D screenings on Wednesday at midnight already raked in $13.5 million, and also created a buzz on Facebook - coming in third under the upcoming Harry Potter and Twilight Saga.

On Twitter, Transformers got 11,835 tweets with positive reactions posting 5:1. Flixter responses rank the robot fantasy at 90 percent.

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky allied with Optimus Prime against enemy Shockwave. The film also stars Josh Duhamel, John Malkovich and Patrick Dempsey.

So far, the film is performing better than the first movie, which made $8.8 million at midnight shows, but falls short of the second, which took $16 million at midnight. Some predictions believe it could catch up and break records.

Tom Hanks's Larry Crowne, costarring Julia Roberts, could collect $19.5 million. The romantic comedy releases in 2,750 US theaters, compared to Transformers's 4,000 screens.

This alternative for adult filmgoers who are not fans of the robot action genre focuses on a middle-aged man reinventing his career and life.

The teen romance Monte Carlo debuts in 2,400 cinemas for a projected take of $8.5 million this weekend. Stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester ( Gossip Girl) and Katie Cassidy ( Nightmare on Elm Street) on vacation in Paris and Monte Carlo after Gomez's character is mistaken for a British heiress.

Trailers:

Transformers: Dark of the Moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3eiRpHdIWQ
Larry Crowne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2w00oMGBVM
Monte Carlo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjN3I2P1rhs

RC