The box office projections for “Jurassic World” are growing like the Indominus Rex.
Based on early Friday estimates, the Universal film is now potentially looking at a monstrous $155 million 3-day weekend and a $65 million Friday at the North American box office, according to industry sources.
The film opened its doors Thursday night taking in $18.5 million with preview screenings in the U.S. This haul made “World” the biggest preview showing ever for the studio over April’s “Furious 7” which brought in $15.8 million.
The film, which opens in over 4,200 theaters this weekend, is the fourth film in the $2 billion franchise that started with 1993’s classic “Jurassic Park.”
The latest projection has grown much larger than the original industry predictions that had the film’s opening closer to $120 million.
If “Jurassic World” breaks the $150 million barrier this weekend it’ll become the second biggest opening of the year and the biggest opening in June’s history overtaking the $116.6 million of 2013’s “Man of Steel.”
(So, yes, the battle for this weekend’s record is between Superman and a T-Rex.)
Following those projections, “World” would also become the biggest opening for the film’s star Chris Pratt by a wide margin.
Pratt is currently one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood after a spectacular 2014, which saw the actor transform himself from the lovable blockhead Andy on the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation” to buff action hero.
This was thanks to starring in the animated “The Lego Movie” and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” two of 2014’s biggest hits.
Those two films garnered the actor roughly $590 million at the box office last year. This haul was more than Pratt’s previous 12 films combined.
So while some may be heading to “Jurassic World” this weekend for the dinosaurs, some look to be going for Pratt.
“He’s just so relatable,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst for Rentrak. “He’s probably already a household name to some, but ‘Jurassic World’ is just going to solidify that.”
Away from its opening in the U.S., “World” is also opening in 66 international territories this weekend including big markets like China and the U.K.