DreamWorks/Paramount (VIAB)
Will the Transformers movie, as the tag line for the popular toy claims, have more than meets the eye?There is a lot of buzz about this special-effects laden movie, which will hit theaters during the July 4th weekend, a prime time for moviegoers.
Still, even though many people think the movie looks "cool" and should bring in lots of young males, some analysts are not sure if that will be enough to make the film a truly big hit.
Gray of Box Office Mojo said the movie is "not a slam dunk" and Exhibitor Relations' Bock said that since the movie is not a sequel - unless you want to count the 1986 animated version - he's not sure how it will do against this summer's bumper crop of sequels.
But one thing is certain. This movie is an important one for Viacom, whose Paramount and DreamWorks studios are releasing it. Viacom has had a string of box office hits so far this year, including comedies "Blades of Glory" and "Norbit." But the company does not have many big summer releases other than "Transformers."
