Weekend box office preview: 'Man of Steel' finally opens

I'm always careful when I preview the box office, because when the summer blockbuster season is in full swing, anything can happen. That being said, I'm reasonably sure I know which movie will snag the number one spot when all is said and done. Need a hint? It's another superhero movie, and it might become the biggest film of the summer, if not the year.

I'm talking, of course, about Man of Steel. Yes, Superman is back in all his glory, thanks to the efforts of director Zack Snyder and writers Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer (screenwriter for Nolan's outstanding Batman trilogy). It really feels like I've been waiting for this movie forever. The buildup and buzz is unmatched for any other film this year, in my opinion. With all of that in mind, I was eagerly awaiting a slew of outstanding reviews for Man of Steel from all the major critics.

I'm still waiting. Because guess what? Those glowing reviews? They're few and far between. At last check, Man of Steel had a pretty bad 57 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That's not horrible, but it's sure not great, especially considering we're talking about a film that many, including myself, expected to be one of the best films of 2013.

Do critics matter? In this case, possibly not, at least at the outset. I'm ignoring all the caution signs and proceeding in an orderly fashion to my local theater to see Man of Steel regardless of what any movie critic says about the film. But I can tell you that all of us need to be aware that the film we've built up so much in our minds might not be what we see on the big screen.

As far as the box office preview goes, Man of Steel reigns supreme, but guess what? Another new movie has much higher ratings than this latest Superman film. And guess what else? It's a comedy...and an R-rated comedy at that! I'm talking about This Is The End, an apparently hilarious movie about a group of friends facing the end of humanity. The friends include Seth Rogen (who also co-wrote the script), James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel and Danny McBride. Solid cast, don't you think? Okay, now check out the reviews for This Is the End. Wow, right?

This might be one of those super rare weekends when I take in not one, but two movies. I predict a solid second-place finish for This Is The End, and with word of mouth, we might just have another Hangover or Bridesmaids on our hands.

What, if anything, are you planning on seeing this weekend at the theater? Let's hear it!

Photo courtesy of Empire Online