Spring cleaning ahead of summer box office bonanza (VAR, THR)

By Ken-Ali

With Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man 3" looming on the horizon -- the superhero extravaganza opens next Friday -- this weekend's box office is likely to take another hit as a lot of moviegoers ignore the new arrivals in anticipation of next weekend's festivities, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Variety reports that Hollywood is doing some spring cleaning in April's last frame, clearing its shelves of various pics before the onslaught of blockbuster summer sequels kicks off with Sony's "Spider-Man 3" next weekend.

Variety reminds us that:

Nicolas Cage had one of the year's biggest, unexpected hits with "Ghost Rider" -- which revved $223.6 million worldwide -- and he's back with supernatural thriller "Next."

That may not be enough though, as, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "Next" isn't looking as if it's anywhere in that territory and will probably score a minor victory if it crosses the $10 million million mark as it debuts in 2,725 theaters.

Variety with a look at what's after 'Next':

Also haunting the multiplexes will be Disney's own PG-13 supernatural entry, "The Invisible," another teen-skewing spookfest that will hit 2,019 locations.

Lionsgate counters by rolling out "The Condemned," with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin...grappling at 2,310 theaters, could pick up some biz with male auds from the Texas Rattlesnake's fanbase.

Yari Film Group's "Kickin' It Old Skool," starring Jamie Kennedy, will be in session in 1,813 theaters. So that pretty much consigns it to the lower range of the single-digit millions, according to The Hollywood Reporter.