'I AM LEGEND' ON TRACK FOR SUPER WEEKEND WORTH $40M+ (THR, VAR)

By Nancy Vialatte

Warner Bros. is releasing Will Smith-starrer �I Am Legend� today in 3,606 theaters, including 77 Imax venues. Tracking for the film looks very healthy. Expectations are that it will break $40 million in the first weekend. And, after a fall in which auds have avoided theaters, Hollywood is counting on �Legend" - and Fox's live-action/CGI hybrid "Alvin and the Chipmunks" - to usher in a merry holiday season.

"Will is a four-quadrant star," Warners distribution president Dan Fellman told the Hollywood Reporter. "The Imax screens are important and can generate a lot of revenue," he added. "Imax is a unique brand that has its own following, (and) there are people who will go to see the movie and then go back to see it in Imax, so those screens can enhance the boxoffice by creating additional revenue."

A top distribution executive at a rival studio agreed. "I think the Imax numbers will shine, but not like what (exhibitors) saw with 'Beowulf,' " the exec said. "The Imax 3-D is the real draw." "Legend" will play in 2-D projection in all venues.

Warners will also include a six-minute prologue teaser to "The Dark Knight," in all of the Imax venues showing "Legend."

Also this weekend, there�s something for the kids � and some nostalgic grown ups, too - Fox debuts its live-action/animation hybrid "Alvin and the Chipmunks" with 3,476 playdates.

"The picture seems to be perfectly positioned to be one of the key family films of the holiday season," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder told the Reporter.

Pre-release tracking shows "Chipmunks" is another four-quadrant draw. Enjoying such broad appeal, the comedy should open well above $20 million.

On the limited side are expansions of Golden Globe nomination leader "Atonement" while Francis Ford Coppola's "Youth Without Youth" will hit six venues and Marc Forster's "The Kite Runner" debuts.

There is one wild card this weekend, notes Variety: A strong winter storm predicted for parts of the Northeast could have an impact on tallies.

Abroad, "Golden Compass," which has shown more traction overseas than domestically, has banked nearly $60 million in international coin from 25 markets as of Wednesday.

Warner Bros. will see Asian day-and-date openings of "I Am Legend" with launches in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Disney's "Enchanted" and Paramount's "Bee Movie" have set expansions with "Enchanted" widening into Brazil, Holland, Mexico and the UK, while "Bee" flies into France, Germany and the UK.

Fox is opening "Alvin" day-and-date in a few markets including Greece, Hong Kong and Turkey.