THE MARKET: “Step Brothers” goes into wide release on Friday, July 25, 2008. How much will it gross in its opening weekend as first reported by Variety on July 27? Each dollar of the share price represents millions of dollars in sales. Shares bought at $45, for example, would be worth $78 if the movie grosses $78 million. Trading closes on July 25 at 9 a.m. ET.
THE DATA: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly proved their hit-making ability with “Talladega Nights,” which grossed nearly $50 million in its opening weekend. Of course, that was two years and several, way-too-similar Will Ferrell movies ago. This time around the pair is again teamed up with Judd Apatow, whose Midas touch has faded with flops like “Walk Hard” and “Drillbit Taylor.” For many, though, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” was a return to form, grossing $89 million worldwide.
OUR TAKE: We’ve previously mentioned Apatow’s penchant for making movies about man-children. “Step Brothers” takes it to a whole new level. Ferrell and Reilly, middle-aged men, still live with their single parents – and once those parents marry, they become hyper-competitive step-brothers. The (literally) home-wrecking competition drives the parents apart, and the Step-Bros join forces to make it right. Kind of like “The Parent Trap” sans a certain coked-out redhead.– Leigh Kunkel

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