It came, it's 'Saw,' it will conquer the boxoffice

Lionsgate's "Saw IV" is sure to cut deeply into its boxoffice competition this weekend when it opens in more than 3,000 locations, but the real question is whether the gore-filled sequel can pump some blood into a recently lifeless fall theatrical season.

Disney's Steve Carell-Juliette Binoche comedy "Dan in Real Life" is the only other wide debutant. A counterprogramming ploy, the PG-13 "Dan" aims to pull in anybody not inclined to see "Saw."

Mercifully, the presence of just two wide entrants could help restore a bit of sanity to a marketplace in which star-filled films have been crushed of late amid a surplus of openers and expansions. Among this weekend's notable expansions, "The Darjeeling Limited" heads north of 700 engagements after playing in 201 venues last weekend, when the Wes Anderson comedy managed a decent per-screen average in toting its 23-day cume to $3.9 million.

As for expectations on the R-rated "Saw," it's worth noting that the opening of each new installment has outperformed its predecessor.

The franchise original bowed during Halloween 2004 with $18.3 million and eventually rung up $55.2 million domestically. A year later, "Saw II" unspooled with $31.7 million en route to a $87 million haul, and last year "Saw III" debuted with $33.6 million and took in $80.2 million overall.
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