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''Barbershop 2'' will trim the competition | 135226__bbop_l
ICE, PICK ''Barbershop 2'' (starring Cedric the Entertainer and Ice Cube) will edge out ''Miracle''
By Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger, a senior writer at EW, also reports on box office and other movie- related matters on NBC's ''Today''

Two feel-good movies will battle it out at multiplexes this weekend, as ''Barbershop 2: Back in Business'' and the ice-hockey drama ''Miracle'' both stand to open well.

In what could be a very close one-two finish, ''Barbershop 2,'' which reunites Ice Cube, Eve, and Cedric the Entertainer from the hit original (which grossed a total of $75.8 million) stands to come out on top. With strong early reviews and the addition of Queen Latifah, the sequel should snip away about $24 million this weekend.

''Miracle,'' meanwhile, should draw sports fans still hyped up from last week's Super Bowl. The story of the gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic hockey team, the film, which had successful sneak previews last weekend, features an impressive performance from Kurt Russell and all-around good buzz (like 2002's baseball drama ''The Rookie'') and should debut with about $21 million.

Last week's top film, the hip-hop drama ''You Got Served,'' will slip about 50 percent to $8 million, while three films will jockey for fourth and fifth place. ''The Butterfly Effect'' and ''Along Came Polly'' will each drop to about $5 million, while the new family action film ''Catch That Kid,'' from talented director (and husband of Julianne Moore) Bart Freundlich, appears from its ad campaign to be a lesser version of ''Spy Kids.'' Without much audience interest, this ''Kid'' should only make about $5 million.


Posted Feb 05, 2004 | Order Article Reprints