The hot cars, guys and gals of ‘Furious 7” have moved into the box office fast lane, even though their movie’s nationwide debut is still three weeks away.
Sizzling social media and a spectacular new trailer shifted anticipation into high gear this week, but it’s the groundswell of love for the late Paul Walker that is driving pre-release projections of a record-breaking $100 million opening on the April 3 weekend.
“I think you have to acknowledge how profound an effect that’s going to have,” Rentrak senior analyst Paul Dergarabedian told TheWrap Thursday. “You got the feeling that you were watching a family on screen with these films, and fans felt as if they were a real part of that extended family.