The dark action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson is a marked departure from Michael Bay's big-budget tentpole fare; the Reese Witherspoon-Matthew McConaughey drama "Mud" opens at the specialty box office.
Trailer link: http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=pain+and+gain+movie+trailer+2013&qs=AS&form=QBNT&pq=pain+and+gain+movie&sc=8-19&sp=2&sk=AS1
Headlining a buff Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson,
Pain & Gain is a marked departure for Bay in both storyline and scope. The dark action comedy cost a modest $26 million to produce, according to Paramount (at CinemaCon last week, Bay called the film his "small" movie).
PHOTOS: 'Pain & Gain' Premiere Pumps Up Hollywood
The studio is projecting a weekend opening in the high teens for
Pain & Gain, but tracking suggests it could cross $20 million.
The weekend's other new wide entry is R-rated comedy
The Big Wedding, from Lionsgate and Avi Lerner's Millennium. The movie stars Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams.
Despite its star-studded cast,
Big Wedding is projected to open only in the low teens. Lionsgate heavily targeted females over the age of 25 in promoting
Big Wedding, which follows the travails of a modern family trying to endure a weekend wedding celebration. It cost just north of $30 million to produce and was directed by Justin Zackham.
Pain & Gain also stars Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson and Bar Paly. The screenplay was written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based on the
Miami New Times article of the same name by Pete Collins. The film is produced by Donald De Line, Bay and Ian Bryce.
The story follows a trio of bodybuilders (Wahlberg, Johnson and Mackie) who get caught up in an extortion ring and kidnapping scheme that goes awry.