Weekend Movie Preview: 'Dunkirk' Heads to Battle With 'Atomic Blonde,' 'The Emoji Movie'

Crime thrillers, talking emojis and Al Gore shake up the theater for the last weekend in July.

Author:: Kinsey Grant
Publish date:: Jul 28, 2017 11:53 AM EDT

Time Warner Inc (TWX) and Christopher Nolan World War II film "Dunkirk" opened to $50.3 million last weekend, stunning critics. But two very different flicks are gunning for the top spot this weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Sony Corp's (SNE) - Get Report Sony Pictures Animation will release its "The Emoji Movie" featuring talking versions of the emoticons that have taken over Apple Inc (AAPL) - Get Report iPhone keyboards. Sony expects $20 million for the animated film's first weekend, a conservative bet against analysts tracking it to open in the $25 million to $27 million range. The film cost $50 million to make.

For the less-PG set, Comcast's (CMCSA) - Get Report Focus Features period action-thriller "Atomic Blonde" takes on 1989 Germany at the hands of a very lethal Charlize Theron. The film cost $30 million to produce and is tracking to open between $20 million and $22 million. But analysts comparing the movie to 2014's "Lucy" with Scarlett Johansson think it could easily overperform.

The specialty front is also readied for a busy weekend, with heavy period crime "Detroit" and Al Gore's much-anticipated climate change film "An Inconvenient Sequel" hitting select theaters before nationwide releases next week. Gore's upping the ante the second time around, partnering with Snap Inc (SNAP) - Get Report , Viacom's (VIAB) - Get Report Paramount and Participant to offer moviegoers under 18 free tickets.

More of What's Trending on TheStreet: