Ted’s smarter than your average bear at the box office

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane’s first feature film Ted, looks set to take the top spot at the US box office this weekend. The R rated comedy has already been greeted with positive reviews, and Mark Wahlberg has comedy credentials with The Other Guys and Date Night.

When John Bennett (Wahlberg) was a kid he made a wish that his teddy bear would come to life, and it did. Ever since that day Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) has been by his side, but that bond is tested when John’s long-term girlfriend (Mila Kunis) wants more from their relationship.

Opening on a reported $20.2 million, this should put Ted inline for a $50m + weekend, also performing well was Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike. The male stripper comedy has been sold as a “ladies night out” in America, and the combination of Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey shirtless for most of the film has proved a winner. Opening just below Ted with $19.4m, Magic Mike may just snag the number spot but the safe bet is on MacFarlane’s debut.

Even if Magic Mike ends up at number two, it does mark the biggest opening day for any Soderbergh movie and will have an opening weekend of at least $40m. His next film, The Bitter Pill is already finished and he’s about to make a TV movie called Behind the Candelabra, starring Matt Damon, Michael Douglas and Rob Lowe.

Busy fella that Mr Soderbergh.