Warner Bros’ Pan, which carries an estimated reported budget of $150M, put up its sails Thursday night making $650K in previews from showtimes starting at 6 PM. The film, mired by reshoots, is hoping to bank $20M this weekend, though insiders think it’s more like the high teens. Per tracking, first choice for Pan is highest among women under 25 at 13%, however, overall first choice is 8%. Pan is hoping to get some more pixie dust from the four-day Columbus Day weekend.

It’s the newest wide entry, although Sony TriStar’s Twin Towers visual jawdropper The Walk is expanding from 448 Imax and PLF hubs to 2,509 theaters in hopes of finding a bigger audience. The film didn’t do so hot in its limited opening last weekend, chalking up $1.55M. In its first week, the Robert Zemeckis-helmed movie has $2.7M, and it’s expected to make another $5M this weekend. In all its visual splendor of recapturing New York City’s World Trade Center, The Walk only cost a reported $35M. Older males and females are currently the quadrant most interested in The Walk at 5%.

20th Century Fox’s The Martian plans to drop a flag in the No. 1 spot this weekend with a second frame take of $33M-$34M. The film has collected an awesome estimated first week of $71.7M. The Ridley Scott-directed movie remained the No. 1 film on Thursday with a gross of $3.8M at 3,831 theaters. Sony Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 2 slotted second yesterday with an estimated $1.3M at 3,754 playdates for a cume heading into its third weekend of $96.5M. Family audiences are expected to donate $11M-$16M to HT2‘s blood bank this weekend. Both Martian and HT2 are poised to cross $100M this weekend, becoming the first titles of the autumn season to do so.

With a multitude of awards season contenders vying for adult audiences, the specialty box office is rather crowded this weekend, led by Universal’s Steve Jobs and Pantelion’s Ladrones. Read Brian Brooks’ preview here.