BOX OFFICE BUZZ PILE YOUR FILM PLATE WITH PICKS AT BUFFET.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ

I don't really like buffets because I can never decide what to eat. That's what this weekend sorta feels like at the multiplex.

First, it's a buffet of movie offerings that include six new wide releases of various genres battling for supremacy. The horror flick "30 Days of Night" will be on nearly 3,000 screens and looks to have the best shot at finishing in first place in the $15 million to $20 million range.

"It's a love story with vampires," one of the film's stars, Melissa George, told me this week. "The movie is seductive and the vampires are unbelievable. I'm in every shot so hopefully you're not bored!"

The rest of the field is comprised of a sports spoof ("The Comebacks"), a thriller starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal ("Rendition"), dramatic-thrillers ("Gone Baby Gone" and "Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour"), and a Halle Berry-Benicio del Toro drama, "Things We Lost in the Fire."

RACE FOR SECOND PLACE: "Comebacks" should fare slightly better than the others and could gross as much as $12 million as it targets the coveted young male crowd; it's playing in almost as many theaters as "39 Days." "Rendition," also starring Meryl Streep, should get the adult crowd and take in about $10 million. Playing in fewer theaters, the Ben Affleck-directed "Gone" will be fortunate to earn more than $5 million, while "Fire" will likely earn even less.

DEBUTS AND EXPANSIONS: The Sean Penn-directed "Into the Wild" will be far easier to see now that it has expanded to 658 locations, as will the Brad Pitt western "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and the Wes Anderson-directed "The Darjeeling Limited," starring Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody, is playing in just over 200 spots.

The animated film "The Ten Commandments" is booked into 830 theaters and "Sarah Landon" is in 1,115 locations. Debuting smaller are the drama "Reservation Road" with Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly (13 theaters) and the unique Ryan Gosling flick "Lars and the Real Girl" (21 locations).

SNEAKY DAN: If you just cannot wait another week to see Steve Carell's latest comedy, "Dan in Real Life," check out your local movie listings and see if you are near one of the 400 theaters that are screening a Saturday night "sneak peek" of the flick.

DOUBLE PLAY: If you are planning to see "The Comebacks," keep your eyes open for the feature film debut of Bill Buckner. He was my favorite player on the Dodgers when I was a kid but became best known for mishandling a crucial play during the 1986 World Series when he was playing for the Boston Red Sox. He re-enacts his historical 'moment' that likely cost his team the title.

MOVIE CASH: I love free movie tickets. If you plan to see the drama "Lions for Lambs" starring Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise when it opens next month, here's a free movie cash tip: If you buy the "Best Picture Collection" on DVD or any other UA gift set from Best Buy, you get two free movie tickets to see "Lambs" that can be used anytime between Nov. 9 and Dec. 30.

ARE YOU AN INSOMNIAC? Well, the Regency Theatre in the Fairfax District has Friday night midnight movies! This is kinda cool because they are a real random mix of popular films from the past that you may not have ever seen on the big screen.

Tonight, "The Exorcist" will screen, followed in subsequent weeks by "Shaun of the Dead," "The Big Lebowski," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "The Goonies." The price is $7 and there are plenty of seats at the three-screen theater at 7907 Beverly Blvd.

For more information, go to insomniaccinema.com or call [phone].

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