Weekend Box Office Thread

[mbaker]

So far, my faith in the movie going public has been slightly restored. 'The Avengers' continued success proves that summer blockbusters don't have to be loud, obnoxious, and dumb to be entertaining, just like how 'The Hunger Games' proves that A young female protagonist can be something more than submissive weaklings, or spoiled rich pop tarts. Seriously, 'Battleship' offers nothing to justify being made into A movie, and thankfully, people saw through that

[MegaGearMax]

So far, my faith in the movie going public has been slightly restored. 'The Avengers' continued success proves that summer blockbusters don't have to be loud, obnoxious, and dumb to be entertaining, just like how 'The Hunger Games' proves that A young female protagonist can be something more than submissive weaklings, or spoiled rich pop tarts. Seriously, 'Battleship' offers nothing to justify being made into A movie, and thankfully, people saw through that

I think being a quality film helped, but with all the A-list characters, actors, marketing AND hype involved? Michael Bay could have directed Avengers and it would have still been a hit (although not as good as a movie with actual characters and development in it).

I'd blame the people making the entertainment rather than the public who watches it. Hollywood execs or directors are often clueless when making these summer movies.

[JonWes]

I think being a quality film helped, but with all the A-list characters, actors, marketing AND hype involved? Michael Bay could have directed Avengers and it would have still been a hit (although not as good as a movie with actual characters and development in it).

I'd blame the people making the entertainment rather than the public who watches it. Hollywood execs or directors are often clueless when making these summer movies.

Word of mouth does matter though. I think Michael Bay could have helmed it and it would have been a hit, but not such a mega-hit. There really doe have to be that sense of quality present for something to do the business that Avengers does.

[Krueger]

The Avengers is pretty much destroying everything. Battleship would have made considerably more if The Avengers was no where to be seen. It will affect MIB 3 next week, too. MIB 3 will take the number one spot, but The Avengers will still dent it nonetheless. See, it’s a doubled-edged sword when one film is pretty much obliterating everything in sight. It’s great for the studio and great for the film, but its utterly dreadful for the box-office. Plus, and I may be shot down for saying this, but don't audiences want to go and watch something else? Seriously? I thought the same with The Hunger Games, too. Battleship is not great, but it is far superior to the two Transformers sequels and quite a few other summer blockbusters I can think of, too. It’s a typical audience pleaser.

Battleship is on track for about 230-235 international gross, so adding in the domestic gross it should make about 300 million worldwide, maybe a bit more. Still a flop, but a bit more respectable than John Carter. Still, it’s never a good thing when a 200 million dollar movie flops. People don't realise it when they say things like "I hope this or that flops". It produces a ripple effect that's felt all around the film industry. Fewer films will get the greenlight as a result, and it won't just be other "mindless high budget films" like Battleship, which is an ignorant belief that a lot of people have.

Where do people think the studios get the money from for the smaller, cheaper (and sometimes better) films? Love them or hate them, the studios heavily rely on the summer tentpoles for substance. They’re the only kind of films that can potentially make a studio hundreds of millions of dollars in one go.

[markatisu]

Word of mouth does matter though. I think Michael Bay could have helmed it and it would have been a hit, but not such a mega-hit. There really doe have to be that sense of quality present for something to do the business that Avengers does.

Having 4-5 movies of quality before it also helps

Nobody can make the claim Avengers by itself would have been any kind of hit, it could have been a bomb like Green Lantern. There is a reason JL and Avengers was never made before

X-Men paved the way for a team movie but their story was easier for
mass appeal since they were all mutants

[Krueger]

Word of mouth does matter though. I think Michael Bay could have helmed it and it would have been a hit, but not such a mega-hit.

Well, Transformers 3 did gross over a billion.

[mbaker]

Michael Bay could have directed Avengers and it would have still been a hit (although not as good as a movie with actual characters and development in it).

And we probably would've gotten shameless military worship, lame attempts at humor, and maybe some racist stereotypes. Oh, and Megan Fox as Black Widow. (shudder) The fact that 'The Avengers' turned out as well as it did was nothing short of A miracle.

Word of mouth does matter though. I think Michael Bay could have helmed it and it would have been a hit, but not such a mega-hit. There really doe have to be that sense of quality present for something to do the business that Avengers does.

See, Joss Whedon is A completely different beast than Michael Bay. Whedon has respect for the fans, Bay, on the other hand....Well, most of you already know by now.

See, it’s a doubled-edged sword when one film is pretty much obliterating everything in sight. It’s great for the studio and great for the film, but its utterly dreadful for the box-office. Plus, and I may be shot down for saying this, but don't audiences want to go and watch something else? Seriously? I thought the same with The Hunger Games, too.

That's true. As much as I loved 'The Hunger Games', and 'The Avengers', I feel kinda sorry for 'Pirates: Band Of Misfits'. It actually looked like A fun little movie. Yet, it came out at the wrong time, and as A result, got lost in the crowd.

Still, it’s never a good thing when a 200 million dollar movie flops. People don't realise it when they say things like "I hope this or that flops". It produces a ripple effect that's felt all around the film industry. Fewer films will get the greenlight as a result, and it won't just be other "mindless high budget films" like Battleship, which is an ignorant belief that a lot of people have.Where do people think the studios get the money from for the smaller, cheaper (and sometimes better) films? Love them or hate them, the studios heavily rely on the summer tentpoles for substance. They’re the only kind of films that can potentially make a studio hundreds of millions of dollars in one go.

Very good point. It's great when I movie you really enjoy does very well, (And let me tell you, it's A great feeling.) but while there are plenty of films that make you roll your eyes in disgust at first glance, you can't really blame the studios for hoping that they succeed since they pumped millions of dollars into them. It's even more disappointing when A movie your looking forward too doesn't live up to it's hype, and potential.

[GeologyMule]

I watched the Dictator. It was funny, didn't really flow that well, and I don't have a desire to see it again. I give it a "meh"

[Skullface]

I cannot believe they're forecasting MIB3 to pull in $84mil over the 4-day weekend. I was never a fan of the franchise, but it's been 10 years since MIB2, and I have yet to hear anyone say they're interested in seeing it...

[wolfsfang]

why has it been renamed Pirates: Band of Misfits?

What is wrong with the proper (British) title of "Pirates in an Adventure with Scientists" ? it was attention grabbing and fun sounding, it's like changing Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone to Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone...pretty much strange and nonsensical

[MegaGearMax]

I cannot believe they're forecasting MIB3 to pull in $84mil over the 4-day weekend. I was never a fan of the franchise, but it's been 10 years since MIB2, and I have yet to hear anyone say they're interested in seeing it...

Will Smith, baby!

...then again, there was Wild Wild West...

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Will Smith, baby!

...then again, there was Wild Wild West...

How they could have so badly missed the boat with a high concept of Western Steampunk is beyond me... Then again then was another clunker called COWBOYS & ALIENS that didn't even make back it's budget worldwide so it was a big loss. Maybe there's just something about cowboy steampunk that doesn't work.

[MegaGearMax]

How they could have so badly missed the boat with a high concept of Western Steampunk is beyond me... Then again then was another clunker called COWBOYS & ALIENS that didn't even make back it's budget worldwide so it was a big loss. Maybe there's just something about cowboy steampunk that doesn't work.

Jonah Hex too. What was the last Western that did very well?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

I still want to see Pirates Band of Misfits. Then afterwards I'll probably sneak into Avengers if there are any open seats.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Jonah Hex too. What was the last Western that did very well?

Tombstone. A brilliant film great direction and cinematography and an all around excellent cast. True West Magazine called it "One of the five best Western films of all time." Budget was $25 million and U.S. gross was $56 million. Sooooooo watchable.

[JonWes]

I think the last western to do well was probably the remake of True Grit. It made $251m on a budget of $38m

[Krueger]

Jonah Hex too. What was the last Western that did very well?

That’s one of the reasons why a lot of people see doom and gloom for the 215 million budgeted Lone Ranger next year. I’m inclined to agree.

[Firefly]

MIB (rumored budget between $225 - $300 million) opens to soft numbers. It seems like everyone outside of Avengers is not having a good summer box office so far.

weekend estimates 5/25-5/27:

1 Men In Black 3 $55,000,000
2 The Avengers $36,987,000 ($513,672,000)
3 Battleship $10,800,000 ($44,300,000)
4 The Dictator $9,600,000 ($41,448,000)
5 Chernobyl Diaries $8,000,000
6 Dark Shadows $7,515,000 ($62,998,000)
7 What to Expect When You’re Expecting $7,150,000 ($22,171,000)
8 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 6,350,000 ($16,553,000)
9 The Hunger Games $2,750,000 ($395,209,000)
10 Think Like A Man $1,400,000 ($88,272,000)

[heavy-eternium]

funny how some movies don't work well in America but in international box office works well . battleship only accumulated 44 millions in U.S and in the rest of the world it already accumulated 232 millions( not counting last weekend).

[wolfsfang]

funny how some movies don't work well in America but in international box office works well . battleship only accumulated 44 millions in U.S and in the rest of the world it already accumulated 232 millions( not counting last weekend).

well to be fair Battleship only came out on May 18th in the USA whereas at least here in the UK it came out April 11th (which means we had had it 47 days longer), in fact it has been out so long that it is basically no longer advertised, even the billboards advertising it are no longer up where I live and it is pretty much considered an over and done with, time to move on now film so it has had time accumulate all that money

[Krueger]

Through Monday MIB 3 is projected to gross about 202 million worldwide, so it’s not looking too bad. It’s pretty much guaranteed at least 450 million worldwide. We’ve got to realise that this is a sequel to a very weak 2nd film, so for it to actually have made as much as it has is actually quite impressive.

[JonWes]

The problem is MIB is rumored to cost $300m budget-wise.

[Krueger]

The problem is MIB is rumored to cost $300m budget-wise.

I know. That is a problem. I will say that the Hollywood Reporter pegs the budget at 230 million. Still absurdly high, though. When all is said and done I don't think MIB 3 will be a flop, but it probably won't make Sony much money, either. As I said before, weak sequels usually hurt the next sequel, so Sony should thank their lucky stars it’s made as much as it has at this stage.

Not to sound cynical, but I really don't think this film should have been made. Firstly, the second film really turned a lot of people off. It’s objectively a very bad film. Secondly, the budget is far too high, but that's more to do with the numerous production problems it faced. And thirdly, and in my opinion the most important point, is this truly a franchise that people care about? Was their a worldwide fanbase utterly salivating for this film? Would many people the world over have complained if a MIB 3 had never ever been made? I really don't think so. These three points are why I believe Sony is probably breathing a sigh of relief as I type this. It could have been a bloodbath, but MIB 3 seems to have faired quite well so far.

I don't think we'll be seeing a MIB 4 anytime soon. Sony will be on the hunt for their next franchise. I believe they have the rights to MOTU.

[markatisu]

Well to be honest I think Sony is quite happy, MIB2 just about ruined the franchise and there was a lot of ill will going into this movie.

We saw it today, and it was 100x better than MIB2. I think Josh Brolin did a fantastic job and I think the positive word of mouth it is getting will help it a bit. It won't be a smash hit but if people are speaking honestly they would admit this was never going to do good.

- - - Updated - - -

Jonah Hex too. What was the last Western that did very well?

True Grit, 2010. $38m budget and $171m gross in the US, $80m overseas. Then again it was a remake

Brokeback Mountain was probably the only one in the 2000's ($18m budget, $83m gross)

You can find a bunch going back to the 90's with Dances with Wolves, Tombstone, Unforgiven, and Maverick

[JonWes]

If it cost $300m plus marketing expenses I'm not sure they'll be HAPPY unless it starts making significantly more or merch takes off. $450m global wouldn't cut it. We'll see.