Comments on: Box Office Awesome: The Early ‘09 Sprint http://www.goddos.net/2009/05/25/box-office-awesome-the-early-09-sprint/ Gail Simone is my hero Mon, 25 May 2009 19:10:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: damienroc http://www.goddos.net/2009/05/25/box-office-awesome-the-early-09-sprint/comment-page-1/#comment-4635 damienroc Mon, 25 May 2009 19:10:12 +0000 http://www.goddos.net/?p=63#comment-4635 Well, it's certainly not good for the theaters. But it's worth noting that all three of the really high profile front-loaded films (F13, Watchmen, and Wolverine) underperformed to expectations. F13 is still a profitable film, because it's dirt cheap to make slasher flicks, but considering the last film featuring Jason (Freddy vs. Jason) managed to finish up north of $80m, this isn't the franchise reboot that's to be desired. Wolverine's also likely to be profitable, if only because of overseas grosses, but it's throwing well under the previous X-Men films, and that's with the headline character for the series. The prospects for Magneto or any other origins films don't look good for the franchise. Watchmen, however, is a massive disappointment. Even before the release, WB sold off the foreign rights and then got into a legal battle just to get it released. It's not profitable and will probably have a long road to becoming so on DVD. While there's varying degrees of studio profitability there, it can't be understated that these films are disappointments. I believe any heavily frontloaded film will have that stigma. Just look at Spider-Man 3, which managed to cross $300m and was the biggest film of 2007 and is still considered a business disappointment. So, yes, they're not good for theaters they're not especially good for anyone. Box Office Awesome isn't always positive, after all. ^_^ Well, it’s certainly not good for the theaters. But it’s worth noting that all three of the really high profile front-loaded films (F13, Watchmen, and Wolverine) underperformed to expectations. F13 is still a profitable film, because it’s dirt cheap to make slasher flicks, but considering the last film featuring Jason (Freddy vs. Jason) managed to finish up north of $80m, this isn’t the franchise reboot that’s to be desired.

Wolverine’s also likely to be profitable, if only because of overseas grosses, but it’s throwing well under the previous X-Men films, and that’s with the headline character for the series. The prospects for Magneto or any other origins films don’t look good for the franchise.

Watchmen, however, is a massive disappointment. Even before the release, WB sold off the foreign rights and then got into a legal battle just to get it released. It’s not profitable and will probably have a long road to becoming so on DVD.

While there’s varying degrees of studio profitability there, it can’t be understated that these films are disappointments. I believe any heavily frontloaded film will have that stigma. Just look at Spider-Man 3, which managed to cross $300m and was the biggest film of 2007 and is still considered a business disappointment. So, yes, they’re not good for theaters they’re not especially good for anyone.

Box Office Awesome isn’t always positive, after all. ^_^

]]> By: Jacquilynne http://www.goddos.net/2009/05/25/box-office-awesome-the-early-09-sprint/comment-page-1/#comment-4632 Jacquilynne Mon, 25 May 2009 18:17:00 +0000 http://www.goddos.net/?p=63#comment-4632 I'm curious what this ends up meaning for theaters. It's my understanding that distribution deals tend to pay the studious most for the initial week with the theater getting a higher percentage of the take in subsequent weeks. If more and more movies are one-and-done on the opening weekend, how do the theaters pay for all those big screen, big sound megaplexes? Presumably $6 popcorn will only go so far. I’m curious what this ends up meaning for theaters. It’s my understanding that distribution deals tend to pay the studious most for the initial week with the theater getting a higher percentage of the take in subsequent weeks. If more and more movies are one-and-done on the opening weekend, how do the theaters pay for all those big screen, big sound megaplexes? Presumably $6 popcorn will only go so far.

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