The Box Office Thread

I was not on the Pitch Perfect bandwagon. The funniest parts were adlibbed. Generally found it mediocre.

THIS WEEK IN BOX OFFICE HISTORY

10 years ago, Jane Fonda returned to the big screen after a decade-long absence to co-star in Monster-in-Law with Jennifer Lopez. It opened at #1 in the box office. 

20 years ago, Crimson Tide, the first of many Tony Scott & Denzel Washington movies, opened at #1 in the box office.

30 years ago, Fame was released and became a cult classic.

The best we can hope for is $40 million. There IS the possibility that word-of-mouth will be incredibly strong and the film will have legs at the box office. That's how Bridesmaids - to use a modern example - became a hit. It opened at #2 with a very modest $26 million but stayed in the Top 5 for a month and remained in the Top 10 for a month after that. In total, the movie grossed $169 million domestically. Mad Max will obviously have to gross more than that to be considered a success, but it's possible. If Mad Max grosses $200 million domestic and $500 million worldwide, it'll be fine.

Exactly, there's big releases on the near horizon, and Avengers will still make good money this weekend too.  $25 mil is still a generous estimate for this weekend, and it sadly isn't likely to have long legs after this weekend either. 

I think "Tomorrowland" will do well, the family audience will go and this is one of the few times that people my age are interested in a live action Disney film, so I think it has wide appeal. Sure, people don't really know exactly what it's about, but I think it'll do fine.

Eh, you make a good point. But still, even though WE know those movies are complete shit, we also know that a lot of stupid people will see San Andreas and Insidious 3, namely stupid teenagers. Poltergeist looks bad but likely will do decent solely out of intrigue, don't even get me started on Kevin James--err Melissa McCarthy I'd really hope no one sees that movie, and yeah Entourage will be a hit. It's not so much Max's competition, which is mostly Avengers still, but I don't have faith in the general public to seek out an original and unique, R-rated film like this. I'm too pretentious and they're too stupid for me to believe otherwise which is why I still think $25 mil at the box office is a small victory. I want to be wrong, I really do, I want people to sprint to the theater and see it, but it ain't happening.

Yeah, but people your age also have Poltergeist. Horror movies are quintessential date night movies and this one has brand name appeal and strong marketing. I think it will be a close race. Tomorrowland might win the weekend because a family of four is more money than two people on a date, but it won't be a major victory. I think both movies will open very close to each other.



The movie is tracking at $40 million. It's not an exact science, but since so many people purchase tickets online, studios and theaters have a rough estimate of what to expect. $25 million is too low of a prediction. Realistically, it will open anywhere between $35 million and $45 million.

Well that's good news, and I'm quite surprised to be honest. I mean it's not like the franchise isn't well known, and the last two were definitely successes in the 80s so maybe there is faith in humanity still. But I mean, $40 mil opening weekend still seems like a pipedream to me.

I'm debating changing my plans just to see it opening weekend.

The girlfriend and I's schedules won't allow us seeing it together, at least this weekend. Work is a bitch.

Watch it twice.

Maybe those who saw it Friday night gave it awesome word of mouth. Still a hope for a good weekend total.

Well 44M isn't a horrible start. Should have long legs. Maybe get near the 150M US mark by the time it leaves the top ten.