2012: A Monster Year? (box office predictions) - Part 2

[CConn]

I don't see it happening myself.

SWATH just doesn't have enough of a draw to it, I think. It's not like Hunger Games or Twilight that already has a built-in fan base.

And despite the R-rating, Prometheus is a return to sci-fi for a guy who's made two of the most legendary sci-fi movies ever...I'd think that would draw people out.

 

[Raiden]

More like the avengers arent getting near the TDKR . Its the sequel to the highest grossing comic book movie of all time. It will be huge and Im a marvel fan. The Avengers sadly is a novelty act that doesnt really stay with you after its over but batman resides for a long time. How About I saw 2 showings of the Avengers, one screening and one opening weekend and both times the dark knight rises trailer came on and you could have heard a pin drop. You go to summer blockbusters like avengers/ battleship/ men in black for big dumb fun but you go to Batman for something special.

You call yourself a Marvel fan and then refer to Avengers as "big dumb fun" with Battleship and MIB3? TDKR may be following one of the highest grossing comic book movie (not anymore after The Avengers), but TDK also had a perfect storm with Ledger playing the most well-known villain in Batman's rogue gallery, and TDKR will have to catch TA's unprecedented run at the box office without 3D, which means they will have to sell way more tickets just to match up. Even with IMAX, I don't think it can be done, but we'll find out in 2 months.

 

[Marvin]

All I know is that a live action adaptation of "Snow White" doesn't seem like it would skip along all that many of the main demographics. Especially one starring the Twilight lead.

The advertising helps though.

 

[Marvin]

You call yourself a Marvel fan and then refer to Avengers as "big dumb fun" with Battleship and MIB3? TDKR may be following one of the highest grossing comic book movie (not anymore after The Avengers), but TDK also had a perfect storm with Ledger playing the most well-known villain in Batman's rogue gallery, and TDKR will have to catch TA's unprecedented run at the box office without 3D, which means they will have to sell way more tickets just to match up. Even with IMAX, I don't think it can be done, but we'll find out in 2 months.

Sometimes Marvel fans can be objective. (though I wouldn't call any film "dumb fun")

As for TA's legendary run, I don't see it passing TDK's epic domestic run(release dates help). I do wonder if it will cross 750 international, time will tell. It will have a high total for sure though. Small victories I guess.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

More like the avengers arent getting near the TDKR . Its the sequel to the highest grossing comic book movie of all time. It will be huge and Im a marvel fan. The Avengers sadly is a novelty act that doesnt really stay with you after its over but batman resides for a long time. How About I saw 2 showings of the Avengers, one screening and one opening weekend and both times the dark knight rises trailer came on and you could have heard a pin drop. You go to summer blockbusters like avengers/ battleship/ men in black for big dumb fun but you go to Batman for something special.

Avenger is not just big dumb fun. Just because is not as serious in toned as the Batman series, does not mean it can't be memorable. The Avengers is by far, the best Marvel movie I have seen. The Avengers is an event movie that was something special.

 

[CConn]

No, he's kinda right. The Avengers doesn't have any real meat to it.

It's not about tone, it's about subtext and subtlety.

Not to say Avengers is bad though. It's just more in the vein of Transformers than The Godfather...if you get my meaning.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I'd say more in the vein of Star Wars. Doesn't mean it can't be special or memorable if it is fun.

I still find it demeaning that a fun movie can't be better than a serious movie. But then again, I don't think either should be compared. I refuse to compare Batman to the Avengers because I treat serious movies different than fun movies.

 

[Liam_H]

Sometimes Marvel fans can be objective. (though I wouldn't call any film "dumb fun")

As for TA's legendary run, I don't see it passing TDK's epic domestic run(release dates help). I do wonder if it will cross 750 international, time will tell. It will have a high total for sure though.
Small victories I guess.

Really, I'm pretty sure TA is gonna easily pass TDK domestic total. Real question is whether it passes $600 million.

 

[Marvin]

I'd say more in the vein of Star Wars. Doesn't mean it can't be special or memorable if it is fun.

I still find it demeaning that a fun movie can't be better than a serious movie. But then again, I don't think either should be compared. I refuse to compare Batman to the Avengers because I treat serious movies different than fun movies.

Something Jamie said about Avengers I fear rings true. A few years from now when I watch it, I'll skip to it's moments. And I'll skip that first act entirely.

That doesn't happen with Blade 1, X1, TDK, with me anyways.

 

[Raiden]

No, he's kinda right. The Avengers doesn't have any real meat to it.

It's not about tone, it's about subtext and subtlety.

Not to say Avengers is bad though. It's just more in the vein of Transformers than The Godfather...if you get my meaning.

We had a thread in The Avengers forum, where people discuss about whether the movie has any substances beyond just action and special effects, and some posters had pointed out areas where Whedon actually applied some layers and subtexts into the movie, although he did it subtlely. But no matter what, some people are just going to call it "popcorn" and "dumb" and used those adjectives to demean the movie and its success. That's how it is.

 

[chaseter]

To me TDK is boring. It's a great movie and has good suspense but it isn't a movie I can watch over and over and over. It's brooding and atmospheric which just sucks the fun out of repeat viewings. Nobody got up and cheered during TDK like they did Avengers. Two entirely separate types of movies. That doesn't make either less quality wise. Avengers is fun and action filled while Batman is suspenseful and atmosphere driven.

 

[Liam_H]

TDK might be more atmospheric and brooding but I like a lot of people can get a lot of enjoyment out of that even with repeat viewings. There are many forms fun can be had.

 

[chaseter]

If you have fun watching TDK then more power to you. I don't after the initial theater viewing. I sat still with my mouth open in awe. At home after you have seen it, it's just boring to me as I don't love to rewatch those types of movies over and over. Great movie but not a fun movie for me. Two different types of movies. Godfather is a great movie as someone mentioned but you don't call your friends over to watch the Godfather. It's just a different type of movie.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

All I know is that a live action adaptation of "Snow White" doesn't seem like it would skip along all that many of the main demographics. Especially one starring the Twilight lead.

The advertising helps though.

Yeah, Snow White will do well, but I don't see it being a blockbuster. My fiancee who was a big fan of the Disney Princess movies growing up has no desire to see it. I also think audiences might be having Snow White fatigue, she's already had one movie open this year, plus she's the star of a TV show. It definitely is a fresh take, but I don't see it as a movie that large segments of the general audience are going to see.

 

[Project862006]

Oh, I don't think it'll be anything massive.

But at the same time, I kinda doubt it'll be a pushover for Snow White.

The only thing that really has going for it is the Twilight/girl fan base.

it has got plenty going for it imo

snow white is a famous fairy tale for 1 on top of that have KS as the lead will help not to mention it seems like a strong female character

also having THOR as the huntsman will bring in male audiences on top of the game of thrones,lord of the rings visual flair and imagery and the epic battle scenes in this film

charlize as the queen should be a great draw she looks like she is enjoying chewing the scenery!!!

epic battles and lotr type style to bring in the men and Kristen and snow white character for the woman

i think it has quite the wide appeal

 

[Spider-Fan]

Something Jamie said about Avengers I fear rings true. A few years from now when I watch it, I'll skip to it's moments. And I'll skip that first act entirely.

That doesn't happen with Blade 1, X1, TDK, with me anyways.

Really? X1? That movie was as cookie cutter as you can get. Wolverine, Rogue, and Magneto were only characters with any meat. Everyone else was either a jerk or wasn't interesting. The characters, dialogue, and plot of Avengers was far more engaging, well-defined, and epic. X-Men, Magneto wanted to make gov't officials mutants. The plot itself was goofy, and came across as a bit silly.

To me TDK is boring. It's a great movie and has good suspense but it isn't a movie I can watch over and over and over. It's brooding and atmospheric which just sucks the fun out of repeat viewings. Nobody got up and cheered during TDK like they did Avengers. Two entirely separate types of movies. That doesn't make either less quality wise. Avengers is fun and action filled while Batman is suspenseful and atmosphere driven.

I think TDK is more fun than people give it credit for mostly due to the Joker. The Joker really steals the show, and makes the movie fun anytime he is on screen. I could call people over to watch it mainly for that reason. But, I enjoyed Avengers more (and SM2, but in SM2's case, that was a film that really spoke to me personally on top of being fun). Now, Now, I am not so sure TDKR will be as fun a film as TDK due to Joker's lack of presence in the movie, but I can't measure Nolan Bane very well yet.

 

[Marvin]

Really? X1? That movie was as cookie cutter as you can get. Wolverine, Rogue, and Magneto were only characters with any meat. Everyone else was either a jerk or wasn't interesting. The characters, dialogue, and plot of Avengers was far more engaging, well-defined, and epic. X-Men, Magneto wanted to make gov't officials mutants. The plot itself was goofy, and came across as a bit silly.

Avengers was more in the moment and it was more celebratory, but the thing about the first x film is the build and expositional quality. Part ones of things such as the matrix/ninja turtles always have this. I can watch X1 in it's entirety because of this. Avengers to me is just moments I remember.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I disagree 10000%. X-Men is not a bad movie, but it is far from great. The film is very flawed.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Avenger is not just big dumb fun. Just because is not as serious in toned as the Batman series, does not mean it can't be memorable. The Avengers is by far, the best Marvel movie I have seen. The Avengers is an event movie that was something special.

Thank you. Someone with sense.

It's about fulfillment people. Not about what is deeper or its subtleties. I can be just as fulfilled with the fun of Avengers as I am with TDK's more cerebrel qualities. Hulk smashing Loki? About as great as Batman interrogating Joker. In its own way in what each is trying to do. They're each just as fulfilling. Except I don't want to see Loki talk about philosophy to Hulk for him listen and ponder. I want to see Hulk **** Loki's **** up. Same the other way around.

They're totally different things anyway so why compare? In 2008 it was IM and TDK, this year it will be Avengers and TDKR. This year being perhaps a better example. One is the culmination of what IM started and the other is the finale of what TDK became. Both provide different ways of enjoyment in their own unique ways.

Why do you think Avengers has been as critcally well recieved as TDK and broken box office records? Because it's being the best at what it set out to be and it's succeeding more than anyone could have predicted for it. It just goes to show that not every comic book film has to be like TDK with subliminal messaging or social commentary to be good. I hope more comic book films can look at Avengers too as what comic book movies can be as well, and not just dark and gritty with needing to be deep. There's a preference and that's fine, but people should realize, that one is not better than the other.

With Avengers, we haven't seen this kind of success for a comic book film since TDK. That says a hell of a lot.

 

[Marvin]

I disagree 10000%. X-Men is not a bad movie, but it is far from great. The film is very flawed.

Never said it was great, or un flawed.
I said, for me, it's very watchable in it's entirety, and mostly because of it's non sequel exposition intrigue. The opening with logan in the bar for example, the whole movie is like that for me. Avengers by it's very nature just can't do that sort of stuff. Perhaps the sequel.

 

[Fenrir]

I can't wait until TDKR releases and outgrosses TDK so that we can finally be done with these utterly idiotic "TDK made so much money because of Heath Ledger's death". No single celebrity on earth, alive or dead, is big enough to bring a billion dollars. Even if Ledger was alive, TDK would have easily made at least 950 million dollars without a doubt. What some people can't get into their noggins is the simple fact that one of the main reasons why TDK made so much money was because it was so damn good - the word of mouth for it was absolutely amazing. Critics, TV anchors, news shows, the general audience...whoever talked about touted it as the must-see film of the summer. Yes, Ledger's Joker was part of that equation but one must be a complete idiot to think it didn't have anything to do with the film's unexpectedly complex plot, its dark and mature themes, the performances of other actors and just the overall quality of the movie. Even now after The Avengers has made more than a billion dollars, TDK is still considered as the holy grail of superhero films because it is the one that elevated the genre, that showed that a superhero movie does not have to stick to tired old conventions of the summer blockbuster formula and that such films can have the caliber to make it to countless Critics and Guild awards' best-of-year nominations.

No matter how much money The Avengers makes, it won't force the Academy's hand to do something as historically unprecedented as expanding the number of Best Picture nominations, but TDK did. The Avengers won't make headline news at being "snubbed" at the Oscars, but TDK did. The Avengers won't get nominations from the Producers, Writers and Directors guild, but TDK did. If TDK is too dark or serious that people wouldn't want to watch it again and again, how the hell did it break home video sales records when it hit DVD and Blu-Ray? You think it managed to succeed on all those levels just because of one character/actor and that too one with screentime less than 1/5th of the film's overall runtime? Seriously?

 

[DACrowe]

I don't see it happening myself.

SWATH just doesn't have enough of a draw to it, I think. It's not like Hunger Games or Twilight that already has a built-in fan base.

And despite the R-rating, Prometheus is a return to sci-fi for a guy who's made two of the most legendary sci-fi movies ever...I'd think that would draw people out.

SWATH also has a slick marketing campaign and four-quaradant appeal. An opening between $80-$100 million seems quite doable.

Prometheus is an R-rated return to sci-fi from a guy who made two classics in the genre...one of which was over 30 years ago and the other of which bombed and still has, primarily, a cult following.

Prometheus hopefully will open over $50 million, but I'm thinking more $40 million. As great as it looks, at this point it is relying mostly on amazing visuals and marketing to open.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I actually find that TDK is probably the most rewatchable comic book film out there. I don't know how somebody can find it boring. Not just Joker either. Two-Face is almost as good and is the character (along with Gordon) that provides the emotional heart of the film. It still holds up better than any other superhero film I've seen, and I could watch it anytime.

 

[EML420]

Are movies like Road to peridtion and a history of violence even known to be comic book movies? Just because nobody has powers doesnt mean they should be ignored.

Im really wondering how Battleship is going to do this weekend..

 

[Liam_H]

Oh boy, this could get ugly quick. As much as I love TDK it's not the Holy Grail of superhero movies. It did not elevate the genre, it just showed what could be done with it just like TA did this summer. It's just a great movie that was executed quite well in a certain way while TA executed its movie quite well in their own way.