Rise of the Silver Surfer BOX OFFICE Discussion

[coreymb16]

How much the Fantastic Four franchise have made all together so far?

 

[X-Maniac]

Poor marketing ? Allready made 15.7 in the U.K. Poor indeed.

The marketing was not as hot as it has been for previous Fox movies (like X3).

A UK trailer featuring the London Eye sequence might have helped. Many people I know haven't even heard about the movie - I mention it and they say 'What's that?'....

I'm not a hater, and i'm not bashing for the sake of it, I'm pointing out what i perceive to be flaws in promoting the movie - and in the movie itself. I did enjoy the movie - but I could see why it might get bashed by critics.

The conversations between the critics/reviewers at the advance screening I attended were very interesting. Most people absolutely hated the first movie (people spoke of giving the DVD away, or using it a frisbee or a coaster), most agreed the second one was better but they felt it didn't stand on its own as a good movie. Critics obviously hope all movies strive to be Oscar contenders.

As a superhero fan (and owner of some FF comics since childhood such as the original issue of Childhood's End with Franklin's 'emergence'), I enjoyed the movie but felt it was flawed in overdosing us on campy comedy and brisk editing (which harmed its horrific events); as a general movie viewer, I could see that without having my superhero geekiness, this movie would not get a good reception in the wider media community.

 

[GL's Light]

I've run some numbers on the first set of weekdays after the opening weekend, and FF2 is trailing FF by an average of 10%, which puts the final tally in the $140-145 range, depending on how the movie performs this weekend. On the flip side, the international numbers have been better, then the domestic decline, which adds up to a net gain, not loss.

If it's lucky it might push up to $ 145 mil. But my point was really that the second weekend Saturday and Sunday percentage rise and fall doesn't indicate whether a film is going to have good legs or not, as my example illustrated.

FF 1 had a multiplier of 2.75. I think the highest multiplier FF 2 can hope for is 2.5 (which would lead to $ 145 mil), and the multiplier could well be a little lower, 2.3 to 2.4, depending on how it holds up over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Hiruu]

The marketing was not as hot as it has been for previous Fox movies (like X3).

A UK trailer featuring the London Eye sequence might have helped. Many people I know haven't even heard about the movie - I mention it and they say 'What's that?'....

I'm not a hater, and i'm not bashing for the sake of it, I'm pointing out what i perceive to be flaws in promoting the movie - and in the movie itself. I did enjoy the movie - but I could see why it might get bashed by critics.

The conversations between the critics/reviewers at the advance screening I attended were very interesting. Most people absolutely hated the first movie (people spoke of giving the DVD away, or using it a frisbee or a coaster), most agreed the second one was better but they felt it didn't stand on its own as a good movie. Critics obviously hope all movies strive to be Oscar contenders.

As a superhero fan (and owner of some FF comics since childhood such as the original issue of Childhood's End with Franklin's 'emergence'), I enjoyed the movie but felt it was flawed in overdosing us on campy comedy and brisk editing (which harmed its horrific events); as a general movie viewer, I could see that without having my superhero geekiness, this movie would not get a good reception in the wider media community.

The movie is 30% better, has the ticket prices increased that much in the UK? Otherwise, it seems that more people are seeing this movie, this time around than last, and if the rest of the international rollout is like this, FF2 will meet and surpass FF easily.

 

[coreymb16]

I will not put those estimates on my signature until the actuals come in.

 

[X-Maniac]

I'm somewhat confused about any compliants about this film in the UK...it open 30% bigger, and dopped only 48% after opening, so I don't follow your comments. If the film had performed like this in the USA, Fox would have greenlighted the sequel today?

It hasn't done badly, and was never going to be Pirates or Spider-Man, but my perception was that the marketing was not very obvious. And I was looking for it everywhere! Some posters of Surfer on bus shelters, the trailer with the Torch/Surfer chase.. but nothing showing the London Eye sequence, no talk shows that I knew about, it just didn't seem as good as it could have been.

 

[Spade]

The budget was either $125 or $130 million depending on your source of choice. Not close to 200.

Wow. Well, at least I know now why the effects were so cartoony...

 

[Bishop2]

The marketing was not as hot as it has been for previous Fox movies (like X3).

A UK trailer featuring the London Eye sequence might have helped. Many people I know haven't even heard about the movie - I mention it and they say 'What's that?'....

I think it's kind of refreshing that they didn't saturate us with marketing like Spider-Man did. Hell, at least it got more marketing that POTC did. POTC had almost nothing until one month in advance of the film!

But it's true that marketing was way less than the first film. This is a fairly common decision, really. Sony was interviewed about the marketing for Spider-Man 3, and they mentioned that they were going against the trend because the usual theory is that sequels need less marketing than originals. Originals are the "launch" of the franchise, so awareness is naturally lower, etc.

 

[Hiruu]

If it's lucky it might push up to $ 145 mil. But my point was really that the second weekend Saturday and Sunday percentage rise and fall doesn't indicate whether a film is going to have good legs or not, as my example illustrated.

FF 1 had a multiplier of 2.75. I think the highest multiplier FF 2 can hope for is 2.5 (which would lead to $ 145 mil), and the multiplier could well be a little lower, 2.3 to 2.4, depending on how it holds up over the next couple of weeks.

No disagreement there, but it DOES present a good basis for trend analysis, as compared to the first film, which helps to project where it might end up. That's why this weekend will be important in determining where the film ends up. if the drop matches the first film...it's all good, otherwise, then it's slipping into the $130-140 range at best.

 

[X-Maniac]

The movie is 30% better, has the ticket prices increased that much in the UK? Otherwise, it seems that more people are seeing this movie, this time around than last, and if the rest of the international rollout is like this, FF2 will meet and surpass FF easily.

For the sake of continued improvements in a sequel (and Inhumans, please!), let's hope it does do well. I just want more depth... a bit less of the camp, spoofy stuff, a bit more of the epic drama and emotion.

 

[Grog]

The marketing was not as hot as it has been for previous Fox movies (like X3).

As a superhero fan (and owner of some FF comics since childhood such as the original issue of Childhood's End with Franklin's 'emergence'), I enjoyed the movie but felt it was flawed in overdosing us on campy comedy and brisk editing (which harmed its horrific events); as a general movie viewer, I could see that without having my superhero geekiness, this movie would not get a good reception in the wider media community.

I agree with most of what you say. The marketing was much toned down from the first film. I think Fox looked at the poor sales of merchandise and the numbers of the first film and didn't want to bet the farm on FF 2.

For the film itself, a bit less camp and a longer more climactic ending could have made it better. But as an FF fan, most of that film was dead on in terms of charactr portrayal. If the general public doesn't like it, the problem could be that the book doesn't have the mass apeal some other heroes do.

 

[Bishop2]

Wow. Well, at least I know now why the effects were so cartoony...

That's still more than the first film, which had $100 million its name. The original X-Men didn't even have that much - closer to $75 mil.

Honestly, the only effects I thought looked "cartoony" were during Reed's little dance sequence. Everything else worked nicely. The Surfer and Johnny in particular looked badass.

 

[Spider-Fan]

For the sake of continued improvements in a sequel (and Inhumans, please!), let's hope it does do well. I just want more depth... a bit less of the camp, spoofy stuff, a bit more of the epic drama and emotion.

Congratulations, your stock is up in my book.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

You missed the point then. I'm talking about those who critsize the movie for being geared to kids. That's what The FF comic was, geared at kids. And the movies reflect that. That's why I say Story understands what FF is all about. He's a kid at heart, and he remembers.

Not today's FF comics, maybe the comics in the past were.

 

[nintendo nerd]

If there's a reboot this guy should play Reed:

 

[GL's Light]

If there's a reboot this guy should play Reed:

With James Gandolfini as the Thing, Edie Falco as Sue, and Michael Imperioli as Johnny.

 

[nintendo nerd]

With James Gandolfini as the Thing, Edie Falco as Sue, and Michael Imperioli as Johnny.

A movie with that cast could make 200 million easily. Although, people would complain about the ending. t:

 

[Bishop2]

If there's a reboot this guy should play Reed:

Christ almighty. Just because Reed's temples are greying doesn't mean he's ever supposed to be that frickin' old! They were going grey when he was in college!

 

[Spider-Fan]

A movie with that cast could make 200 million easily. Although, people would complain about the ending. t:

LOL!!!

That ending did suck!

 

[Docker2.0]

LOL!!!

That ending did suck!

Nah you know what sux? CAVS!!

 

[Tony Stark]

Wow, I don't know if this will make anyone feel better, but June is not a very good month for movies. These are the top 5 opening weekends for June. Everyone of them had a 60% drop or more in week 2.

Harry Potter and the Pris 6/4/04 3855 93.69
Hulk, The 6/20/03 3660 62.13
Cars 6/9/06 3985 60.12
Fantastic Four: Rise of t 6/15/07 3959 58.05
Austin Powers II: The Spy 6/11/99 3314 54.92

 

[Spider-Fan]

Nah you know what sux? CAVS!!

Let's check that when we eliminate the Wizards in the first round next year again.

J/k man, we cool.

 

[Tony Stark]

**note to the above***

that's only for movies that opened on a Friday, so other films that had June start dates like Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins are not included, because they opened on a Wednesday.

 

[GL's Light]

Wow, I don't know if this will make anyone feel better, but June is not a very good month for movies. These are the top 5 opening weekends for June. Everyone of them had a 60% drop or more in week 2.

Harry Potter and the Pris 6/4/04 3855 93.69
Hulk, The 6/20/03 3660 62.13
Cars 6/9/06 3985 60.12
Fantastic Four: Rise of t 6/15/07 3959 58.05
Austin Powers II: The Spy 6/11/99 3314 54.92

No, Cars dropped 43.9% in its second weekend, and Austin Powers II dropped 42.8%.

 

[Tony Stark]

Just about to post that about cars, my bad. I never looked at the numbers for Austin Powers II, because it was an incredibly stupid movie.