Box Office Numbers (& Competition)

[Advanced Dark]

300 will stop it in it's tracks and Zodiak will give it it's first hit. 120 million is looking almost certain now but 200 "domestic" that's insane. I wish.

 

[Thot]

Box office is looking great. I really don't think drop off will be too big. Good word of mouth and repeat viewing will help dramatically. I'm lookin forward to the dvd and sequel!

 

[Billy Batson]

I'll add my money to the Ghost Rider pot next week.
Total gross $200 mil+. I hope.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Let's say it drops 55% from the opening 45 million. That's another 20 million next weekend plus maybe 10 million Tues-Thur. So say another 30 million total from Tues to next Sunday. That would put us at 81 million. Then we have to deal with Zodiak and probably lose a few screens so we go down another 50-55% add another 20 million for the entire week mon-sun and we're at 101 million. Then we hit 300 right? I think 120-130 million is the most. I'm not using a calculator or anything so just trying to round everything off to make it simple.

 

[Advanced Dark]

From the LA Times:


http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...465412.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter

'Ghost Rider' sets pace for record weekend

The comic book action film is projected to take in $51 over the three-day holiday weekend.
By Josh Friedman, Times Staff Writer
February 18, 2007

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After a sluggish start to the year, the movie business is firing on all cylinders, with the action romp "Ghost Rider" leading Hollywood to record ticket sales for Presidents' Day weekend.

Sony Pictures' story of a hell-blazing, motorcycle-riding vigilante played by Nicolas Cage racked up an estimated $44.5 million through Sunday, the best three-day opening of the year and an all-time high for this holiday weekend.

The film is projected to reach $51 million when Monday's box-office receipts are counted, which would be a new peak for the four-day period.

Each of the five major new releases, including the family adventure "Bridge to Terabithia," took in more than $10 million through Sunday, helping the industry set overall records and snap out of a six-week slump. U.S. and Canadian totals from Friday through Monday were likely to reach $185 million, Media by Numbers said.

Rory Bruer, Sony's president of domestic distribution, noted that "Ghost Rider" beat the studio's projections and climbed 12 percent from Friday to Saturday.

"This played like a summer movie," he said. "It's got it all: excitement, action, humor and special effects."

Averaging more than $12,000 per theater through Sunday, the film skewed male and slightly young. Audiences were estimated by Sony at 62 percent men and 55 percent under age 25.

Based on the Marvel comic book character, "Ghost Rider" was produced for an estimated $120 million, but the hefty gamble is likely to pay off big.

Presidents' Day is surely becoming a favorite holiday for "Ghost Rider" writer-director Mark Steven Johnson. His last film, "Daredevil," led the industry to the holiday's previous four-day record of $164 million in 2003.

"Ghost Rider" also got off to a fast start internationally, opening No. 1 in all 21 territories that reported grosses Sunday. Sony estimated foreign grosses of $15.5 million from the 24 countries where the film opened outside the United States and Canada, with the biggest takes coming from Russia, Spain, Mexico, Australia and Taiwan.

Walt Disney Co.'s fantasy adventure "Bridge to Terabithia" finished at No. 2 for the weekend in the United States and Canada, grossing $22.1 million through Sunday.

Adapted from the classic novel and produced in collaboration with Walden Media -- the team behind the 2005 blockbuster "The Chronicles of Narnia" -- the movie took advantage of a soft market for family pictures. The audience was estimated as 71 percent families and 55 percent female.

"Bridge to Terabithia" should benefit from strong word of mouth as well as its positive reviews, said Chuck Viane, Disney's distribution president. Audiences scored the film highly in exit surveys, he said.

Last weekend's top film, the Eddie Murphy comedy "Norbit," held its own in a crowded market, finishing No. 3. "Norbit" grossed an estimated $16.8 million through Sunday, a drop of 51 percent from the previous weekend, according to distributor Paramount Pictures.

Three other new films scored solid, if unspectacular, openings.

Warner Bros.' "Music & Lyrics," a romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, grossed $14 million through Sunday, and $19.5 million in the five days since its Wednesday opening for Valentine's Day.

Lions Gate's "Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls" took in $12.1 million, and $17.8 million since also launching Wednesday.

The movie marks a key test for Perry, the Atlanta-based filmmaker who has turned his name into a powerful brand with the low-budget hits "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" in 2005 and "Madea's Family Reunion" last year.

This is the first of his three movies without him -- or his comic alter ego, the feisty Madea character -- on-screen. But Perry wrote and directed the romantic comedy-drama.

"Daddy's Little Girls" didn't open as strongly as his first two films, but it was produced for less than $10 million, so it is likely to notch a profit.

Universal Pictures' spy thriller "Breach" opened to $10.4 million. The critically acclaimed film, based on the true story of FBI traitor Robert Hanssen, stars Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe and Laura Linney.

On the art-house circuit, Miramax's "The Queen" passed $50 million in its 21st weekend. Star Helen Mirren is the heavy favorite to win best actress at Sunday's Academy Awards, which could give the long-running film a final boost.

Industrywide grosses were up from the same weekend in 2006 for the first time in seven weeks, according to Media by Numbers. Even with the pickup, however, year-to-date attendance and revenue are down slightly from last year's pace.

See the highlighted part. That's why Nic Cage wanted this film to be PG-13 and not R. Maybe will see Goyer's take one day but if it were released we probably never would see a sequel.

 

[Carp Man]

Impresive. Most impresive. Critics hate it, fanboys hate it, but it is # 1 on Presidents day 4 day weekend. t: Impressive.

 

[Tempest19]

Lol. Guess everyone just likes to have some good super powered fun.

Is there even any other action "fun" films out now? JW...

 

[Gamma Burst]

The B.O. is really looking great.

 

[Carp Man]

Lol. Guess everyone just likes to have some good super powered fun.

Is there even any other action "fun" films out now? JW...

Yea. Amazing how fun, superhero movies bring in the bucks. Critics don't know that yet. ( Don't tell them. Let them wallow in their ignorance ).

 

[GL's Light]

As the biggest President's Day weekend opening ever, 3rd biggest February opening ever, and the biggest opening of Nic Cage's career it's certainly a very good opening.

If it follows the same basic pattern as Daredevil it'll end up with around $ 110-112 million domestic and $ 90-100 million international. So, it's surefire to turn a profit after DVD revenues. To move beyond that and into the realm of being a real smash hit it needs to develop decent enough legs to pass that $ 200 million worldwide range and get as close to the high 200's as possible.

At any rate, this big opening will hopefully help keep the greenlights for comic book films coming.

 

[Carp Man]

As the biggest President's Day weekend opening ever, 3rd biggest February opening ever, and the biggest opening of Nic Cage's career it's certainly a very good opening.

If it follows the same basic pattern as Daredevil it'll end up with around $ 110-112 million domestic and $ 90-100 million international. So, it's surefire to turn a profit after DVD revenues. To move beyond that and into the realm of being a real smash hit it needs to develop decent enough legs to pass that $ 200 million worldwide range and get as close to the high 200's as possible.

At any rate, this big opening will hopefully help the greenlights for comic book films coming.

GL. Wasupppppppppppppppppppp buddy ? Glad you could join us. What did you think of it ?

 

[Advanced Dark]

I love owning Marvel stock. It makes investing fun.

 

[Kasady]

300 will stop it in it's tracks.

Yeah 300 gonna rock in IMAX can't wait.

 

[GL's Light]

GL. Wasupppppppppppppppppppp buddy ? Glad you could join us. What did you think of it ?

Hey Carp. I haven't seen it yet. I'll try to catch it sometime this week if I have time.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ Too bad they were working on GR till the last minute. Well not too bad cause it's visually stunning but too bad cause they couldn't prep it for Imax. Imagine Ghost Rider in Imax 3d.

 

[Tempest19]

300 will stop it in it's tracks. quote]

Yeah 300 gonna rock in IMAX can't wait.

Damn, had to remind me that I don't live near an IMAX.

 

[Carp Man]

Hey Carp. I haven't seen it yet. I'll try to catch it sometime this week if I have time.

It's a good ride. Very entertaining.

 

[Tempest19]

^ Too bad they were working on GR till the last minute. Well not too bad cause it's visually stunning but too bad cause they couldn't prep it for Imax. Imagine Ghost Rider in Imax 3d.

AWESOME!!!! I can imagine the audience reaching out to touch the flames... which in this case, actually would be safe- just remember: don't try at home... very dangerous.

 

[Carp Man]

Imagine Ghost Rider in Imax 3d.

Can you imaging the Thing, Silver Surfer, and Galactus on IMAX ?

 

[Tempest19]

I'm someone who goes to films every week- sometimes two times or more- and every film serves a certain function. GR just served to entertain, and I'd say right now that's what a lot of people want. Just to get out of the house and the cold and go have a "fun" time at the movies...

Also, GR is- more or less- the only "fun" movie out. Everything else is either a chick flick, heavy drama, or very serious academy film. Except for Terebithia, Aces, and Night at the Museum... so that may have accounted for our success so far as well.

So going to dramas, serious criminal flicks, etc. once in a while you just have to grab some popcorn and go to see a "fun" 'popcorn film'.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ Exactly and 23 isn't going to change that. Also I wouldn't call Tarabithia fun. It was a solid film but it was pretty damn depressing. A tear jerker for sure.

 

[Carp Man]

Well I'm going to head on over to the FF boards, and see what's going on there.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Look at this. People can't even get in do to sold out shows.

http://comicsfairplay.blogspot.com/2007/02/checking-in-but-not-seeing-ghost-rider.html

 

[Hiruu]

The opening for Ghost Rider is BIG for the Sony/Marvel relationship. Everybody knows that Spider-Man III is going to SERIOUSLY compete for the summer crown, so Ghost Rider was just just the fuel needed to kick start the year's event. Let's see...Nic Cage's BIGGEST opening to date...can we say sequel, and Sony commiting a bit more of a push for a summer release. This is very successful launch of a new series, and the 11% bump from Friday to Saturday was very telling...the movie will have some legs (relative to the genre). I expect a run on par with Fantastic Four...so a final tally in the $120-130 range...maybe a bit more. When international tally is addded...Sony and Marvel get to profit nicely off the aftermarket stuff.

 

[Advanced Dark]

The MOST important things about Ghost Rider being successful:

1) A new franchise is born. Now they can improve on the next one.
2) Keeps the confidence in studios to dig deeper into Marvel's characters for potential future franchises.
3) Keeps the studios confident in the entire genre across the board.
4) Proves superhero films are not a fad but a genre. They are not going away...ever. They'll be around in one form or another. If someone gets tired of Ghost Rider they'll watch Flash, Nick Fury, Spider-Man, Blade, etc...They're all different enough to move in cycles.