Superman Returns Did having an unknown in the role of Superman hurt the box office numbers?

[NotFadeAway]

Before this turns into a flame war, I would like to say that I LIKED the idea of casting and unknown and supported the decision to cast Routh. In my opinion, an unknown was the way to go and I would have done the same thing in Singer's position. So Im on Singer's side in this instance, although not many others lol.

Back to the question, do you as a fan think casting an unknown in the role of Superman and not a familiar face hurt the box office numbers?

 

[Mee]

I don't think so, Tobey Mcguire was basically an unknown and Spider-Man did alright.

 

[Timstuff]

I don't think that wether the actor was unknown or not mattered. I think people just wanted someone beefier.

 

[Milkman95]

I don't think so, Tobey Mcguire was basically an unknown and Spider-Man did alright.

Same with Christian Bale.

 

[Matt]

I don't think so, Tobey Mcguire was basically an unknown and Spider-Man did alright.

But Kirsten Dunst was really popular among the young crowds around the time of release and older folks remembered Dafoe from movies like Platoon and the Jack Ryan flicks.

Superman Returns basically had no star power at all. Kevin Spacey, while a phenomonal actor, is really only popular in the indy market, and Bosworth isn't that huge either. It could honestly be argued that the best known actor in the mainstream would be "Kumar/the foreign kid from Van Wilder"

 

[Mee]

-Edit

 

[Matt]

Same with Christian Bale.

Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine. No need for a big name star

 

[NotFadeAway]

But Kirsten Dunst was really popular among the young crowds around the time of release and older folks remembered Dafoe from movies like Platoon and the Jack Ryan flicks.

Superman Returns basically had no star power at all. Kevin Spacey, while a phenomonal actor, is really only popular in the indy market, and Bosworth isn't that huge either. It could honestly be argued that the best known actor in the mainstream would be "Kumar/the foreign kid from Van Wilder"

Those are damn good points!

 

[Milkman95]

Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine. No need for a big name star

All those names you just listed are not box office draws.

 

[NotFadeAway]

All those names you just listed are not box office draws.

But they all have mainstream recognition!

 

[Mee]

But they all have mainstream recognition!

I dunno about Holmes. She's in the mainstream now, but not for her acting.

 

[Matt]

All those names you just listed are not box office draws.

Maybe not Liam Neeson or Michael Caine (At least not to mainstream audiences) but Freeman and Holmes certainly are.

 

[NotFadeAway]

I dunno about Holmes. She's in the mainstream now, but not for her acting.

Not the best actress, I agree, but she was a known by the mainstream, even before she got with Tom Cruise.

 

[Milkman95]

But they all have mainstream recognition!

True, but as we saw with KOM, Liam Neeson can't carry a film all by himself, even with Orlando Bloom.

 

[Matt]

True, but as we saw with KOM, Liam Neeson can't carry a film all by himself, even with Orlando Bloom.

I'd say all that proves is Orlando Bloom can't carry a film by himself. Neeson was a fairly small role in KOH.

 

[Matt]

At anyrate, back on topic, I'll reitterate, an unknown as Superman didn't hurt the box office, but more the lack of any known actor in any role hurt it. When the foreign kid from Van Wilder is your biggest, most well known star, that is problematic.

 

[NotFadeAway]

True, but as we saw with KOM, Liam Neeson can't carry a film all by himself, even with Orlando Bloom.

Oh no, your correct, Liam Neeson can't carry a film by himself. But if you take the combined name recognition of Neeson, Bale, Oldman, Caine, Murphy, Watanbe, and Holmes, who yes brought in the teeny boppers who saw the previews and screamed JOEY POTTER....

And then you take those names and put them under the title Batman, it will sell. And I think some causul movie going fans were still turned off by Batman and Robin and have since watched the film on DVD or HBO and will be there for the sequel. BB2 is going to be huge, make no mistake.

 

[NotFadeAway]

At anyrate, back on topic, I'll reitterate, an unknown as Superman didn't hurt the box office, but more the lack of any known actor in any role hurt it. When the foreign kid from Van Wilder is your biggest, most well known star, that is problematic.

Matt, I have to agree, I never thought of it like that. The film did lack TRUE star power, as Spacey, while an incredible actor, is not a household name.

 

[Lightning54SC]

i like the unknown.... next film id like to see less reeve wannabe and more Routh as himself MAKING SUPERMAN HIS OWN CHARACTER

 

[gojisan1987]

First of all, Kevin Spacey is a bigger star than you all are giving him credit for and has appeal that extends outside the independent world. He may not be a huge draw, but he is still a household name. However, regardless of this, it doesn't really matter as this is a superhero movie and that is the draw. Even though I thought Routh did a great job, I must admit he didn't really look like a "Man Of Steel". I think this, combined with the heavy focus on the emotions of Superman, was what hurt it opening weekend.
But at the end of the day one has to realize this is the revival of a character that has had significant presence in the media since his inception. It wasn't like Spider-Man, which had never had an adequate live-action showing. This movie just wasn't really destined to break records.

 

[Lightning54SC]

Id rather this movie be more personal to people rathe rthen box office breaker.... kinda like BB its more senimental to people

 

[Matt]

First of all, Kevin Spacey is a bigger star than you all are giving him credit for and has appeal that extends outside the independent world. He may not be a huge draw, but he is still a household name.

Spacey is NOT a household name. A household name is someone everyone knows (Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, etc)...if you ask your average joe who Kevin Spacey is, they likely will not know.

 

[Thunder Emperor]

All those names you just listed are not box office draws.

but having all those guys in one movie, indicates to movie goes that the flick most be good.

 

[Spirit4ever]

I agree with gojisan, in that Kevin Spacey has a pretty good cult following after his devious roles in Seven and The Usual Suspects. He was also great in The Negotiator and American Beauty.

I dont think a non name big cast hurt the film. Back when the first X-Men debut, most of the actors weren't a house hold name. Even Halle Berry, not everyone knew who she was at the time. She would get her recognition after the release of X-Men, when she won her Oscar for Monster's Ball. Hughe Kackman may be huge now, but no one except Australians knew who he was before he pulled out the claws.

What I think hurt the film is that people are stuck on Christopher Reeves and think it is disrespectful to go see the new Superman, or he simply lost his luster on the big screen, since we can see him on Smallville once a week. I think this is the biggest reason, people just lost interest. Superman has been done. I also wonder if people suspected it to be crowded and stayed away thinking it would be sold out, but I doubt that theory too.

But I liked the movie, and that is what counts, if you liked the movie or not. I have seen better films, X2 was just awesome by all standards in my opinion, but I have seen worse. I for one, didn't care for Batman Begins, again, this is my opinion.

 

[Thunder Emperor]

Maybe not Liam Neeson or Michael Caine (At least not to mainstream audiences) but Freeman and Holmes certainly are.

true also people remember schindlers list and that was neeson. the main point is the movie had respected talent all round.