Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Box-Office Numbers

[InCali]

To be fair, people probably weren’t so hyped to see a new Suicide Squad after the last one

As far as TSS goes, it seemed like a bit of a retread to me. While I recognize it was put together better than the others, I sort of felt like I had seen it before. I liked it, but probably enjoyed the first one, with all its problems, more.

 

[Pink Ranger]

That's interesting. We know that not everyone is going to like a particular movie, but this one was pretty much a hit with the vast majority of people. I won't see it until Tuesday, but could you tell us what it was you didn't like about it; as long as you can do it without spoilers.

Yesterday's D list can become tomorrow's B maybe......

I wonder how movies like this can affect comic sales.....

I can go into greater depth in the review thread, but without posting spoilers, just a lot of bad screenwriting habits were evident in this script and its structure, from overly long and clunky exposition, unclear character motivations, major plot points not "earned" in the script (a LOT of those in this film), a lot of wasted opportunities to give the hero more of a stake in the story, and characters being put in and abandoned for no reason at all. The thing is, the overall story is good, and most of the serious problems could have been solved quite easily with a little more care and editing. Frankly, a good workshopping of the script would have fixed a lot of the issues I had with its story structure, and I wonder if this movie was just rushed through production for some reason.

 

[Binary10]

I can go into greater depth in the review thread, but without posting spoilers, just a lot of bad screenwriting habits were evident in this script and its structure, from overly long and clunky exposition, unclear character motivations, major plot points not "earned" in the script (a LOT of those in this film), a lot of wasted opportunities to give the hero more of a stake in the story, and characters being put in and abandoned for no reason at all. The thing is, the overall story is good, and most of the serious problems could have been solved quite easily with a little more care and editing. Frankly, a good workshopping of the script would have fixed a lot of the issues I had with its story structure, and I wonder if this movie was just rushed through production for some reason.

I really enjoyed the movie and have it pegged for the 2nd best mcu origin. Not including black panther, I think it does more right than wrong. But I never had any of the issues you've listed, but to each their own at least you gave the movie a try.

 

[SomeOldGuy]

A 90+ million domestic 4-day is fantastic. I honestly don’t think we could have expected more in a no-pandemic universe.

 

[InCali]

A 90+ million domestic 4-day is fantastic. I honestly don’t think we could have expected more in a no-pandemic universe.

It will easily pass BW as the highest grossing movie when all is said and done. BW is at a disadvantage however with the D+ release. That certainly contributed to lowering the initial opening and the drops.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I really enjoyed the movie and have it pegged for the 2nd best mcu origin. Not including black panther, I think it does more right than wrong. But I never had any of the issues you've listed, but to each their own at least you gave the movie a try.

It's interesting that you mention MCU origin stories, because it makes me now think about past origin movies, and what they got right and where I feel Shang-Chi fell short. Captain America: TFA for example is a perfect way to illustrate this. It establishes its realism+mysticism scenario much more economically right at the start, it establishes the hero's moral compass very early in the movie with very simple storytelling (Steve watching the newsreel in the theatre, getting his butt kicked by the bullies), it establishes what the hero's barriers are right off the bat (Steve's physical weakness), it uses action not exposition to tell the audience why we should even care about good things happening to the hero (Steve jumps on the grenade), it sets up the hero's extraordinary abilities much better (doesn't parachute Steve into a pitched group battle with deadly Nazis right away, but makes him chase a single villain around the city so the action actually has room to escalate in stakes), etc.

 

[InCali]

I thought TFA (NOT The Force Awakens) was one of Marvel's most underrated movies; maybe THE most underrated. It also flows well into the subsequent movies. Steve grows, but never loses who he was. Terrific character and a terrific job by Chris Evans; who, by the way, turned out to be quite the good actor.

WRT the box office at hand, the Monday estimates are a little bit low also. That is if you listen to Disney. I'm so happy this movie did so well and I can't wait to see it TOMORROW (Yay). If we wanted an accurate weekend prediction, all we had to do was add another 50% to most estimates. Sounds like a contractor I had a while back. LOL.

The box office numbers are important not just for Marvel and Disney, but for the movie industry in general. Now if we could just get this stupid pandemic under control.

 

[DlAMONDZ]

To be fair, people probably weren’t so hyped to see a new Suicide Squad after the last one

There's just wasn't any real incentive to watch TSS. DC is operating like it's the early 2000's

Just like Apple changed consumer habits with the iphone, so did the MCU when it comes to superhero movies

 

[JB33]

I can go into greater depth in the review thread, but without posting spoilers, just a lot of bad screenwriting habits were evident in this script and its structure, from overly long and clunky exposition, unclear character motivations, major plot points not "earned" in the script (a LOT of those in this film), a lot of wasted opportunities to give the hero more of a stake in the story, and characters being put in and abandoned for no reason at all. The thing is, the overall story is good, and most of the serious problems could have been solved quite easily with a little more care and editing. Frankly, a good workshopping of the script would have fixed a lot of the issues I had with its story structure, and I wonder if this movie was just rushed through production for some reason.

This seems to be a common problem creeping in with Marvel, starting with their Disney+ shows: the writing. Marvel is becoming more liberal with their writing and directing hires, which is great from a diversity standpoint and all that but the quality is inevitably deteriorating. You see it especially with the shows, where the budget is smaller (which is understandable to a degree).

I hope Marvel starts tightening up with their directing/writing choices again.

 

[JB33]

I thought TFA (NOT The Force Awakens) was one of Marvel's most underrated movies; maybe THE most underrated. It also flows well into the subsequent movies. Steve grows, but never loses who he was. Terrific character and a terrific job by Chris Evans; who, by the way, turned out to be quite the good actor.

WRT the box office at hand, the Monday estimates are a little bit low also. That is if you listen to Disney. I'm so happy this movie did so well and I can't wait to see it TOMORROW (Yay). If we wanted an accurate weekend prediction, all we had to do was add another 50% to most estimates. Sounds like a contractor I had a while back. LOL.

The box office numbers are important not just for Marvel and Disney, but for the movie industry in general. Now if we could just get this stupid pandemic under control.

Yeah, Disney's projections are waaaaay off. Shang-Chi has a shot at $20M today, though not guaranteed so let's not expect that. But a good shot, yes.

 

[InCali]

Yeah, Disney's projections are waaaaay off.

Intentionally so lol

 

[JB33]

Intentionally so lol

Yep! Disney knows exactly what they're doing.

 

[The Caped Knight]

I'll say it again, never underestimate Marvel Studios. They proven time again and again they're a force to be reckoned with at the box office and critically.

 

[Dr. Evil]

 

[JB33]

Thinking about it a little more I'm predicting today just misses $20M and hits around $19M. SHANG-CHI might follow a similar behaviour as ALADDIN, which also opened on a holiday weekend and was similarly boosted by great word of mouth on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday was pretty much flat (actually went up 0.4% over Saturday) for ALADDIN and Memorial Day Monday it saw just a 16% drop. A similar Monday drop would give SHANG-CHI just over $19M today.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, ALADDIN dropped 52.5% from Memorial Day Monday. The same Tuesday drop from Labor Day Monday would mean just over $9M for SHANG-CHI.

 

[psylockolussus]

Damn. 90 million rings in 4 days... And I was thinking the possibility of this not hitting the 100 million mark. This will easily outgross Free Guy and Jungle Cruise.

 

[Comicbookguy339]

SImu Liu right now:

 

[legendkillin]

Still need to confirm those final numbers but wow the news just keeps getting better and better. This is a nice lift since it was a major bummer that The Suicide Squad didn't do the business it deserved. Power of the Marvel brand even in a pandemic.

Probably because despite DC having a universe they really don't. They will have a new Superman & Batman which is their Cap and IM. No AquaMan 2 yet, was WW2 a in the past movie? do they have any movies post JL? Shazam I didn't watch. Suicide Squad 1 was a joke, I did watch 2 and enjoyed it a bit but felt like a one off.
Marvel you know will connect to previous movies even with an out of the blue character like Shang-Chi that has no real history of being in video games or cartoons.

 

[legendkillin]

I'll say it again, never underestimate Marvel Studios. They proven time again and again they're a force to be reckoned with at the box office and critically.

Pretty much locks in that none of their movies will or should do the D+ split at release. All of them will be in theater only.

 

[InCali]

Pretty much locks in that none of their movies will or should do the D+ split at release. All of them will be in theater only.

I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Disney+ money goes directly to the mouse.

Edit: is the branding or the up front dollars more important?

 

[Green Goblin]

I think at this point the Marvel Studios brand is recognized by the general audience.

 

[InCali]

John who?

 

[Dr. Evil]

John who?

He used to work at Collider.

 

[InCali]

He used to work at Collider.

Yeah. I know. That was my feeble attempt at a joke. See many of my previous posts on other threads if you don’t believe me.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Yeah. I know. That was my feeble attempt at a joke. See many of my previous posts on other threads if you don’t believe me.

It was feeble. Nice try though.