The Northman

[Closerframe]

To echo what others have said, there’s a reason that we’ve seen directors consistently go to streaming services over studios. The latter generally puts parameters around what a director can and cannot do creatively while also limiting their budgets because they need to make a profit at the end of the day. Depending on the end result when this gets released, it might have been best to have this come to Netflix, Amazon, or Apple TV+ since it likely would have wider appeal.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

I'm not expecting this to do gangbusters or anything, but at least I can appreciate the fact that we are getting a big budget, R-rated, Viking EPIC made for the bigscreen in the first place and from Robert Eggers of all people.

All I really care about is if I end up loving the movie which I hopefully do since its my second most anticipated film of the year, but of course I want it to do well at the BO too because I want more films like this and The Last Duel which I know sadly didn't do well, but Hollywood needs to take more chances with films like this nowadays.

 

[CaptainWagner]

What’s happened is that unless it’s a superhero movie or a movie that heavily relies on pop culture, it generally won’t do well. That’s where we are in terms of entertainment.

Well, yeah, that's clear. That's the problem, though, I'm trying to figure out the cause.

Well, to be fair, it’s been this way for a long time. Big summer blockbusters have always been the movies that audiences have gone and seen in droves. The superhero movies of today are the action and disaster movies of the 80s and 90s. The problem now is more that budgets for films have blown up to insane proportions, even ones that aren’t big special effects spectacles. And when those movies are unable to make all their money back and turn a profit, they’re deemed flops. It’s very difficult these days to make a film on a modest budget.

This really isn't the case, though, on either front.

Look at the box office receipts: 1993, Jurassic Park is on top of the charts. Freaking SCHINDLER'S LIST is in 4th place. The next year, Forrest Gump is 2nd only to The Lion King. American Beauty of all movies cracks the Top Ten in '99. In 2000 you have Gladiator (very similar to The Northman, genre wise) at 2 and Cast Away at 3. Heck, Titanic would never get made today, much less shatter every record the way it did. This is very much a transition that's happened in the last 20 years.

And then we look at budgets - Clearly, this is a big budget movie, which is very rare for a non-IP film these days. But it's the mid-budget movies that have all but died out, with studios only caring which fils they can ride the closest to a billion dollar payoff.

 

[TheVileOne]

The cause: As studios become more corporate and conglomeratized, the main projects they see worth investing in are established IPs, anything that has an existing brand or name-value recognition.

 

[Gothamsknight]

 

[Pennywise]

I’ll never stop rewatching him catching the spear!

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Arachnerd]

If he weren't already playing Dracula in the Reinfeld movie, he definitely would've been perfect for Count Orlok in Eggers' Nosferatu.

 

[OtherwiseKnownAs]

If he weren't already playing Dracula in the Reinfeld movie, he definitely would've been perfect for Count Orlok in Eggers' Nosferatu.

There's no law that says he can't be both!

 

[Marvolo]

I cant understand the names at all. Sounds like word salad. I usually don't have this problem with any dialogue or accent.

 

[Pennywise]

Just wait until Nolan snatches him for Oppenheimer.

 

[Gothamsknight]

I'm so hyped

 

[Kane52630]

I cant understand the names at all. Sounds like word salad. I usually don't have this problem with any dialogue or accent.

Welcome to a Robert Eggers film where old accents are as accurate as possible.

 

[Marvolo]

Welcome to a Robert Eggers film where old accents are as accurate as possible.

I didn't struggle with The Witch, but if this clip is anything to go by I'm gonna need the subtitles when this hits home video. I dont mind tho. I love this kind of authenticity, and I kind of wish he had went full authentic and had them speak whatever language the vikings spoke back then or something close to it.

 

[Persona]

Yeah. I get that it wouldn't have been commercially viable in the U.S. to do their actual language, but if you're gonna have Vikings speaking English, might as well make it clearer English.

 

[Gothamsknight]

 

[Boom]

The Northman

 

[DarkKnight88]

I didn't struggle with The Witch, but if this clip is anything to go by I'm gonna need the subtitles when this hits home video. I dont mind tho. I love this kind of authenticity, and I kind of wish he had went full authentic and had them speak whatever language the vikings spoke back then or something close to it.

Mel Gibson would have lol

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Well that was intense!

 

[Deck Rickard]

Love the intensity in that clip. Currently 91% on RT!

 

[Marvolo]

I love the Shakespeare dialogue.

But if you're going to have a character deliver an impassioned and poetic declaration dont make it silly by putting a big arrow in his throat. This guy should be drowning in his own blood.

 

[Black Narcissus]

Mel Gibson would have lol

Is this in reference to that epic viking movie that he had planned? This was pre-being cancelled. Leo Dicaprio was said to be attached.