Days of Future Past The Official X-Men: First Class Box Office Discussion Thread!

[gambit78]

Yawns.
It is what it is. not sure if I want a sequel to this one cuz that would mean seeing Magneto in his fugly uniform versus the suits he had in FC. I'm just happy that Hollywood might take more notice of Michael to lead him to some meatier roles.

If a bigger box office meant success=sequel, then I'm prolly out. Cuz I'm happy about the output of this film which took me by surprise.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

First Class is the first X-film that felt like an X-Men movie to me but to each his/her own.

 

[Nokio]

I'd like to see how you'd make a good X-Men movie.

I can't. But like Simon Cowell said when someone ask him what gives him the right to judge people on their singing and he can't sing himself, his reply was, "I've got two ears" so there you go. Take what you will from that.

 

[Spider-Fan]

First Class is the first X-film that felt like an X-Men movie to me but to each his/her own.

Agreed. I call the others Wolverine and His Amazing Friends.

 

[danoyse]

I thought everyone already accepted that this film was going to make about $150 tops...?

Also Watchmen, like TIH, had massive drops each week after release. It's not wrong for people to hope that First Class does better. If it performs like a typical comic book/X-Men film then I think $150 is secure. If it performs like Watchmen or TIH then we're looking at $130, if even that. . .

Agreed. Nothing wrong with hoping the movie picks up, even if the chances aren't great that will.

If anyone feels like coming in here to post 'I-told-you-so's' once the weekend is done, go ahead. We'll even give you cookies.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

I can't. But like Simon Cowell said when someone ask him what gives him the right to judge people on their singing and he can't sing himself, his reply was, "I've got two ears" so there you go. Take what you will from that.

 

[josh8]

No no no man, I totally agree. I agree some alterations are fine and that scene is a good example of one. The way from the comics should never see the light of day in the movies. I'm all for changes if it makes the story more adaptable for the big screen. Unfortunately their was a lot of bad in terms of history and continuity in FC and a
lot of it was too much for me to
just ignore. FC is a good film but I can not in good conscience as a fan say it was a good Xmen movie. It wasn't

That's fair.

In any case, I think the box office has already secured a sequel because the production budget will be met, and then the international revenue will cover the rest.

My guess right now would be a $170 million finish. It's performing similarly to how Thor did after it's first weekend. Almost the exact same Saturday dip, and then a better dip on Monday but to the exact same number as Thor's first Monday.

 

[Nokio]

Helen Mirren is awesome!! They were going to go for an older Emma for X3 anyway, so it's not that farfetched to have an older Emma. Old Mags and Xavier worked well so an older Emma is doable.

As good as that sounds and she is an outstanding actress and a good casting choice, i think I'll pass on that direction.

 

[JP]

That's fair.

In any case, I think the box office has already secured a sequel because the production budget will be met, and then the international revenue will cover the rest.

My guess right now would be a $170 million finish. It's performing similarly to how Thor did after it's first weekend. Almost the exact same Saturday dip, and then a better dip on Monday but to the exact same number as Thor's first Monday.

Yeah, First Class had a smaller Monday drop then Thor did, and made just a bit more too. If it can keep that up then I think $150 is secure. And Thor did well even up against Pirates... I really don't think Super 8 or GL are like Pirates. But, who ever knows. . .

 

[Nokio]

That's fair.

In any case, I think the box office has already secured a sequel because the production budget will be met, and then the international revenue will cover the rest.

My guess right now would be a $170 million finish. It's performing
similarly to how Thor did after it's
first weekend. Almost the exact
same Saturday dip, and then a
better dip on Monday but to the
exact same number as Thor's first
Monday.

Thor actually is doing better. These films just have a ceiling. Xmen was never done as well as it could have been way back from the 1st one. I think the 1st film in a franchise sets up the success factor. No x flick is ever going to
make massive cash cause of the
introduction. It's not impossible.
Fast 5 did, that franchise
reinvented itself an it's been a
success. I'm not sure this is the case with FC. They made a good movie but it wasn't reinvented.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

June is a totally different beast than May, the movies will not go up on Friday as much as they did in May so Thor and First Class's first monday isn't so comparable. Also First Class is not going up 66% on saturday so even if it went up 127% on friday it's still not going to perform as well over the weekend.

I think that Thor and First Class will sell simular amount of tickets when all is said and done. FC's numbers will just be lower because of the 3D effect that Thor has.

I'm going to wait until FC's third weekend is over before I project it's total. It's second weekend will give me a good range though.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I'm wondering if the general audience is just burnt out on X-men. Not because of the last two films being subpar either, but the whole thought of "another one?! Are you serious?". That or they're getting tired of comic films in general. Who knows. I'm hoping it doesn't have too big of a drop this coming weekend.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is part of it.

My best friend admittedly isn't a fan of the X-Men in any fashion, but when these trailers came out, he ripped it as appearing to be a shallow movie with no meaningful plot. I would disagree with him on that vehemently, but I don't think he feel that the X-Men material warrants this many movies.

My brother is a lot more of a fanboy, but he hasn't seen the movie yet, and he declined going to the midnight showing with me, his reason being "Last time I did a midnight show for an X-Men movie, it didn't turn out so hot".

I can only speak from my experiences, but except for one college aged guy during the midnight showing, who didn't seem to be an X-Men fanboy, who stated "THAT'S how you make a superhero movie", I haven't heard very many reactions in theatres. My midnight showing was pretty dead, honestly. I did go to one show, where a group of guys were laughing AT the movie during certain parts for being cheesy and forced, and there was another showing where I heard one girl start crying at some of the different scenes.

In comparison, the biggest reactions I've gotten at a midnight showing have still been X2. Kind of goes back to the discussion you and I have had previously over the future direction of the franchise, I'm really starting to get the feeling that audiences are just getting burnt out on the franchise.

For all the people saying X-Men: First Class didn't have any big name stars behind it, X-Men and X2 didn't really have huge star power behind them either. Hugh Jackman wasn't the star for those movies that he is now. Halle Berry was probably the biggest name at the time, but she hadn't even hit her post Oscar peak quite yet. Patrick Stewart wasn't really known for much other than Picard, and at least for the first installment, McKellen didn't get his Gandalf familiarity either. These movies succeeded at the box office because audiences liked them. I think the X-Men franchise is known enough to be a box office draw on it's own now (and I don't believe that general audiences hated X-Men Origins: Wolverine as much as fanboys did either, because everyone I know that isn't a comic fan loved it and even thought it was the best one).

I just get the overall impression that audiences are burnt out on the X-Men movies now. I think it kinda goes back to my argument that I think it's about time to just let the franchise come to an end, and stand for itself. Some people will like it, some people won't, just like any other franchise, but if this franchise goes on much longer, it's just going to get run into the ground for audiences. I feel like these movies are starting to beat a dead horse now.

I think another part of it is the fact that X-Men 3 was titled X-Men: The Last Stand but movies keep on being made afterwards. People are probably starting to think "Wait, I thought they finished this" and are starting to look at it like a damn Jason or Freddy franchise now.

I'm glad that X-Men: First Class got made, because even tho I feel that storyline wise is was the least relevant of the series, I think the fact that it's overall such high quality that it justified itself. But I don't think that too many people, outside of some interwebz comic fans (not a term I'm using insultingly, because I'm an interwebs comic fan), would really think twice if there was never another X-Men movie made.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

First Class is the first X-film that felt like an X-Men movie to me but to each his/her own.

I agree. And you know what? Word of mouth for this film has been quite strong from what I can tell. Here's hoping FC will have legs!

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

Agreed. I call the others Wolverine and His Amazing Friends.

Ha! So true! So true..

 

[Enriquespy]

First Class is the first X-film that felt like an X-Men movie to me but to each his/her own.

true that. I trougthfully enjoyed this movie.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

I felt that way too. I think its probably because there wasn't much of Wolverine in it. Don't take that the wrong way though, I like the character but he was over used in the original trilogy especially in X3 which could have been better. If First Class ignores X3 and Wolverine, I'm good with that. In fact, FC made me forget about X3 despite certain parts that I liked, the execution just wasn't that great as a whole.

Though I keep reading on the forum that FC does ignore X3 and Wolverine...I mean really??

 

[Superhero 101]

I think this movie has potential of hitting 150 million here in the u.s. or atleast 140

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I felt that way too. I think its probably because there wasn't much of Wolverine in it. Don't take that the wrong way though, I like the character but he was over used in the original trilogy especially in X3 which could have been better. If First Class ignores X3 and Wolverine, I'm good with that. In fact, FC made me forget about X3 despite certain parts that I liked, the execution just wasn't that great as a whole.

Though I keep reading on the forum that FC does ignore X3 and Wolverine...I mean really??

It doesn't. X-Men: The Last Stand is 3 movies and 40 years after the events of First Class. There's nothing to tie them together. The connections that are there (Beast, Mystique) translate well, or are explained.

X-Men: First Class is just a stand alone movie that exists in the established X-Men movie-verse. There are certain character aspects that connect it to the others (the split between Xavier and Magneto, the existence of Stryker, re-creating the opening scene from X-Men, etc...), but it's mostly a stand alone film that doesn't directly tie into the events of the other films. But it's by no means a "reboot", nor ignoring and of the films.

 

[BMM]

I thought everyone already accepted that this film was going to make about $150 tops...?

Agreed. I think the majority of people, at least on The Hype, had pretty reasonable expectations from the get-go, especially now. I don't think anyone thought this movie would be a slam dunk.

 

[psylockolussus]

First Class is the first X-film that felt like an X-Men movie to me but to each his/her own.

The X-Men team didn't even exist yet in XFC!

It was mostly about Magneto and Professor X not X-Men.

 

[psylockolussus]

It really does depend on the foreign gross, which is becoming a much bigger factor these days. Take PotC4 for example. It is looking like it's not going to make it's production budget back with its domestic cume, but internationally it is gangbusters as usual. I know X-Men movies usually do only OK business overseas (and I don't know how much of it FOX actually gets), but this time it's showing growth.

But the thing with X-Men movies, the US gross is just the same with the international gross.

 

[psylockolussus]

Man this movie better get $100 million next weekend!

 

[BMM]

The X-Men team didn't even exist yet in XFC!

It was mostly about Magneto and Professor X not X-Men.

That doesn't mean First Class can't feel like an X-Men movie. It may not be an official team, as recognized in the books, but the elements are still there.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

That doesn't mean First Class can't feel like an X-Men movie. It may not be an official team, as recognized in the books, but the elements are still there.

Exactly. The fact that it still felt more like an X-Men team film despite being a set-up movie shows just how underwhelming that aspect was was in X-Men and X2.

 

[josh8]

But the thing with X-Men movies, the US gross is just the same with the international gross.

Yes, that is normally the case, but the international landscape has changed a lot in the last few years. XM:FC didn't open in all of the big foreign markets yet and it already had a bigger gross this weekend internationally.