Interesting article about BB in Variety yesterday. The film had a good opening, but it's not the $100M preem some B.O. analysts were predicting, along with a mass of fanboys (and girls). It's no secret the B.O. has been behind last year's numbers for something like 17 straight weeks now, so I don't think it's the film per se. That said, BB couldn't have had better fan buzz, and I think the marketing was just fine. Hell, they even had CB do some "Got Milk?" ads LOL. People just don't seem to be flocking to the movies like they used to.
Time was, I would have bet a mint that SR would wipe the floors with enormous B.O. receipts 'cause it's Superman. Hello? But my expectations seem to fall daily in that regard. Not that I care mind you - I gave up on SR months ago - but I just hope that if the numbers fall below Warner's expectations (shouldn't be too hard since they're throwing everything but the kitchen sink into Singer's production) that they don't give up and continue to plug away at it. Sooner or later, maybe they'll get it right.
Variety
6/19/05
The 'Bat' and the beautiful
Comic hero, comely couple rule B.O.
By GABRIEL SNYDER
Auds welcomed the Bat back to screens with strong, if not dazzling, returns.
Warner Bros. reported "Batman Begins," the first installment in the Caped Crusader franchise in eight years, grossed $46.9 million over the weekend, accumulating $71.1 million since its Wednesday launch.
The previous four "Batman" films all bowed on Fridays, but comparing just the three-day spans, "Begins" is better than 1997's "Batman & Robin's" $42.9 million bow, though lower than the $52.8 million opening of "Batman Forever" in 1995. (It's also worth noting the average ticket price has increased by more than 40% in the last decade.) ...
Franchise revival?
Warners hopes "Begins," which reportedly carried a budget of more than $150 million, will relaunch its lucrative "Batman" franchise. Together, the first four films based on the DC Comics character grossed $1.25 billion worldwide. And, as the end of "Begins" suggests, helmer Chris Nolan and star Christian Bale are already pondering a sixth installment.
But whether that gets under way largely depends on how the pic plays over the next few weeks. In 2003, Universal had similar aspirations for "Hulk," but after it dropped 70% off its $62 million opening in its second weekend, sequel plans were shelved.
Later that summer, Disney opened "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" to $70.6 million in its first five days -- a nearly identical total to "Batman Begins." But when the pic exercised some incredibly long legs -- it was in the top 10 for 11 weeks, never dropping more than 32% a frame -- and cumed $305 million, Disney put two sequels into production back-to-back
So, with so much riding on the public perception of "Begins" and in an era where success or failure at the box office is followed by moviegoers and industry execs alike, Warners labored to accentuate the positive in the "Batman" opening.
"It's a very impressive number," said Warners distrib chief Dan Fellman. "I'm sure you'll see sequels coming with Christian and Chris."
Among the reasons for optimism, Fellman said: "It's rare when you have a tentpole that's so well reviewed. The exit surveys continued to increase through the weekend and deliver excellent (ratings) and definite recommends from the day we opened."
He added that many schools on the East Coast will be closing this week, and "next weekend, while there are good family movies coming ("Bewitched" and "Herbie: Fully Loaded" both bow), they're not our audience.
Indeed, the demographics on "Begins" showed that adult males made up the biggest portion of the aud: 57% were male, and 56% were over age 25.
But Fellman pointed out that the gender gap closed significantly through the frame from the 66% male aud that turned out for the Wednesday bow.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117924686?categoryid=13&cs=1
my birthday is the same day as trips and everyone forgot about me 
