Will Fanboys Ever Learn?

[C. Lee]

All the noise about weather and what not causing low box office is just an excuse people make. If the movie is something people want to see, they'll go in a ****ing ****storm if they can catch the matinee.

Not me. You may live in a big city where they have public transportation or the resources to actually clean the streets....but I live in a small country town where the nearest cinema is 20 miles away. I love movies, but when the weather is bad I stay home.

 

[Tron Bonne]

"Layer Cake" is one of my favorite films, and it had about a $4 million budget. "Stardust" had a slightly bigger budget, and "Kick-Ass" had an even bigger budget. I'm sure Lionsgate had hopes that if Vaughn paraded the movie around, giving sneak peek audiences a taste of the film, that it would entice audiences outside the fanboys. They were wrong.

I'm fine with the fact they didn't strike a chord with the mainstream audiences. The studio took a risk, and lost. I don't have a dog in that fight. I just think it's foolish they thought the fanboys would carry it alone.

And as I said, they didn't think that. They thought they would get a hit based on the surprise success of Wanted and the general hot commodity of the superhero genre. There's really no indication whatsoever that Lionsgate or anyone involved had remotely had that thought process. If they had, I can tell you right now there's no way Vaughn could have rustled up $30 million dollar to make it, and Lionsgate sure wouldn't have bought it for upwards to $60 million.

 

[jmc]

''Layer Cake'' is one of my favorite films, and it had about a $4 million budget. ''Stardust'' had a slightly bigger budget, and ''Kick-Ass''; had an even bigger budget. I'm sure Lionsgate had hopes that if Vaughn paraded the movie around, giving sneak peek audiences a taste of the film, that it would entice fanboys to enough to market the film on word-of-mouth alone. They were wrong.

I'm fine with the fact they didn't strike a chord with the mainstream audiences. The studio took a risk, and lost. I don't have a dog in that fight. I just think it's foolish they thought the fanboys would carry it alone.

I often wonder what the box office returns would be like if less 'mainstream' films were given the marketing budget some of these tent pole films. Seriously, some of them are made on a shoe string budget and could easily make their money back if promoted with even half the effort that the 'blockbusters' are.

 

[Jack Napier]

All the noise about weather and what not causing low box office is just an excuse people make. If the movie is something people want to see, they'll go in a ****ing ****storm if they can catch the matinee.

Tule fog caused me to back out of seeing "Carpool" with Tom Arnold and David Paymer. I will never forgive myself.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Tule fog caused me to back out of seeing "Carpool" with Tom Arnold and David Paymer. I will never forgive myself.

That is almost sig worthy.

 

[lespaul59]

Not me. You may live in a big city where they have public transportation or the resources to actually clean the streets....but I live in a small country town where the nearest cinema is 20 miles away. I love movies, but when the weather is bad I stay home.

This is exactly how it is for me.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

A director would be a fool to read these kind of messageboards. If the director is happy with his or her film that should be all that matters.

Defintely. I honestly think that they should never even go near a single message board. In terms of adaptation they should have some fan approval, but it should be the consensus of the people, not just people that constantly use the internet.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Again, I'm sure that the weather hurt Sunday as Little Fockers huge overestimation shows but Tron was never having a good drop. Good weather or not. Fockers was probably overestimated from the get-go and it was also always going to put up underwhelming numbers. Without the bad weather Tron would not have had a 20 to 25% drop. There is no proof that Tron would be having great legs without this wild Global Warming style weather. The movies should level out on mon, tues, weds and thrus anyway and make-up for whatever money they lost, if they lost any money. It's still debatable that they lost millions of dollars.

 

[dark_b]

But it was a huge hit, it's going to make over 100million dollars!!!

The moral of the story is, studios should realize that fanboys don't make movies huge hits.

This isn't bragging or anything but I knew that Tron Legacy wasn't going to break out. It was a sequel to a 100 year old film that nobody gave a s**t about and IMHO it's previews weren't special at all. What did the preview reveal about the story and characters? Nothing at all. I never understood the hype for Tron: Legacy, never. It's actually doing a little better than I thought it would and it's still a huge disappointment.

Reactions to comic-con trailers don't mean d**k in the real world. Now Disney is lying about the budget being under 200mil (anyone can see that the film cost alteast 200mil to make) and the marketing budget had to be massive because they were pimping it for over a freakin year. There is noway to make this movie look like the atleast 500mil worldwide movie that Disney thought that they had. It's only spin to say that this film is doing well, it's early overseas numbers aren't even good. It will get a boost nextweekend because of the holiday but after than it's dead.

Regarding the other 2010 fanboy flops, the ultimate moral of the story is; stop spending blockbuster money on fanboy flicks. Tron: Legacy should have cost no more than 100mil to make atbest, Pilgrim should not have cost more than 35mil to make and Lions Gate should have never spent that ridiculous amount of money to get a film like Kick-Ass and should have eased up on the over the top marketing.

i disagree. i think if Tron had a better pacing and a story that would make sense to the general public that then it would do better

the masses are confused about Tron. it not to smart for them. the structure doesnt make any sense.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

This might not mean anything but I'll say it anyway, my kids ( nephews) are interested in any SFX junk that hollywood puts out and my nephews were completely not interested in seeing Tron. One is 18 and the other just turned 16. They wanted to see Avatar last year and Sherlock Holmes so why not Tron: Legacy? My neice did see the movie and said that she liked it so there is that but my nephews looked at me and my sister weird when we asked if they wanted to see it.

You know what my nephews saw the following weekend when asked what they wanted to see? True Grit. I just think that this movie was never going to appeal to as many people as Disney wanted it too thats why I think that the budget shouldn't have been 200mil.

Disney did make some strange moves though. Why not re-release the original before the sequel came out? Why hide the original before the sequel came out? Why not tell us more of what the movie was about in the trailers (I know the story sucked but they could have faked it)

The massive marketing did work a little because I can't imagine how bad the opening weekend would have been without it.

 

[dark_b]

This might not mean anything but I'll say it anyway, my kids ( nephews) are interested in any SFX junk that hollywood puts out and my nephews were completely not interested in seeing Tron. One is 18 and the other just turned 16. They wanted to see Avatar last year and Sherlock Holmes so why not Tron: Legacy? My neice did see the movie and said that she liked it so there is that but my nephews looked at me and my sister weird when we asked if they wanted to see it.

You know what my nephews saw the following weekend when asked what they wanted to see? True Grit. I just think that this movie was never going to appeal to as many people as Disney wanted it too thats why I think that the budget shouldn't have been 200mil.

Disney did make some strange moves though. Why not re-release the original before the sequel came out? Why hide the original before the sequel came out? Why not tell us more of what the movie was about in the trailers (I know the story sucked but they could have faked it)

The massive marketing did work a little because I can't imagine how bad the opening weekend would have been without it.

why hide it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcMt-Ai3MYA&feature=related

 

[PreK]

Disney did make some strange moves though. Why not re-release the original before the sequel came out? Why hide the original before the sequel came out?

I think it was fairly obvious when there wasn't so much as a whisper of a Blu-Ray release; it would've done more harm than good. Disney realizes the first movie is merely a cult classic. It had a loyal, but ultimately small niche audience. The entire movie is just so dated it would likely never resonate with modern viewers. The further the association, the better off a new film can hook itself as a blossoming, fresh property that could possibly be turned into a franchise.

It was a smart business decision. But obviously it didn't matter in the long run if the new film failed to attract audiences itself.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

why hide it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcMt-Ai3MYA&feature=related

All old CGI looks like s**t compared to the 2000's CGI. Old special effects do not look as good as new.

I could easily bring up The Terminator's cheesy effects compared to T2's. People understand that old movies don't look as good as new ones.

I think it was fairly obvious when there wasn't so much as a whisper of a Blu-Ray release; it would've done more harm than good. Disney realizes the first movie is merely a cult classic. It had a loyal, but ultimately small niche audience. The entire movie is just so dated it would likely never resonate with modern viewers. The further the association, the better off a new film can hook itself as a blossoming, fresh property that could possibly be turned into a franchise.

It was a smart business decision. But obviously it didn't matter in the long run if the new film failed to attract audiences itself.

Why make a sequel to an old movie that only a few geeks liked in the first place then? Why didn't they just remake the damn thing? I don't expect you to answer my questions but they have to be asked.

 

[jmc]

^ Coz like many things in life it seemed like a good idea at the time. I often wish I were I fly on the wall during the meetings for when these ideas come about. Seriously, who stands up in the meeting and throws out the idea for a 30 year old film who's name recognition is minimal at best? Meanwhile, more worthwhile original ideas are overlooked because there's no established brand behind it.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

^ Coz like many things in life it seemed like a good idea at the time. I often wish I were I fly on the wall during the meetings for when these ideas come about. Seriously, who stands up in the meeting and throws out the idea for a 30 year old film who's name recognition is minimal at best? Meanwhile, more worthwhile original ideas are overlooked because there's no established brand behind it.

I'm baffled as to why it seemed like a good idea at the time, why not just remake the damn thing? You still have the brand name but now you can actually make the movie good this time. They could have made the same amount of money if they had made an original film and shoved it up our asses for a year.

To be fair, a sequel wouldn't be in doubt if Disney just hired a real director and put there foot on his neck to not go over an 85 to 100mil budget. I'm not saying that that is easy to do but more studios need to start doing that. These budgets are getting ridiculously out of control. A Tron sequel costs 200 plus mil to make (don't listen to those ridiculous 150 to 170mil number, just use your eyes, the most cost over 200mil to make) and over 100mil to market. (they pushed this thing hard for over a year)

Every blockbuster movie is costing 200mil to make now and thats just ridiculous. Even a Reese Witherspoon comedy cost 120mil to make! I just can't wrap my damn mind around it. And hollywood is shocked when these movies fail???

I could have told them that the 100+mil Gullivers Travels staring boxoffice posion Jack Black was going to fail, I could have told that that a 120mil Reese Witherspoon comedy was going to tank, I could have told them that Tron 2 wasn't going to be the next LOTR's or Avatar.

I need a job and I love the entertainment industry, why don't the hire me to tell them to stop making stupid choices?

 

[Anita18]

The moral of the story is, studios should realize that fanboys don't make movies huge hits.

Reactions to comic-con trailers don't mean d**k in the real world. Now Disney is lying about the budget being under 200mil (anyone can see that the film cost alteast 200mil to make) and the marketing budget had to be massive because they were pimping it for over a freakin year. There is noway to make this movie look like the atleast 500mil worldwide movie that Disney thought that they had. It's only spin to say that this film is doing well, it's early overseas numbers aren't even good. It will get a boost nextweekend because of the holiday but after than it's dead.

Regarding the other 2010 fanboy flops, the ultimate moral of the story is; stop spending blockbuster money on fanboy flicks. Tron: Legacy should have cost no more than 100mil to make atbest, Pilgrim should not have cost more than 35mil to make and Lions Gate should have never spent that ridiculous amount of money to get a film like Kick-Ass and should have eased up on the over the top marketing.

I find it hard to believe that studios don't already know that fanboys don't make movies huge hits. They've had numerous examples to learn from, but hype from Comic Con is SO easy to get, and certainly doesn't hurt.

I agree that the marketing for TRON should have at least shed light on the characters besides the emo son. Cool gets butts in seats, but only if there's some cool personalities to go with the visuals. I haven't seen the movie yet so I don't know if there was anything there for marketing to work with.

I also agree that studios will have to stop spending so much dough on geek films, especially those without an already-existing mainstream following. But in the meantime, us geeks can enjoy it.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I've been talking about Tron so much that I'm sure some people will think that I hate it. lol I honestly don't, it's not quite bad enough for me to hate because I got some enjoyment from the visuals and the rad score. I just find it to be an interesting failure as a film and an interesting boxoffice story.

I'm sorry Anita but I don't see any proof that studios have figured out that the fanboy crowd doesn't mean crap. They spent 60 to 90mil on a fanboy cartoon about some guy beating about some girl's Ex's. They also spent over 200mil on a Tron movie...

It's not my money so I'm not going to lose any sleep over them losing money, I just don't understand bad business decisions. They annoy me for some reason.

 

[dark_b]

All old CGI looks like s**t compared to the 2000's CGI. Old special effects do not look as good as new.

I could easily bring up The Terminator's cheesy effects compared to T2's. People understand that old movies don't look as good as new ones.Why make a sequel to an old movie that only a few geeks liked in the first place then? Why didn't they just remake the damn thing? I don't expect you to answer my questions but they have to be asked.

girl i meant the acting,the story the pacing..........

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

girl i meant the acting,the story the pacing..........

Okay.

 

[jmc]

I've been talking about Tron so much that I'm sure some people will think that I hate it. lol I honestly don't, it's not quite bad enough for me to hate because I got some enjoyment from the visuals and the rad score. I just find it to be an interesting failure as a film and an interesting boxoffice story.

I'm sorry Anita but I don't see any proof that studios have figured out that the fanboy crowd doesn't mean crap. They spent 60 to 90mil on a fanboy cartoon about some guy beating about some girl's Ex's. They also spent over 200mil on a Tron movie...

It's not my money so I'm not going to lose any sleep over them losing money, I just don't understand bad business decisions. They annoy me for some reason.

My guess is they theorize if the 10-20% of nerdlingers love it they will spread the word to the regular Joes, only problem is Joe Average has got better things to be doing than worry about some niche film, and also doesn't have the luxury or the cash to see films every single weekend. It is without doubt the stupidest business practice to rely so heavily on the minority.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

My guess is they theorize if the 10-20% of nerdlingers love it they will spread the word to the regular Joes, only problem is Joe Average has got better things to be doing than worry about some niche film, and also doesn't have the luxury or the cash to see films every single weekend. It is without doubt the stupidest business practice to rely so heavily on the minority.

Thats a good guess and I agree that it is a bad business decision.

After the holiday boost we will know how bad a decision it was.

 

[Showtime]

Eh, I don't buy that argument personally. Didn't stop True Grit from kicking ass this weekend (and it was on less screens than Tron) or Narnia from continuing to hold well. Although with the latter, it's over regarding more sequels.

The 12 - 18 inches of snow that hit the East Coast last year during Avatar's opening didn't seem to take a toll on Avatar's box office run. It's because the general public loved that movie, ie repeat viewings, good word of mouth, and despite the not so huge opening...it held like a champ.

With a almost 57% percent drop in it's second weekend. This movie "Tron" is just going to fade and be looked at as an under performer against it's 200 Million budget.

 

[spider-neil]

can't talk for anyone else but when I saw tron legacy, I was like 'well, once is enough' and whilst I will pick this up on blu ray I have no desire to watch it at the cinema again. contrast with when I saw avatar and I wanted to watch it over and over again (and did).

I think repeat viewings (or rather, lack of them) is what is hurting tron.

 

[danoyse]

I saw Tron this weekend before the big storm and I just didn't think it was very good. The visuals were amazing, but the characters were bland and the story was a bore. I haven't seen the original since the 80s and I left having absolutely no desire to go back and check it out again.

The storm definitely kept people home (I had 3 feet of snow blocking my garage for two days), but the movie just ain't that good.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

While we're here, I stand by my Spider-Man and X-Men: First Class predictions.

I'll openly admit this is early. But I'd go ahead and say X-Men: First Class and the Spider-Man reboot are going to get ******-crazy nerd/geek/fanboy hype. In both cases, you're most likely looking at under-performers - regardless of quality.

First Class is following X3 and Wolverine - both opened huge but plummeted in the second weekend. People have been burned by this franchise twice now and will be very cautious next summer. I'll be surprised if it doesn't open lower than the original back in July 2000 (which was around $55 million).

Spider-Man 3 was the highest grosser in the series worldwide, but that was built on how much everyone loved the first two and the promise of finally seeing Venom. As we all know it was...truly hated by everyone. I guarantee you we're going to hear a lot of regular people ask, "Why did they replace Tobey?" and not understanding the logic of rebooting so soon. Plus opening the reboot days after Star Trek 2 and two weeks before Batman 3 is beyond foolish. It's going to get eaten alive.