Weekend Box Office #128
So finally the dust from the move is clearing, and I can focus on paying more attention to this blog.
And, you know, writing. Though I made a choice about a new character in the script I'm working on that I think is going to help me crack the story, finally.
Meanwhile, movies keep coming out:
FAST AND FURIOUS (3462 theaters). It seems really weird to have a titel so incredibly similar to the title of the first film, while no one in the cast has had a hit for a while. Still, apparently it pays off on an action level, and the marketing is working. Prediction $27.4 million for the weekend.
ADVENTURELAND (1862 theaters). This is getting great reviews, so word of mouth might be good, though it's hard to imagine it's going to do huge numbers opening weekend, particularly as a teen movie with much of a cast or story hook (except for TWILIGHT's Kristen Stewart). Figure it'll do about $8.3 million for the weekend, but hold well.
*****
Last weekend, MONSTERS VS. ALIENS did a strong $59.3 million. THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT did a solid $23.0 million. 12 ROUNDS limped in with only $5.3 million.
posted by Scott the Reader @ 9:11 AM
8 Comments:
I definitely want to see Adventureland. I was a teen in the 80s, so it appeals to me on that level. It'll get some older audience traffic due to that fact.
Would LOVE to go see "Adventureland" with Chistina, but regaurdless will TRY to see it this weekend.
Good luck with the writing this weekend, Scott. Hope you get your breakthrough.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
Jinkies! How in the world did FaF make $72 million???
Michael, I have an answer for you:
Rednecks!!
why are people so surprised over Fast and Furious?
Its a combination of people liking the actors -- all the main ones from the original film, and wanting to see them again. Especially together. They've got great chemistry. And it was a progression, which was genius. People have been WAITING for this ever since the second one.
And when Vin appeared at the end of Tokyo Drift, the tension grew even MORE. It was an excellent choice to do this.
It finally feels complete, the series of films. All these factors drove the film to the 70 million mark.
I am very happy. I like Vin (because of Pitch Black). I like Paul (because of Running Scared), Michelle (because of Girl Fight, and the succession of movies she has come out with, she is showing growth as an actor), Brewster, well, because she is Jordana Brewster and holds a special place in my heart.
Why is this so difficult to understand?
Well, the problem with the "people liking the actors" theory is that none of the actors have had much of a movie career recently.
Vin Diesel has made a string of tough guy movies in the last 3-4 years, and all have tanked. His last hit was "The Pacifier".
Paul Walker is not a movie star. Michelle Rodriguez has not had a succession of good movies; the last movie she was in that made any kind of impression was S.W.A.T., and that was 6 years ago (while her stint on "Lost" was pretty neglible). Jordana Brewster hasn't been getting much work either.
But put them all together, and somehow it works. Mostly because it's a sequel that should have been the first one to an original film that people were entertained by.
But if you put this same cast (before last weekend) in a movie about tough guys in Brooklyn, pretty much no one would have gone to see it.
And that's why Hollywood is so unpredictable, and interesting.
Hmm... it doesn't seem all that unpredictable.
It doesn't take a hit movie, or being a movie star for someone liking an actor to go see their film. People like these actors on a personal level, and while they may not be in a vehicle which they'd want to see, it doesn't mean they like these characters less, you know? They're just waiting for them to get back into that vehicle which brings out their best.
I mean, its the "lemon car" thing, right Scott? If the movie surrounding the actor kind of sucks, then its likely people won't go see it, even if they like 'em. You can argue F&F wasn't the greatest movie ever, but here is where that overrides...
If you like all these actors and put them into a movie which you also liked, combined with the tension built from previous sequels -- this is where it all combines.
The "liking the actors" theory is only part of a bigger equation.
The mish-mash of "liking actors" + "F&F franchise" + the tension/progression of the films = roughly 50 million.
Then again, I'd say 'Way of the gun' was gonna murder the box office and it sank like me when I jump in a pool....
That's true -- except people didn't wait to hear if it was any good, they just went to see it, and HOPED it wasn't a lemon.
And that's the kind of movie star drawing power that studios want. Except none of these stars have this drawing power on their own.
It's just a perfect blend of franchise and casting a sequel.
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