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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
Joined: 05 Jan 2002
Posts: 7912
Location: Anime News Network Technodrome
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:40 pm
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That isn't a good opening weekend number.
Let's compare it to a normal limited-release indie like The Kids Are All Right, which in its very first opening weekend was on a total of 7 screens.
First weekend gross: $491,000. That's a very solid number and the film went on to a nice wide release and a month later is up to about $14 million at the box office.
I would be surprised if Disney opened Earthsea on more than 500 screens nationwide after this. Doesn't help that the critics are lukewarm-to-negative on it, and a release like this needs all the help it can get from the film critic community.
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Sanosuke_Inara
Joined: 23 Nov 2009
Posts: 1662
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:54 pm
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Zac wrote: | Let's compare it to a normal limited-release indie like The Kids Are All Right, which in its very first opening weekend was on a total of 7 screens.
First Weekend Gross: $491,000. |
Well, damn.
Eh, it's to be expected that something like that would outdo Earthsea by a pretty long shot. From what I've heard, that's actually a good movie, as opposed to what's become the general opinion on Earthsea. And the very fact that Earthsea's an anime lessens it's chance of having a good turnout, seeing as anime is still niche over here. But just for the record, does anybody know what kind of competition The Kids had on it's opening?
But hell, for what it's worth, if Earthsea does end up getting another--relatively wider--release in theatres, I'll go see it if I have the chance.
And I'm suprised that you don't have much to say about the less-than-stellar turnout of your beloved Scott, which I still have to go see.
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KanjiiZ
Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Central Coast
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 7:36 pm
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But let's be honest, this isn't a movie that should be making $491,000. The movie is boring as all hell and should be happy with making that amount.
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sepherest
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 7:50 pm
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GATSU wrote: | I don't recall any Akira references in SP. |
Todd/Boyfriend #3/The Vegan punched a hole into the moon twice. This was mentioned in the film but was put more into detail in the comic.
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GATSU
Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15358
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:48 pm
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Zac: Yeah, but 'Kids was more high-profile.
Sepherd: I thought that was a DB reference.
Sanosuke: Apparently Despicable Me, Predators, Emo Vampires 2, and Shyamalan's Last Bender.
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Keonyn
Subscriber
Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:24 pm
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I think some people are missing a key factor here. Even amongst the anime crowd this film is not very well regarded. Just because it's Ghibli doesn't guarantee it should do well, particularly when the film is already years old at this point and its reception by critics both here and abroad is not that favorable. Ghibli release or not, this film simply has a lot of elements stacked against it.
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shamisen the great
Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Posts: 658
Location: Oregon, USA
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:33 pm
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malik_chan wrote: | I wonder if Michael Cera had anything to do with the film not doing as good as people thought? |
It probaly has more to do with the general public not being interested in seeing something "wierd" or different. Unfortunately a lot of the populace wants to see something safe and familiar. Hopefully word of mouth will give Scott Pilgrim staying power. It might do well in DVD sales too.
As for Michael Cera, I think it is just a vocal minority who likes to hate him. I think he is very funny and perfectly cast in the movie. Yes he is pretty much the same character he always plays, but I think that works for Scott.
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cyaat21
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 13
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:00 pm
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I live in the US but I saw this movie online a couple of weeks ago.
I think instead of being in select cities, they should play it in more areas. I know that it isn't playing near me, and my friends wanted to see it in theaters. I wonder how much it would affect the profits, and if it would be worth to play it in more areas? I'm not sure how the whole movie-licensing business goes, so I can't really say.
I don't understand why when japanese animated films open in the US, they hardly play it 'everywhere' or in more areas than just the main cities.
Maybe someone can enlighten me?
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KAtchan15
Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 460
Location: NYC
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:22 pm
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firedragon54738 wrote: | Wow thats not bad just for 5 theaters |
Agreed.
I haven't seen it but I read that Hayao didn't really say whether, it was good or bad, in his opinion. Rather, he said something along the lines of "Well...it was honestly made." I'll probably see it someday along with Paprika.
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GATSU
Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15358
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:23 am
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shamisen: Like I said before, I usually hate when Hollywood goes Yellow-Face. But if they had to get a white guy to play Shinji in the Hollywood Eva, my pick would be Cera all the way.
Anyway, I know the Miyazaki name and fantasy setting will be the main selling points, but I'm still hoping the fact that it had such a good PTA, in spite of being a PG-13 animated film, will encourage Di$ney to consider putting out Only Yesterday on R1 DVD.
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esper50
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:00 am
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GATSU wrote: | I don't recall any Akira references in SP. |
At one point onscreen there is a text reading "...about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E".
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GATSU
Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15358
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:08 am
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esper: Oh.
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agila61
Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 3213
Location: NE Ohio
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:23 am
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teh*darkness wrote: | Scott Pilgrim on the other hand... holy crap, I haven't had that much fun at a movie ever. It was made of pure epicness. If it really makes that little, I'm gonna be just as sad as when The Losers didn't even break 10M its opening weekend. |
Tell all your meatworld friends.
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Imperialkat
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 227
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:53 am
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Yeah, that number isn't all that high, not compared to American movies. And should it go for a wider release then those reviews certainly won't help. But how many showings did it have? If it was showing all weekend then that's terrible. But if it only had one or two showings a day...
cyaat21 wrote: | I live in the US but I saw this movie online a couple of weeks ago.
I think instead of being in select cities, they should play it in more areas. I know that it isn't playing near me, and my friends wanted to see it in theaters. I wonder how much it would affect the profits, and if it would be worth to play it in more areas? I'm not sure how the whole movie-licensing business goes, so I can't really say.
I don't understand why when japanese animated films open in the US, they hardly play it 'everywhere' or in more areas than just the main cities.
Maybe someone can enlighten me? |
Normally things like that are released in major cities because there it would have a higher chance of filling the theater. They are the testing grounds--if you can't fill seats in NYC then it would be a waste to show it in Des Moines. I understand the desire to have these movies opening in a theater near you (I get that feeling too) but ask yourself this: how many people would really come?
As far as Scott Pilgrim (friggin' awesome!) goes, I'm disappointed but not surprised. I mean, how do you convince someone going to see The Expendables to see this instead? And Michael Cera wasn't nearly as bad as I thought he'd be. Despite being more soft-spoken and whiny than I imagined Scott to be he actually did a good job as the lead.
malik_chan wrote: | I wonder if Michael Cera had anything to do with the film not doing as good as people thought? |
He probably brought in some of his fans at the expense of some of the older audience and a few Cera haters.
shamisen the great wrote: | As for Michael Cera, I think it is just a vocal minority who likes to hate him. I think he is very funny and perfectly cast in the movie. |
Then what happened to all his fangirls? Oh, right--most of them went to see Eat, Pray, Love. Seriously, enough people both love and hate him for that to have an effect on a property like this. But it should even out in the end because he did do a good job in this movie.
I predict (read: hope) that the numbers will hold steady next week (maybe 6 or 7 mil). Should do good on DVD though.
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