Star Trek XI- Official now- 12.25.2008 (merged) - Page 19

nolesrule · 02-14-2008, 03:06 AM

Nemesis was the one that opened 5 days before Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and dropped 76% in its second weekend as a result.

Sam Favate · 02-14-2008, 08:33 AM

I understand the strategic move to next spring, but I think it's foolish. This Christmas, the movie would have been just about the only game in town. It could have been the movie of the holiday season. Now, audiences are going to expect it to be another thrill ride in the carnival of summer movies.

Plus, with the movie finished so many months before release, it's unlikely that spoilers will keep from leaking. They will be everywhere before the film opens.

Chris Will · 02-14-2008, 09:07 AM

I also think it is a foolish move. Like others have said, ST would have had Christmas to itself but next May, the week before its release, you have X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Even though it is not coming 'til the end of June '09, Transformers 2 is also coming and I'm sure there will be other big summer movies filling up some of those other May dates. In the end, I just think that a Star Trek movie will get lost in the middle of other summer blockbusters unless you are already a ST fan.

Sean Laughter · 02-14-2008, 09:55 AM

Indeed, I meant Nemesis, but really, once you get past First Contact is there any point in even giving a crap? :-P

nolesrule · 02-14-2008, 11:14 AM

Well, if you're into mediocre 2-part episodes, then Insurrection and Nemesis might be interesting.

Nelson Au · 02-14-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Will

I also think it is a foolish move. Like others have said, ST would have had Christmas to itself but next May, the week before its release, you have X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Even though it is not coming 'til the end of June '09, Transformers 2 is also coming and I'm sure there will be other big summer movies filling up some of those other May dates. In the end, I just think that a Star Trek movie will get lost in the middle of other summer blockbusters unless you are already a ST fan.

I didn't realize those genre films were coming out at that time. Perhaps those could move too, but I doubt it. This could be a problem, unless the Paramaount suits think Trek is that strong.

I'm surprised they'll get Transformers 2 out that fast. I don't think the Trek and Transformers 1 writers have even written it yet, though I hear Bay has a treatment.

Here's a statement from Paramount from CNN Money:

Quote:

Studio spokesman Michael Vollman said the switch was a business move, not because of any problems with the film caused by the Writers Guild of America strike that just ended.
“Star Trek” will be finished by fall in time for its original release date, but studio executives decided to hold it until next summer, the film could pull in more money, he said.
“`Star Trek’ is in fantastic shape,” said Paramount spokesman Michael Vollman. “This is all about box-office potential. Summer is where you see the `Star Wars’ and the `Spider-Mans’ and the `Shreks’ and the `Transformers.’ `Star Trek’ is in that league.”
The movie had been in production without its screenwriters on hand for revisions during the strike, which began Nov. 5. The guild reached a deal with producers last week, and writers voted Tuesday to end the walkout.
The strike had left a few holes in 2009’s summer blockbuster schedule, leaving the May 8 date up for grabs, Vollman said.

I would think that Star Trek, like it's original source material, is better then Transformers, Spider-Man, and Star Wars in the sense of having a story of substance and not mindless action/popcorn fare. Not that that is a bad thing, but Star Trek is at a higher standard, I think.

Dave Scarpa · 02-15-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson Au

I didn't realize those genre films were coming out at that time. Perhaps those could move too, but I doubt it. This could be a problem, unless the Paramaount suits think Trek is that strong.

I'm surprised they'll get Transformers 2 out that fast. I don't think the Trek and Transformers 1 writers have even written it yet, though I hear Bay has a treatment.

Here's a statement from Paramount from CNN Money:

I would think that Star Trek, like it's original source material, is better then Transformers, Spider-Man, and Star Wars in the sense of having a story of substance and not mindless action/popcorn fare. Not that that is a bad thing, but Star Trek is at a higher standard, I think.

Not Since Voyager.

Jari · 02-15-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Scarpa

Not Since Voyager.

Agreed!

DavidPla · 02-15-2008, 03:42 PM

I don't know if Summer or Winter is the better release date. They've both had pretty big hits and pretty big losers.

Winter
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 11/26/86 $ 109,713,132
Star Trek: First Contact 11/22/96 $ 92,027,888
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 12/7/79 $ 82,258,456
Star Trek: Generations 11/18/94 $ 75,671,125
Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country 12/6/91 $ 74,888,996
Star Trek: Insurrection 12/11/98 $ 70,187,658
Star Trek: Nemesis 12/13/02 $ 43,254,409

Summer
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 6/4/82 $ 78,912,963
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 6/1/84 $ 76,471,046
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier 6/9/89 $ 52,210,049

So far the new Trek film really only has the Wolverine movie opening the week before it and the Da Vinci Code sequel opening the week after it. Nothing by comparison with Wrath of Khan which had Rocky III opening the week before it, Poltergeist opening the same day and E.T. (!) opening the week after it!
Search for Spock had Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom opening the week before it and BOTH Gremlins and Ghostbusters opening the week after it!
Final Frontier had Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade opening the week before it and Ghostbusters II opening the week after it.. and BATMAN opening the week after that!

Mark Hawley · 02-15-2008, 04:42 PM

That's great to bring up. I think the overall gross of a Star Trek movie is relative to the perceived quality to the general audience.

Star Trek II doing as well as it did with such insane competition shows that even Nemesis could have done alot better if it clicked with audiences, regardless of having to compete with The Two Towers.

Of course 1982 was far less opening weekend centric than it is today.