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2008 at the Box Office - Page 87

post #2581 of 2629
12/21/08 at 10:03pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

When does Frost/Nixon go wide? Most of the ads stopped airing around here a week or so ago, and the film still hasn't made it to even the arthouse theater yet. By the time it makes it out of the top markets, all of the buzz will be gone.
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post #2582 of 2629
12/21/08 at 10:46pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

"Frost/Nixon" will enter more than 200 theaters next weekend. Depending on how well the film does in limited release will determine if/when it goes wide. This weekend saw it take a 42% decline from the 41 theaters it is currently playing in (it was playing in 39 theaters last week). If the movie's numbers don't see an improvement next weekend than it may not end up going wider than 500 locations.
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post #2583 of 2629
12/22/08 at 12:37pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by TerryRL
Bad weather throughout the U.S. resulted in a lukewarm weekend of movie-going for the industry.

I don't think weather really had much to do with it, I think it was lackluster movies and xmas. The mall we were at was packed with people shopping and the theater wasn't. We saw "Yes Man" which I thought was very weak. and Seven Pounds didn't look much more interesting.
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post #2584 of 2629
12/22/08 at 6:12pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

I don't know if it's just me but I'm not completely excited about seeing a lot of the movies that are out this year at this time. Last year, I couldn't wait to see most of the movies but this year I'm just not getting any excitement for a Frost/Nixon or a Doubt.

Anyone else feel like this?
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post #2585 of 2629
12/22/08 at 7:21pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rian

Anyone else feel like this?

I think it has a lot to do with the studios moving their big blockbusters that were originally planned for this winter to next summer. If they hadn't, we'd already have had Harry Potter, Star Trek and Angels & Demons.
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post #2586 of 2629
12/22/08 at 9:30pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

As David pointed out, some of next summer's big guns moving out of the November-December frame could result in the lowest attended December in years for the industry. Despite what happens this weekend, 2008 is going to limp to over the finish line for the year.

Still, thanks in very large part to higher ticket prices, 2008 is going to end up being one of the biggest years ever in terms of overall box office. On the flip side of the coin though, this will in all likelihood be the worst year of theater attendance of the decade thus far, as well as producing the lowest overall ticket sales since 1996 (1.338 billion). Through yesterday, '08 had moved about 1.297 billion tickets. Compared to previous years at this point, '07 was sitting in a total of 1.327 billion, '06 sold 1.330 billion, '05 had tallied 1.283 billion, and '04 had earned staggering sales of 1.444 billion. Why '08 will probably fall behind '05 is due to that year having a much stronger performance in December (which essentially saved that year) headlined by the month's top two hits 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' and "King Kong", and 'The Goblet of Fire' still riding high from its November launch.

The studios are hoping that the current slate of releases for December '09, namely Jim Cameron's "Avatar", Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones", Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", and the "Alvin & the Chipmunks" sequel, will yield far stronger results than what this December has produced so far.
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post #2587 of 2629
12/23/08 at 3:49am

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rian
I don't know if it's just me but I'm not completely excited about seeing a lot of the movies that are out this year at this time. Last year, I couldn't wait to see most of the movies but this year I'm just not getting any excitement for a Frost/Nixon or a Doubt.

Anyone else feel like this?

Not really as I ignore many of the Blockbusters and only see those that I think are genuinely interesting. This year, I saw four and they were all superhero movies: The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Hellboy II.

Most of the films I go and see are arthouse films or others that are critically acclaimed. I plan to see Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The Wrestler, Frost/Nixon and maybe Che and Gran Torino. All of these are released in the UK in the new year so I have plenty to look forward to. The first blockbuster I'll will be Watchmen, which I'm sure will be amazing.
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post #2588 of 2629
12/23/08 at 10:37am

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Ticket prices have finally reached the tipping point for me. With kid's tix up to $7, the virtual elimination of matinee pricing, and AMC playing games with their "A.M. Cinema", it's reached the point where I can't get 4 tix for under $30.

At those prices unless it's a Harry Potter or something very special, we can just wait for the Blu-Ray.

I've been priced out of sporting events for years, and now it's happening with the movies.
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post #2589 of 2629
12/23/08 at 10:57am

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

AMC is the biggest joke I've ever seen but thankfully there are a couple different venues up where I am but I just have to drive further for them. I think prices all around are getting to be a joke so I'm going to stick with those $1 theaters or bargain Tuesdays like some have.

As for what's in theaters, I find this to be the best time of the year and the one time that I try to catch everything I can. I don't care for blockbusters so I'll settle with the Oscar winners and critically acclaimed movies.
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post #2590 of 2629
12/23/08 at 11:45am

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

i just checked curious case's running time. it's nearly THREE HOURS!!!
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post #2591 of 2629
12/23/08 at 12:12pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brook K
Ticket prices have finally reached the tipping point for me. With kid's tix up to $7, the virtual elimination of matinee pricing, and AMC playing games with their "A.M. Cinema", it's reached the point where I can't get 4 tix for under $30.
What games are they playing with A.M. Cinema?
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post #2592 of 2629
12/23/08 at 4:09pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Typically AMC has their $5 or $6 pricing for showings before noon, while their showings between noon and 6 p.m. are around $8, and their evening showings are $10. Of course, YMMV, but the price bracketing is fairly consistent.
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post #2593 of 2629
12/23/08 at 4:11pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Our Christmas day schedule looks like this:

Presents
Lunch
Valkyrie 12:20-2:30
Doubt 3:10-5:10
Supper
Frost: 6:40-8:50
Curious: 9:35-12:35

I'm excited.
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post #2594 of 2629
12/23/08 at 4:26pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Typically AMC has their $5 or $6 pricing for showings before noon, while their showings between noon and 6 p.m. are around $8, and their evening showings are $10. Of course, YMMV, but the price bracketing is fairly consistent.
Yeah, that's the pricing in my area too. My only problem with the cheap matinee is that the AMC in my area is pretty gnarly. In the sense that the guy in the row behind you might rob you or stab you or chop off your head and wear it as a hat. I like to live dangerous and save a couple bucks though.
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post #2595 of 2629
12/23/08 at 5:30pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Typically AMC has their $5 or $6 pricing for showings before noon, while their showings between noon and 6 p.m. are around $8, and their evening showings are $10. Of course, YMMV, but the price bracketing is fairly consistent.
Yeah, it's $5 in Columbus, but it seemed like he was saying that the ones in his area were somehow not following the standard.
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post #2596 of 2629
12/23/08 at 9:39pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

here in Boston, MA the AMC downtown is 8.75 for everything before 6PM on weeknights and before somn like 3PM or 4PM on weekends. after those times it's 10.75.

elsewhere in the suburbs there are STILL $1 cinemas or 5 or 6 dollar matinees and 8 dollar night showings.
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post #2597 of 2629
12/24/08 at 1:56am

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

"Games with AM Cinema"

At the theater I usually go to, they didn't schedule a showing of Tales of Despereaux before noon and this isn't the first time they've done something like that.

Landmark is just as bad, as only the first show of the day is discounted to something like $7 and after that it's $9.
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post #2598 of 2629
12/26/08 at 11:22am
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Christmas Day Estimates

#1 "Marley & Me" $14.6 million
#2 "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" $11.7 million
#3 "Bedtime Stories" $10.3 million
#4 "Valkyrie" $8.4 million
#5 "Yes Man" $5.9 million ($33.2 million)
#6 "Seven Pounds" $4.8 million ($25.6 million)
#7 "The Spirit" $3.8 million
#8 "The Day the Earth Stood Still" $2.7 million ($55.8 million)
#9 "Four Christmases" $2.3 million ($106.9 million)
#10 "The Tale of Despereaux" $2.0 million ($18.6 million)
#11 "Doubt" $1.43 million ($3.2 million)
#12 "Slumdog Millionaire" $1.40 million ($15.2 million)
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post #2599 of 2629
12/26/08 at 12:22pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Doesn't look good for "Valkyrie". When a new Tom Cruise movie lands in fourth place among five new releases, that must have the studio wringing their hands just a bit. Though I suppose it's respectable as a one-day gross. The weekend gross will be interesting to see.
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post #2600 of 2629
12/26/08 at 1:10pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

I think post oprah Tom Cruise will never regain his box office touch. Yes, he has been going on a publicity round apologizing to those he offended but I think it's just too late for him. I think he needs to lay low for the next 10 years (maybe do some indie stuff in between) and then come back with a bang.
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post #2601 of 2629
12/26/08 at 1:55pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

I'm not sure about that though. The film should have at least $40 million by Sunday and could pass the $100 million mark. Not amazing considering the budget, but certainly better than many feared considering Cruise is playing a one-armed, eye patch-wearing German and considering the aura the actor has due to his behavior of the last few years.

And it's fourth, but not a distant fourth. It made just under $2 million less than the more audience-friendly, kid-oriented Adam Sandler film, so all in all it did alright.
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post #2602 of 2629
12/26/08 at 2:06pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Heh, so much for the "no interest" in Benjamin Button. Looks like it's going to become David Fincher's biggest hit if the numbers continue to be this big.
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post #2603 of 2629
12/26/08 at 2:19pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidPla
Heh, so much for the "no interest" in Benjamin Button. Looks like it's going to become David Fincher's biggest hit if the numbers continue to be this big.
I can't wait to see it but I think it'll nosedive next weekend and still won't be a commercial hit. In all fairness, I don't think the studio paid for it thinking it would be a hit either- they wanted a prestige picture and got it.
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post #2604 of 2629
12/26/08 at 5:55pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jose Martinez
I think post oprah Tom Cruise will never regain his box office touch. Yes, he has been going on a publicity round apologizing to those he offended but I think it's just too late for him. I think he needs to lay low for the next 10 years (maybe do some indie stuff in between) and then come back with a bang.

He's not young enough to sit around doing nothing for 10 years and then launch a relevant come back.

Movie stars generally have a limited shelf life anyway, and Cruise has had a very lengthy run as a box office draw anyway.

As for CCoBB ... not surprised at all with the solid box office there.

Doesn't matter if its a Fincher film, 98% of the movie going audience doesn't know who directs what or don't know many filmmakers beyond Spielberg, Tarantino, Lucas, or Shyamalan.

CCoBB is a romantic epic starring one of the most famous movie stars on the planet, with an unusual special effects touch of fantasy which will help draw the male demographic. Its also been pretty solidly marketed and fairly well reviewed.

It should have done well, and it is doing well.
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post #2605 of 2629
12/27/08 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Friday Estimates

#1 "Marley & Me" $14.0 million ($28.6 million)
#2 "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" $10.2 million ($22.0 million)
#3 "Bedtime Stories" $9.9 million ($20.2 million)
#4 "Valkyrie" $8.1 million ($16.5 million)
#5 "Yes Man" $5.9 million ($39.1 million) 9% Friday-to-Friday drop
#6 "Seven Pounds" $4.8 million ($30.4 million) 8% Friday-to-Friday drop
#7 "The Tale of Despereaux" $3.2 million ($21.7 million) 10% Friday-to-Friday drop
#8 "The Day the Earth Stood Still" $2.8 million ($58.5 million) 3% Friday-to-Friday drop
#9 "The Spirit" $2.6 million ($6.5 million)
#10 "Four Christmases" $1.87 million ($108.7 million) 17% Friday-to-Friday drop
#11 "Doubt" 1.85 million ($5.0 million) 912% Friday-to-Friday increase
#12 "Twilight" $1.6 million ($164.2 million) 1% Friday-to-Friday drop
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post #2606 of 2629
12/28/08 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

I spent the better part of this morning writing out a long and very detailed report on this the final weekend of '08, but when I loaded it there was some sort of error and everything was lost. I'm way too frustrated to do it all again. Sorry to go all "sad bastard" on everyone, but damn if that's not frustrating.

Anywho, have a safe and happy new year everybody. Let's hope we moviegoers have a lot to talk about in '09.

From Comingsoon.net...
TW LW Title Studio Weekend Theaters Total Week
1 - Marley & Me 20th Century Fox $37,000,000 3,480 $51,675,000 1
2 - Bedtime Stories Walt Disney Pictures $28,069,000 3,681 $38,598,000 1
3 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Paramount Pictures $27,000,000 2,988 $39,008,000 1
4 - Valkyrie United Artists $21,531,000 2,711 $30,024,000 1
5 1 Yes Man Warner Bros. Pictures $16,450,000 3,434 $49,591,000 2
6 2 Seven Pounds Columbia Pictures (Sony) $13,400,000 2,758 $39,026,000 2
7 3 The Tale of Despereaux Universal Pictures $9,368,000 3,107 $27,945,000 2
8 4 The Day the Earth Stood Still 20th Century Fox $7,900,000 2,402 $63,615,000 3
9 - The Spirit Lionsgate $6,510,000 2,509 $10,352,000 1
10 15 Doubt Miramax Films $5,675,000 1,267 $8,825,000 3
11 5 Four Christmases New Line Cinema (Warner Bros. Pictures) $5,045,000 2,510 $111,817,000 5
12 6 Twilight Summit Entertainment $4,518,000 1,849 $167,063,000 6

Topping the list was 20th Century Fox's Marley & Me, which earned an estimated $37 million from 3,480 theaters for an average of $10,632 per location. The dramedy, based on John Grogan's best-seller, set a new Christmas Day record with $14.7 million on Thursday, surpassing 2001's Ali ($10.2 million) - a record also broken by fellow newcomers The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($12 million) and Bedtime Stories ($10.5 million). Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, Marley & Me has collected an impressive $51.7 million in four days.

Adam Sandler's new adventure comedy Bedtime Stories took second place with $28.1 million from 3,681 theaters, an average of $7,625 per site. The Walt Disney Pictures release has made $38.6 million since opening on Christmas Day.

Coming in close at No. 3 was David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The drama about a man aging backwards collected $27 million over the three days from 2,988 theaters, averaging $9,036. Budgeted for about $150 million, the Paramount film topped Bedtime Stories for the four days with $39 milion.

Bryan Singer's new WWII thriller Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise, debuted in the fourth spot with $21.5 million from 2,711 theaters. The United Artists pic averaged $7,942 over the three days and has garnered $30 million since opening on Thursday.

Warner Bros. Pictures' Yes Man dipped just 9.9% in sales, adding $16.5 million its second weekend for a total of $49.6 million. It was followed in sixth place by Sony's Seven Pounds, which also dropped just 9.8% and earned $13.4 million for a two-week total of $39 million, and Universal's The Tale of Despereaux, which saw a drop of just 7.3% and another $9.4 million for a total of $27.9 million after two weeks.

Fox's The Day the Earth Stood Still made $7.9 million its third weekend to bring its total to $63.6 million. The Keanu Reeves starrer cost about $80 million to make.

Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's comic book The Spirit earned $6.5 million over the weekend and $10.4 million for the four days. The Lionsgate adaptation stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Eva Mendes, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King and Scarlett Johansson.

John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, was expanded into wide release and rounded out the top 10. The drama, based on Shanley's play, brought in $5.7 million from 1,267 theaters and averaged $4,479. It has earned $8.83 million after three weeks.

In limited release, Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road, reuniting Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates, earned an impressive $192,000 from just three theaters, while Overture Films' Last Chance Harvey, with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, made $96,000 from six theaters for a total of $132,000, and Sony Pictures Classics' Waltz with Bashir collected $51,200 from five theaters for a total of $55,100.
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post #2607 of 2629
12/28/08 at 6:32pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

Bummer, Terry. I've had similar issues with HTF in the past. Now I write out my longer posts in Notepad and paste them into the message box when I'm ready to post.
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post #2608 of 2629
12/28/08 at 8:37pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

I'm going to start doing that very same thing Adam. It has happened to me more than once and I should've been doing that a long time ago.

By the way, many are now predicting that 'Benjamin Button' will earn no less than $150 million domestically based on how it performed this weekend. The female demo is going to be huge for this movie, the same can also be said for "Seven Pounds". It probably won't become Will Smith's ninth consecutive $100 million-plus domestic earner, but it will still end up being a solid performer for him.
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post #2609 of 2629
12/28/08 at 8:42pm

Re: 2008 at the Box Office

I would love for Fincher to have a huge hit. That would absolutely make my year.

Terry, thanks for your continued herculean efforts in 2008! I anxiously await arguing Titanic's box office in the 2009 thread at some random point.
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post #2610 of 2629
12/28/08 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 at the Box Office



Funny how "Titanic" always comes up in these box office threads. I expect to see more references to the movie in '09, especially with its director making his long awaited return to mainstream filmmaking. I wouldn't be at all surprised if "Avatar" ended up dominating pages of conversations after it hits theaters.

Checking through this year's thread and "The Dark Knight" was easily the most talked about movie of the year.
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