Too lazy to do this every week and in previous detail (please someone else do if you want) - but
-- The Brave One is softer than expected, about 4.7 million yesterday, will do under the $15 million expected
-- 3:10 to Yuma fell 41%, probably will play out quickly
-- Eastern Promises limited dates were more than twice as good as In the Valley of Elah - the former is solid, the latter, ok but nothing special, signaling what could be viewer disinterest in the subject and possible award weakness
This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,
Variety reports that The Brave One was the #1 film at $14 million, Yuma took second place. Quote: In its debut, New Line’s Billy Bob Thornton laffer “Mr. Wood****” lost the No. 2 spot to Lionsgate and Relativity Media’s holdover “3:10 to Yuma” in a tight race. “Yuma,” declining just 35% in its second frame, grossed an estimated $9.15 million from 2,667 locations, while “Wood****” grossed an estimated $9.10 million from 2,231 runs.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mikead,
Posts: 1656 | Location: Pennsylvania USA | Registered: July 24, 2002
16 IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH Warner Independent 317 $335,000 $1,057 $517,000 / 8 $158 $24,650,000 / 29
- INTO THE WILD Paramount Vantage 4 $59,000 $14,750 $59,000 / 1
- THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD Warner Bros. 5 $44,000 $8,800 $44,000 / 1
- THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB Sony Classics 25 $42,000 $1,680 $42,000 / 1
Some random thoughts on the Oscar-related films:
Both Eastern Promises and In the Valley of Elah expanded way too early, and will likely disappear before too long. Of the two, Eastern went far wider (1400 runs) to mixed at best results. Elah again is no disaster, but is definitely underperforming (likely will be a financial failure) and looks like it will be lucky to gross $10 million at the end of the day.
Of the new openings, Into the Wild is much stronger than Jesse James (almost twice as good), although it is below what Eastern Promises did last week. So is Emile Hirsch now a bigger draw than Brad Pitt? Hardly.
Basically, this whole set of Venice/Toronto films so far are looking between mediocre and worse, and this will have a major impact on their Oscar chances.
Well Sean...you prediction of Yume fading away fast didn't hold up. For a very slow period of weeks, it's holding it's own very nicely. And doing pretty good overseas.
It's an awesome western and will become a classic. Dynamite ending!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mikead,
Posts: 1656 | Location: Pennsylvania USA | Registered: July 24, 2002
It's holding up better than I expected, in part because it opened much more weakly than expected, so good word of mouth had improved its performance. But calling it an instant classic is hyperbolic.
Among other things, by definition "a classic" is something that is determined over a long period of time.
And it is seen as a good quality film, but good enough to be considered a classic? Unforgiven is the last western to likely achieve that status, and 3:10 to Yuma isn't even quite as good as the original.
Yes, it is one of the few good star-driven studio wide releases this year, no question, and by recent Russell Crowe film standards in particular, exceptional. That's as far as it deserves to be considered.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,
Originally posted by seanflynn: It's holding up better than I expected, in part because it opened much more weakly than expected, so good word of mouth had improved its performance. But calling it an instant classic is hyperbolic.
Among other things, by definition "a classic" is something that is determined over a long period of time.
And it is seen as a good quality film, but good enough to be considered a classic? Unforgiven is the last western to likely achieve that status, and 3:10 to Yuma isn't even quite as good as the original.
Yes, it is one of the few good star-driven studio wide releases this year, no question, and by recent Russell Crowe film standards in particular, exceptional. That's as far as it deserves to be considered.
But Sean....lots of the reviews I have read are predicting it will be a classic. Can you argue with the "experts"?
Posts: 1656 | Location: Pennsylvania USA | Registered: July 24, 2002
Originally posted by seanflynn: It's holding up better than I expected, in part because it opened much more weakly than expected, so good word of mouth had improved its performance. But calling it an instant classic is hyperbolic.
Among other things, by definition "a classic" is something that is determined over a long period of time.
And it is seen as a good quality film, but good enough to be considered a classic? Unforgiven is the last western to likely achieve that status, and 3:10 to Yuma isn't even quite as good as the original.
Yes, it is one of the few good star-driven studio wide releases this year, no question, and by recent Russell Crowe film standards in particular, exceptional. That's as far as it deserves to be considered.
But Sean....lots of the reviews I have read are predicting it will be a classic. Can you argue with the "experts"?
The reviews have been respectful, but not rapturous.
Good gawd! People do love their dreck don't they. How else to explain Resident Evil and Good Luck Chuck topping the list over the likes of Eastern Promises. Although it won the audience award at Toronto, the general public may feel Promises requires some thinking. The horrors!
Those that are witness to a poor public reception to Promises are no doubt privy to the following phenomena - the audiences flocking to the top 2 hits this weekend are en masse so dumb that some are accidently seeing Promises, only to recoil in fear at actually having to sit through a decent movie.
Posts: 3167 | Location: Church | Registered: July 10, 2003
Originally posted by ETHELCHARLES: Good gawd! People do love their dreck don't they. How else to explain Resident Evil and Good Luck Chuck topping the list over the likes of Eastern Promises. Although it won the audience award at Toronto, the general public may feel Promises requires some thinking. The horrors!
Those that are witness to a poor public reception to Promises are no doubt privy to the following phenomena - the audiences flocking to the top 2 hits this weekend are en masse so dumb that some are accidently seeing Promises, only to recoil in fear at actually having to sit through a decent movie.
Big surprise! So what else is new?
Posts: 1656 | Location: Pennsylvania USA | Registered: July 24, 2002
I'm kind of disappointed with the box office for "Eastern Promises," I was expected it to at least be in line with "A History of Violence" (which, of its own, had pretty mediocre box office), but it was several million short, even though they followed nearly identical release patterns. I don't know if it can sustain whatever buzz it has now, considering, from a commercial perspective, that something else will come along and replace it within a week or two. It might have legs, with with such a wide release, most of those who wished to see the film were able to do so this weekend. Word of mouth is also likely to be very mixed.
I think you're right, seanflynn. I think that In the Valley of Elah was not only expanded too early, but I think they released it far too early in the year. If they really wanted to capitalize on awards potential, I think WIP should've waited another month or so at least.
I think the movie could do well at the Oscars, but I don't think its box office is going to be anything special which is a shame. I really hope it has long legs but the nearest thing that could help the b.o. gross is the Globe noms and those arent for another three months. Elah will more than likely already be out of theatres by then unless there is some kind of highly unusual long run ahead.
They should've either waited or came out of the gate in wide release. I think Crash sized numbers would've been a safe bet and thats much more than I expect the film to gross now.
Congratulations 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings!!!
Posts: 2712 | Location: USA | Registered: July 27, 2005
King of Scotland's a good comparison I think. Both political type flics. Once Tom starts racking up the critics awards and is oscar nominated, maybe they'll bring it back. Can't imagine anyone giving a more majestic performance than Jones this year. And not to mention he's superb in the great No Country for Old Men. Jeezus, what a great year for him!
Posts: 3167 | Location: Church | Registered: July 10, 2003
If he's nominated, it is more iikely for No Country. If he wins from critics' groups, they will likely cite both films, but with No Country being more recent and likely more popular, it will be an easy choice for the acting branch to go with No Country for him.
That's an interesting point Sean. Tommy is more front & center and clearly the lead in In the Valley of Elah. In No Country, there are several parallel storylines namely with Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin, but the Cohen Bros movie is cleary the better movie. Will be interesting.
Posts: 3167 | Location: Church | Registered: July 10, 2003
Giving a context for how the limited openings are doing - I will first reprint last weekend's numbers for Eastern Promises and Jesse James:
Lincoln Square - 9/14-16
Eastern Promises $81,363 In the Valley of Elah 19,240
Arclight - 9/14-16
Eastern Promises $97,004 In the Valley of Elah 21,240
NY - 9/21-23
Into the Wild Sunshine - $46,419 Lincoln Square - $46,255
Assassination of Jesse James Lincoln Square - $30,889 Angelika - $24, 338
Los Angeles
Into the Wild Arclight - $74,649 Landmark - $44,675
Jesse James Arclight - $52,267 Landmark - $44,675
Again, these are theatres charging $11-14 a ticket, limited runs in huge cities. The running time of JJ hurts it some. Capacity likely came into play for some shows.
But what to take away from these numbers -
Eastern Promises was the biggest opening. Into the Wild also opened very well. Jesse James is good to a tad better. Elah definitely was weakest by a big margin.
Yom Kippur falling in the middle of the weekend also likely hurt this past weekend in both cities.
"Eastern Promises" and "The Brave One" seem to be underperforming.
"In the Valley of Elah" has to be the biggest surprise. I didn't expect it to become a blockbuster, but based on its per-screen-averages, it has turned out to be a massive flop.
"Across the Universe" is doing quite well. Were there any expectations for this movie? What exactly has helped it post these solid numbers?
A little film in limited release was able to post a better per screen average than movies that are apparently Oscar-worthy material--better than Eastern Promises, better than The Brave One, better than 3:10 to Yuma, better than In The Valley of Elah. This little movie, showing on just over 500 screens, is...Transformers, in it's 13th week, still raking in the big bucks.
Both Darjaleen Limited and Lust, Caution opened to huge number in NYC over the weekend (LA next).
Into the Wild and Jesse James had comparable declines, nothing huge but neither did they hold in (which can happen with big films sometimes); Wild is still double Jesse.
