Originally Posted By DlandDug So... is it the least or most of the franchise? Depends on whether you're looking at domestic, foreign, or both! Domestically the opening was respectable, but nothing to write home about. Foreign... WOW! Third highest opening ever. >>Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides off-set its domestic franchise dip with an unprecedented estimated $256.3 million foreign debut. That topped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as the highest-grossing start ever overseas, and it was also up 20 percent from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End's $216 million. ... Including its $90.1 million domestic take, On Stranger Tides registered a $346.4 million worldwide start. That ranked slightly ahead of At World's End but behind Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($394 million) and Spider-Man 3 ($381.6 million) among worldwide launches.<< So, tell me what this means!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It means the foppish antics of Jack Sparrow are still touching the hearts of the foreign box office, but America has grown tired of him? It also means we are likely to see PotC5. After all, Baywatch and Police Academies continued to be made because of their popularity abroad.
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< After all, Baywatch and Police Academies continued to be made because of their popularity abroad. >>> And to showcase the acting talents of Hasselhoff and Winslow. Doobie.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The Hoff rocks. He opened the new Nickleodeanland at Blackpool Pleasure Beach dressed in his Baywatch clothes. When he gave an interview, he said he had to, as Spongebob was responsible for relaunching his career (from agreeing to appear in the Spongebob movie).
Originally Posted By u k fan It means they'll look again at whether or not to add Jack to the international versions of POTC!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Lol, I suspect he will be making his way to Paris. He is already in Tokyo.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'd say the world needs some "fun" right now. Pirates is a movie I can watch that will both entertain and take my mind off the world. I like "thinking" movies, don't get me wrong, but I think the entire world needs a collective breather...and Pirates may be providing that. It reminds me of a Jack Nicholson quote: "This town needs an enema."
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo agreed, we definatley need more fun movies. I try not to do serious movies much anymore. But it seems like fun isn't selling (is anything?)> I do wonder though, perhaps Hollywood needs a reset. The budgets are too high, the expected returns are too high. Maybe they need to make a few simple movies and get back to basics.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper The simple movies are out there but a lot of them are going straight to DVD. I can't tell you the number of movies I have seen at the library with very notable stars...yet they were movies I had never heard of. They tend to be the "indie" films or those films the stars wanted to do because of the work and not necessarily because of the box office appeal.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 I think there needs to be an in between. Indie, low budget flicks, do tend more often to be "thinking." Not always, but more-so that or quirky/off-beat. I think Dave's point is right on. We like action and effects, but not to the exclusion of good actors/acting or a well developed plot. Too often these days, the movie is only about the effects (and therefore HUGE budgets). They need both. And frankly, movies that spend their whole couple hours showcasing over the top cutting edge effects are downright annoying if they don't pony up a good story. Not saying this is true of Stranger Tides. It tends to be victim of the other issue - lack of originality. How much safer can entertainment get these days before they catch on that we aren't interested in the same stuff? Possibly that is why overseas is doing better. Maybe they haven't been saturated with the same ol' until nothing exceeds expectations and is lucky to meet them.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I believe it's a combination of several things for the domestic box, all working together. First, RT numbers were bad. This Pirates is the worst reviewed of the four films. Plenty of films are highly anticipated for the summer, and consumer spending is still a bit guarded. I think movie goers will be making more informed choices this year. Second, I think the 3D is working against them this time. For some films, it makes sense. For Pirates? It's simply a gimmick. Films like this do *not* need 3D to enhance the entertainment value. The first three weren't in 3D, and they did fantastic at the box. Third, the audience may be finally tiring of the franchise. I know I'm not eager to see this one at all. I can definitely wait. I enjoy 3D, but it's not needed for this film. There are other movies I'd rather see at this time. And if I feel this way, I'm certain there are other movie goers who feel the same. Question is, how large are our numbers? I suspect, pretty large.
Originally Posted By DlandDug We are distracted with a family medical situation here, so we didn't get out to see PotC4 this weekend. And our teenaged son has been very ambivalent about seeing it at all...! We will, though. (And what are "RT numbers?")
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It got a one star review in of the UK rags that praise popular films. Not great. I have to say we are not typical. We go to maybe one or two movies a year. right now, it is THOR and Captain America that has our house interested. We are quite happy to wait for this DVD or when it is on satellite. A real shame, as I was a huge pirate film fan before the Black Pearl was even conceived.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt This also gor 1 1/2 star in our local paper! We were given Movie gift cards for Christmas.. we still plan on using them for this movie.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Next weekend it lucks out with a four day weekend. So the three day will be over a 60% drop to give around 34 million. Add in 9 or 10 million on Monday being a holiday. That's 45 million Friday to Monday. Now take today through Thursday it's probably going to make 30-35 for the week let's say 33. It will be around 168 million domestically and will likely finish around 235 million just because of the summer weekdays. Internationally this is already a monster but I could see it finishing between 500 and 600 million. Giving it anywhere from 735 to 835 million at the box office.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Giving it anywhere from 735 to 835 million at the box office.>> Which is particularly pathetic given how well the previous three films did without the premium 3D ticket prices. I think it's time to pull the plug on this franchise and put Depp in a new genre. BTW... what's the word on the Lone Ranger? Oh yeah: <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18107217?nclick_check=1" target="_blank">http://www.mercurynews.com/bre..._check=1</a> "Johnny Depp, who managed to immortalize a character created from a theme park ride (Capt. Jack Sparrow), is now set to take on a far more iconic role in a Disney film adaptation of the Lone Ranger legend. Only Depp will be playing Tonto, the Lone Ranger's sidekick. Except, in this version, the Lone Ranger will be the sidekick. Depp says the aim is give the film a far different bent than what was depicted in such things as the 1950s "Lone Ranger" TV show." I'm game.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Remakes, sequels, reboots, reimaginings ... zzzzzzzz.<< Yup. "Tree of Life" and "Midnight in Paris" won't open here for at least another month (I'm lucky they're screening here at all) but in the meantime I've got all the pirates, animated critters, and inadequate men driving fast cars I could ever hope to lay eyes on.
