Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <In fact, Cars will be one of those movies that will keep brinking in the bucks for years to come for just that reason. You gotta just chuckle at how some folks seem a little eager to declare that the Pixar magic touch is history, or at least moving into decline.> Actually, ya gotta just chuckle at your quite-humorous typo of "brinking in the bucks". <---chuckles Aw, what the hey... "LOL!"
Originally Posted By electra its just sad the way things are nowadays, 60 million is considered "disappointing"?... who cares...really!!!
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>This afternoon Disney conceded that their weekend estimate for Cars was off-the-mark and it looks like the final numbers will settle around $60.1m. That is an almost 5% decline on the estimates in part due to lower attendance on Sunday than predicted.<< Well there you are! It's the end of the world...
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Actually, ya gotta just chuckle at your quite-humorous typo of "brinking in the bucks".<< Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you read it in the voice of Boris Badenov, it works.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Well there you are! It's the end of the world...>> Not at all Doug. But as a shareholder I am disappointed with the box office gross this past weekend and that puts more pressure on the longevity of the theatrical run. No-one ever talks about how much Pixar spends on its movies but word is that it is north of $100+ plus $50-60m on marketing. That is not chump change. Next weekend is critical. Plenty of movies like Pirates, Sixth Sense and The Lion King have had opening weekends that were just a small fraction of their total run but those are becoming fewer and fewer as studios need to make their bucks in their first 10 days.
Originally Posted By Dlmusic <<No-one ever talks about how much Pixar spends on its movies but word is that it is north of $100+ plus $50-60m on marketing. That is not chump change.>> Which it <<is>> going to make, unless it falls of the face of the earth. Worldwide gross will give it it's profit in it's theatrical run, and merchandise will be big. Do you really think that Madgascar, Shark Tale or Over The Hedge merch is flying off the shelves? The endearing characters that Pixar creates lend themselves better to merchandise and gives Pixar yet another way to squash the competition finacially. While the opening weekend is a tad dissapointing, considering the recent box office trend of low animation openings it's not so bad. Wait until the Monday numbers come in and we'll get a clue about it's staying power.
Originally Posted By idleHands "No-one ever talks about how much Pixar spends on its movies but word is that it is north of $100+ plus $50-60m on marketing. That is not chump change." No, it's not. But please explain to me how $50 million or more on marketing costs is related to how much Pixar spends on its movies? Marketing is handled in SoCal, not NorCal. Not a Pixar function. If you want to complain about Pixar spending over $100 million on producing 'Cars' go right ahead. But talk to Burbank about marketing costs. That's their gig. Seems to me that $100 million for 'Cars' is right in line with what other Disney producers spend on their tentpole films. Pixar has a track record, so spending more than $100 million isn't unreasonable. Just as it wasn't for "The Alamo." And we all know how that film did at the box.
Originally Posted By dshyates OK before the stockholder storm the castle, one thing I have heard few people mention is that at 2 hours, theater operators could only get 5 viewings per day per screen instead of 6 like the previous films. That doesn't mean people weren't as interested but simply had less oppertunities to view it. I will wager that this film will have some legs that will surprise all the naysayers.
Originally Posted By Dlmusic The summer release choice is looking good for Cars as it brought in 6.4 million on Monday, the second highest Monday for a Pixar release ever. The movie fell 63% the lowest drop for a Monday for a Pixar release. For the fall releases, Incredibles fell 81.4%, and Monsters Inc fell 80%. More interesting is that Finding Nemo fell 69%. Cars nearly matched Finding Nemo's Monday intake of $6.9 million. So short term wise it looks like Cars does indeed have good legs. A few more days will really determine it, but if it can keep up it's current pace a box office gross of $300+ million while improbable is not mathematically impossible.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I stopped by Target today to pick up something else, and took a peek at the toy section. It was stripped of Cars merchandise. I asked a clerk about it and he promised there would be more tomorrow.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>But as a shareholder I am disappointed with the box office gross this past weekend and that puts more pressure on the longevity of the theatrical run.<< In reading all of your comments over the last week, it seems that you were sharing every bit of gloomy news regarding Cars you could find, trying to find the chink in the armor of Pixar, Lasseter, etc. As a shareholder interested in the success of the film, I'd think you'd be trying to cheer for it and encourage people to go see it, especially if you believe that the first 10 days are so critical. You could wait until day 11 to be gloomy. As a shareholder in the company, you should perhaps focus on the big picture -- merchandising is going to be very big for this movie, it's going to keep bringing in the bucks over the summer long beyond the first 10 days. $60 million in its opening weekend hardly makes this movie a dog at the box office. And this is a high quality film. While cheapie sequels make quick bucks in the short term, Cars adds a wealth of new characters to the Disney family, and certainley will be nominated for Best Animated Feature in the next Oscars (I'll be shocked if it doesn't win). I like that I know I'll get my $9 worth and more when I see a Disney/Pixar movie. They didn't have to include a short, but bless their hearts, they did. And it's a charmer in itself. It's a good time to be a Disney shareholder. This is high quality movie for the whole family. Enjoy the show!
Originally Posted By Dlmusic Don't worry Kar2oonMan, leemac is probably just upset that Cars beat Home on the Range's complete gross in about 60 hours.
Originally Posted By leemac <<In reading all of your comments over the last week, it seems that you were sharing every bit of gloomy news regarding Cars you could find, trying to find the chink in the armor of Pixar, Lasseter, etc.>> Not deliberately at all. Just interested to hear people's comments on these issues. There is no doubt that the numbers are under closer scrutiny as the first movie since the acquisition has closed hence the discussion. I don't think everything is doom and gloom but then I also don't feel 100% sunny about Cars, period. <<It's a good time to be a Disney shareholder.>> Well maybe your Disney shares aren't off but mine are down a chunk this week and that is almost solely due to Cars.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I have 'a' share. I did what I could to help your shares by buying 4 tickets last night. I give, and I give, and I give.... what do you shareholders want from me? Heck with it. I'm going to go see Over the Hedge. Maybe the Dreamworks shareholders won't be so grumpy.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Maybe the Dreamworks shareholders won't be so grumpy.>> DWA shares are near their 52-week low so they have reason to be truly grumpy!
