Originally Posted By leemac <<from a stockholder perspective, if Cars is a cloud, I want a whole storm full of them>> Amen to that. Number 1 and 2 in the US and a good chance of the same globally (providing the Cars UK numbers aren't indicative of the non-US audience's opinion of the movie). Good summer for Disney. Doesn't mean that there isn't something worth asking about the UK performance.
Originally Posted By cstephens leemac wrote: > Why aren't they comparable? Two summer tentpole movies designed to target families. Because one is an animated film and one is live-action. There is a *serious* difference. And not just random live-action, but one of the most highly-anticipated live-action films of late. You can't even really compare POTC 2 with another random live-action film. The fact that "Cars" has done better than X3 domestically is pretty telling on X3 not having done as well as some would probably have liked, since X-Men is a franchise and given that more tickets probably had to be sold by "Cars" to get to their number, since there would have been a lot of matinee and kids' tickets sold. It's not that hard to figure out, and frankly, I'm amazed that you keep trying to make that comparison, because I would have expected you to know better. Oh, and nice that you keep trying to label others as Pixar-defenders when they're just arguing facts. Does that mean it's ok for you to be labeled as a Pixar-hater since you keep trying to downplay the obvious success of "Cars", no matter how far you have to reach? And remember, this is from someone who didn't care that much for "Cars" or "The Incredibles". But I can see screamingly obvious box office numbers. /cs
Originally Posted By leemac <<But I can see screamingly obvious box office numbers.>> So in a thread about Cars in the UK you can see through those numbers and that is a great opening weekend, right?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Doesn't mean that there isn't something worth asking about the UK performance< don't disagree with that.. and I don't know the answer which is why I am asking - when did potc 2 open in the UK ? Is there a direct competition for the $ ? I myself wondered how a RT 66 - NASCAR based film would play outside the US. Not because I think the story isn't just as good as Nemo for instance, but 'perception' pre movie could be an issue. Now Davewasbaloo said that was never an issue for his clan...so I would like to hear from more UK LPers also
Originally Posted By cstephens leemac wrote: > So in a thread about Cars in the UK you can see through those numbers and that is a great opening weekend, right? Well, the thread started off with davewasbaloo's review of the film and continued with a discussion about how the film might be perceived differently in the UK depending on how they related to NASCAR, and it wasn't until your post #11 that box office was even mentioned, and that's where you made the first ridiculous comparison between "Cars" and POTC 2" and how that meant that even a nice air conditioned theatre in the face of hot weather wasn't enough to bribe people to see the horrible monstrosity that is "Cars". Have I got that right? /cs
Originally Posted By leemac Dead Man's Chest opened in the UK the day before it did in the US. To further highlight the gap DMC actually did more money on a per screen basis (in its 4th weekend) than Cars. I was always worried about Car's draw outside the US. I would have thought it would play well in the UK. I guess it could still have a decent gross but with summer vacations being taken in August and kids back at school in a few weeks it might prove tough. As I said I hope it is an anomaly (and that it has and will do well elsewhere). But then I'm told that those numbers are "screamingly obvious". I must be denser than I thought.
Originally Posted By leemac <<it wasn't until your post #11 that box office was even mentioned, and that's where you made the first ridiculous comparison between "Cars" and POTC 2" and how that meant that even a nice air conditioned theatre in the face of hot weather wasn't enough to bribe people to see the horrible monstrosity that is "Cars". Have I got that right?>> No you haven't. Firstly where do I mention "horrible monstrosity"? Nowhere. Cold hard facts in the form of numbers is all I mention. Secondly I make it perfectly clear that I was mentioning the UK box office. I'm sorry if using GBP or the term UK confuses you. Thirdly it is a matter of conjecture if you feel it is a ridiculous comparison. I don't. I feel it is perfectly acceptable to compare two family-orientated movies. The fact that was one live-action and the other is CGI makes not a hill o' beans in my view. In fact CGI always plays very well in the UK.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Gotta love the protectionism of people over Cars and all things Pixar. Any suggestion that anything isn't quite as successful as people want to think (even with hard numbers) and they resort to sarcastic or barbed comments.<< Funny, ain't it. You gave them facts about as hard as they come (Over the Hedge opens at 6.6M, Cars at 2.67M) and they still claim that THEY'RE arguing the facts and you're not. Protectionism is a kind term for it. Anyhow, leemac, what are your theories on its underperformance? I figured it was just too American for foreign audiences to plug into, but I'm just an American kid whose main connection to the UK is a small stack of Bonzo Dog Band records. Were their any external factors to account for it? Bad weather? Something on TV? A running time 1 minute longer than Incredibles? It's an interesting topic . . . certainly more interesting than existential fanboy redefinitions of success and disappointment. I remember reading about some changes that were made to Shark Tale for British audiences (switching out celebrity cameos for UK stars, etc.). Any sign that they did any of that to Cars?
Originally Posted By leemac To also reinforce the comparison between Cars and DMC. In Japan DMC did more money in its opening weekend (about $16m) than Cars had raked up in a month (c.$12m). In a country that is crazy about Disney that gross isn't that spectacular (Da Vinci Code has done $76m to date).
Originally Posted By leemac <<You gave them facts about as hard as they come (Over the Hedge opens at 6.6M, Cars at 2.67M) and they still claim that THEY'RE arguing the facts and you're not.>> I did mix my currencies there but Cars opened at less than $5m by my calculations. I honestly don't know why it opened so weak. If you do a quick scan of the country-by-country listings it just hasn't performed spectacularly across the board. It hasn't surpassed $100m worldwide yet (although there are still some territories to come online still). I was working the US last week and got back at the weekend and the billboards were everywhere (although slightly different to the US ones and the tagline is "It's Drive Time"). Weather was hot but not sweltering (which I'm told it has been most of the summer). No major sporting event. Only thing is maybe it opened too late. They held July for DMC (and rightly so) and now it is August and a lot of families are abroad until the kids go back to school. I don't know what is upcoming at UK multiplexes so it might have a long run but it is never going to reach Nemo. Not even close. You think DMC is going great guns in the US. Take this: It's gross is $73m to date in the UK. A country about a fifth the size of the US in population. So multiple that by 5 and you get $365m. Marginally ahead. Incredible success.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I did mix my currencies there but Cars opened at less than $5m by my calculations.<< Ah . . . fluctuating world markets. THAT explains it. ;-) Keira Knightley -- now that's the driving factor in the DMC thing.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ the audiences have been split very evenly between males and females so don't discount Johnny and Orlando!
Originally Posted By DlandDug A fact can be a beautiful thing... The issue for most here is not as simple as "Pixar good" or "Pixar bad." It's reasonable exasperation at those who are simply determined to declare Cars a failure on some level-- any level. After the "disappointing" opening weekend of only $60 million, we were assured that the dreadful and obtuse story wouldn't draw in any repeat business. As Cars continued to quietly roll along, eventually rising to number 2 at the box office, it was stated that it was "limping" to victory. (One site went so far as to claim that the longer Cars remains in theaters, the less money it makes for Disney/Pixar!) Now, it has opened at number 2 in Great Britain, and is, in a rather short time, number 6 world wide (that's world wide box office alone <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2006&p=.htm" target="_blank">http://www.boxofficemojo.com/y early/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2006&p=.htm</a> ). But the same tattered banners are trotted out, and we are again assured that the figures prove what we all should accept: people just don't like Cars. Refusal to submit means that one is obviously some sort of mouth breathing fan boy. Noted.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Couldn't agree more DlandDug. Money people can make figures mean all kinds of things. But, to me, the two most important numbers are No. 2 in USA and no. 6 (and rising) worldwide. Nothing else matters. Sure, it can be said it hasn't had a good reception in the UK. I'm not really sure it matters why. Although I don't see the film as something that most UKers would embrace. Not their cup of tea. But it doesn't matter. The film doesn't have to make another dollar there, and it doesn't change the fact that it has done HUGE business for Disney. And let's not even talk about Consumer Products where Cars merchandise seems to be selling a lot better than Pirates. I don't understand this need to knock Pixar down a few pegs. Can you imagine the chicken dances Disney execs would have done if Chicken Little had done those numbers? What about Home on the Range? Or Atlantis? Or Emperor's New Groove? And Leemac, don't you have some contracts that need to be gone over?
Originally Posted By leemac It isn't a question of knocking Pixar down a few pegs. It is about questioning why Cars doesn't have the same box office appeal in the UK as it has in the US. Obviously the UK market just isn't sophiscated enough to embrace Cars then in your mind. Doug your smug attitude aside what you fail to mention in that link is how much of Cars worldwide take is actually derived from the US. Then look at every movie above it. And then look below it. Over the Hedge has drawn in more money worldwide than Cars (and I believe both still have territories to add). I can't see how you can deny those numbers. Disney movies tend to play much better abroad. I was merely trying to understand why. I'm sorry if that interferes with your staunch defence of the movie.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Sure, it can be said it hasn't had a good reception in the UK. I'm not really sure it matters why. Although I don't see the film as something that most UKers would embrace. Not their cup of tea.>> That raises a good point 74. If it doesn't play well in the closest similar country why is that? Subject matter? Content? Humour? I sure as heck don't know. And if not the UK is Cars going to have the same problems elsewhere? Should Pixar have been more weary of developing a product that would only do exceptional business in the US? All valid questions IMO. Despite what DlandDug claims. And there are always contracts to be dealt with....
Originally Posted By leemac <<Can you imagine the chicken dances Disney execs would have done if Chicken Little had done those numbers? What about Home on the Range? Or Atlantis? Or Emperor's New Groove? >> By the way if I recall correctly Chicken Little did $180m outside the US. Compare that to $110m for Cars so far.
Originally Posted By TheRedhead I think it's a valid question as to why Cars doesn't seem to open strong. But when you compare it to Pirates - an anomaly and a phenomena - and call Cars a failure, it just smacks of an agenda. Kinda like what the great Jim Hill has been doing.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...what you fail to mention in that link is how much of Cars worldwide take is actually derived from the US.<< There was no need to "mention" anything. The figures (or facts, if you please) are what they are. >>Obviously the UK market just isn't sophiscated enough to embrace Cars then in your mind.<< Where is the world would anyone extrapolate that from anything that has been said??? >>Over the Hedge has drawn in more money worldwide than Cars (and I believe both still have territories to add).<< This is an incredibly invalid comparison. Cars is barely into its foreign run. OTH opened May 19, and has been adding countries steadily. Cars opened June 9 and just began adding some heavy hitters. Here are a few valid comparisons based on the facts, er, figures: France: Cars opened 6/14, has earned $11,750,000; OTH opened 7/5, has earned $7,750,000; Spain: OTH opened June 16, has earned $7,750,000; Cars opened July 7, earned $11 million; UK: OTH opened June 30, has earned $20 million; Cars opened July 28, has earned $5 million. (I couldn't find the figures for Germany. Has Cars opened there yet?) And all this proves... nothing yet. But if some want to begin confidently asserting that Cars isn't popular in Europe, spin away! >>By the way if I recall correctly Chicken Little did $180m outside the US. Compare that to $110m for Cars so far.<< Uh huh. $180 million for the entire run. And Cars has made $110 million in a couple of weeks, with more territories to add. (I could add that Chicken Little was a simply a bad film, but then we are dealing with facts here, aren't we?) >>...it just smacks of an agenda.<< Oh yeah. Now excuse me, I have to go back to drooling over my "Pixar ROOLZ" scrapbook.
