Originally Posted By dagobert >>> >>Avatar was… the first 3D movie<< huh?<<< I don't know how many cinemas in the US were equipped with 3D projection systems before Avatar. Over here Avatar brought 3D to the cinemas. Before there was no movie shown in 3D. Maybe that was different in the US.
Originally Posted By irishfan >>I find it interesting that it's opening a day (or more with the time change) earlier in other countries, but they're waiting until Friday (more or less) to release it in the US. Why not just be consistent across the board? This seems like the type of movie that they could open on any day of the week and it would still be huge<< I guess it just depends on what day movies are traditionally released in each country. Here in Australia new movies are released into cinemas on Thursdays. Star Wars had midnight screenings, so we were able to view the movie very early compared to most countries, even before the London premiere with all the stars.
Originally Posted By oc_dean ^^^ that's right. Thursdays for Australia. I've been searching on the web for reactions from here. Still looking.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Honestly, I think SW TFA will not have the legs Avatar had.<< I would also be surprised if it lasted as long as Avatar. When Avatar opened, nobody really knew about it but it built its audience as word got out about it. TFA is one of the most hyped films ever, so it will certainly open big; for it to keep a huge audience for several months would be pretty surprising to me. It will be interesting to see what happens after all the hardcore fans see it in the next few days >>I don't know how many cinemas in the US were equipped with 3D projection systems before Avatar.<< Avatar was the first film to really hit it big in 3D, but 3D had been around for several years by that point. The first film I remember seeing in 3D was Meet the Robinsons at the El Capitan in spring 2007; that was one of the first places to get 3D (they had done the first now-annual 3D run of Nightmare Before Christmas the previous fall), but it was starting to become common by that time. When Avatar came out in late 2009(?), 3D was already common enough that it could take advantage of it to reach wider audiences >>Here in Australia new movies are released into cinemas on Thursdays<< Interesting. I had just assumed that films opened everywhere on Fridays, like in the US. The more you know!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Star Wars TFA opened locally (Springfield MO area) today (Thursday). When I checked online this afternoon I could have still ordered tickets to almost all showings of it this evening. I guess hillbillies and meth-heads just aren't that in to Star Wars.
Originally Posted By Mr X Here in Japan it's similar RT - I checked the local theater and out of about 10 or so showings, only one was sold out. Even so I opted to wait until after the weekend so I can select perfect seats (there were plenty of seats, but the prime spots were already gone which is no surprise). I think these days of internet reservations and near-constant showings means the long-lines and sold out openings are a thing of the past.
Originally Posted By hopemax We saw it at a 24 screen theater. 17 of the 24 screens were showing Force Awakens. We saw the 7PM show. I got to the theater at 2:40 and they had two lines one for theater numbers 12 and below, the other for 13 and above. At 3:30 they announced ticket holders for the 7:00 shows could proceed into the building, and we were allowed enter the theater immediately. Which was nice, because they we could sit in real seats and not stand or sit on the floor. As for the movie. It works well enough, and feels like Star Wars, and I like the new characters. But I had the same feeling I had about Jurassic World...a little too much style over substance. Both the original Star Wars and Jurassic Park I quote lines endlessly, and while this script was way better than the prequels, it still isn't as memorable as the originals.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Interesting. I had just assumed that films opened everywhere on Fridays, like in the US. The more you know!<<< Thursday is the movie releasing day in Europe too. Sometimes there are special previews, like SW, and movies open at 00:01. >>>As for the movie. It works well enough, and feels like Star Wars, and I like the new characters. But I had the same feeling I had about Jurassic World...a little too much style over substance. Both the original Star Wars and Jurassic Park I quote lines endlessly, and while this script was way better than the prequels, it still isn't as memorable as the originals.<<< The originals will always be the originals. As I said before, as long as the movie is better than the prequels, I'm happy.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office-thursday-night-previews-1201669166/">http://deadline.com/2015/12/st...1669166/</a> 57 million in previews. Now studios count any money from the previews into the Friday gross so we are looking at the first 100 million opening day. What will today bring but my guess is 65-70 today which gives it around 122-127 million.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan 3D has been around since the 1950s. Vincent Price's House of Wax and such.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Sure, but the newer version of 3-D is I think what dagobert is talking about.
Originally Posted By ecdc I enjoyed the movie, though still not as much as the original trilogy. But it was better than the prequels. The movie is thoroughly J.J. Abrams--solid, but not spectacular. Also, I wish I could use Hollywood box office logic and say Thursday night was actually the start of the weekend
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Well it looks like I was on in my projection for Friday <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office-thursday-night-previews-1201669166/">http://deadline.com/2015/12/st...1669166/</a>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Saw "Star Wars-TFA" (3-D) tonight and really enjoyed it. The feel of the original trilogy is finally back. In fact if I had any criticism of the film at all, it would be that I thought it was a little too similar to Episode IV. Was rather surprised that the auditorium was only half-full for an 8:15 showing on a Saturday night. But then Ozarks - what can you say?
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Was rather surprised that the auditorium was only half-full for an 8:15 showing on a Saturday night. But then Ozarks - what can you say?<< I figure everyone who really wanted to see it saw it Thurs. night or Fri, and the rest are convinced it'll be such a zoo they're waiting. I have a few friends who want to see it but aren't huge fans, and they say they'll wait until things die down.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Anyone waiting to see it, I'll say 3 points that aren't spoilers: 1. Don't expect a Star Wars: Rogue One trailer prior to the main feature. I was waiting .. but didn't happen for Australian theaters. And I doubt they have one ready ... no matter what country they are showing this in. 2. Once the end credits start rolling, and you are busting to get a pee ... but don't want to miss a possible "after credits" scene often done in Marvel films ... You don't have to worry about holding on. They don't. Just a standard ending .. like normal films. 3. On big films Disney often modifies the castle/fireworks Intro. Like they did for the Tomorrowland film - I loved what they did for that film. Thought they'd do it for SW, but they didn't. It starts with the "Lucas Film" credit .. and goes right into the "Long time ago..." line. 3½. ;-) ... Don't be afraid to tell the person to your right or left who has the nerve to look at his activity on his cell phone at different points throughout the movie! I came so close to letting a young punk to my right .. kept looking at his phone for text messages, it was distracting, especially right in the last 5 minutes of the movie .. with a very CRUCIAL scene. You know ... we, society, did quite well without cell phones before they were invented. I remember seeing Star Wars in 1977 without today's modern ANNOYANCES called cell phones. So, if some punk decides to keep looking at his screen for new messages in the middle of a film ...tell him ... If your distracting phone screen to others, is so important to you ... leave the theater and don't come back till your phone is TURNED OFF! Your precious messages can wait the 2 hours you are in a movie theater !!! I've read enough threads about people looking at their phones .. instead of enjoying a ride they are on. And being distracting to others ... Well, I'm sure there's enough stories about people in movie theaters who are too obsessed with their frikin phones!
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>3½. ;-) ... Don't be afraid to tell the person to your right or left who has the nerve to look at his activity on his cell phone at different points throughout the movie! I came so close to letting a young punk to my right .. kept looking at his phone for text messages, it was distracting, especially right in the last 5 minutes of the movie .. with a very CRUCIAL scene. <<< I guess that doesn't work for you, since you are already living in an English speaking country. We are always going to the OV English screenings, because people have to concentrate to understand the English, so it's always quiet. And the cinema isn't as packed as a German screening.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 241-246 million <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office-thursday-night-previews-1201669166/">http://deadline.com/2015/12/st...1669166/</a>
