From now on if two reputable predictors have one movie winning by more than ten million dollars over another I promise to listen.
#1 movie predicted correctly: Never
I saw it and didn’t hate it. I think kids should like it. But I still have no idea why two times as many people want to see this over Rocky Balboa. Something is truly amiss in this country.
Result: $30.8 million (My rank: #2, $12.3m off)
This one actually did about what I expected, it was all the other films that were messed up. This has made $53m so far and budget had to have been right around nothing. Will Smith wins again, might have him write the Oracle next weekend.
Result: $15.0 million (My rank: #4, $2.1m off)
3. Rocky Balboa
Did the Wed/Thurs opening actually hurt first weekend box? It sure as hell seems like it, the real fans came out to the premiere and the parents took over the weekend.
Result: $12.5 million (My rank: #1, $19.0m off)
This is a great movie, but the marketing has been garbage. This is a big kid film, for smart folks, but the commercials are trying to sell it as MI3 action level. And then action fans see it, hate it, and tell a friend. The lesson, as always, advertisements suck.
Result: $9.9 million (My rank: #6, Dead On)
Someone commented to me that it seemed like it was a down year for cinema. I disagreed because I’ve seen three great movies this month alone. I think the natural instinct is to say “last year was better.”
Result: $8.0 million (My rank: #7, $.7m off)
6. Eragon
How do you go from $23m to $7m? That’s insane, I don’t see any way they can make a sequel now.
Result: $7.1 million (My rank: #5, $5.0m off)
No one wants to see a plane crash. That’s the lesson everyone should take away from this.
Result: $6.6 million (My rank: #3, $11.8m off)
8. Happy Feet
By my count that’s about five kid friendly films in the top ten. Everyone over twelve listen up, we’ve got to take back the movie industry from these savages.
Result: $5.1 million (My rank: #10, $.3m off)
9. The Holiday
I was debating with a friend what the worst storyline in Love Actually was. I put my money on the one with the screwed up brother and Laura Linney.
Result: $5.0 million (My rank: #8, $.5m off)
This has sported very nice legs, much better than stinky old Apocalypto.
Result: $4.6 million (My rank: Not Ranked)
