Explaining Narnia and Speed
Well The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was apparently a box office disappointment, 'only' making $56 million in its opening weekend. Usually sequels gross higher, but the first Narnia flick scored $60 million in This comes after Speed Racer made only $20 million, opening a week ago. What gives?
First, Iron Man is a freakin' juggernaut. Moviegoers (and I suspect industry types as well) are shocked by how well that movie is doing, as the sheer amount of positive reviews for a "genre" film are astounding. Usually superhero movies make a big splash when all of us geeks go, and then fade fairly rapidly.
Second, all three of these movies (after the first weekend for Iron Man) have the same audience. Families. Mom and Dad take their 2.5 kids to the movies, that film gets 4.5 tickets sold. You pull in families, you make a lot of money. For kids older than kindergarten age, most PG-13 action flicks are not out of the question.
Third, I don't think people "get" Speed Racer. It's an animated film, akin to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. Just because human actors are in it doesn't mean it's a 'live-action film.' I went into seeing it with the cartoon mindset, let myself go, and absolutely enjoyed it.
Fourth, as for why Caspian didn't manage to match Wardrobe, what else was out December 9-11, 2005, when TLTL&TW premiered? Syriana, Walk the Line, Yours, Mine and Ours, and Aeon Flux. Oh yeah, and one of the Harry Potter movies that had been out for a month. The first Narnia film had great timing. Early December, after everyone has seen Harry Potter and there is nothing else to go see. Caspian has too much else to compete with.
Lastly, the box office last weekend may have experienced a slight dampening because of Indiana Jones anticipation. If everyone is going to the movies this weekend, they may not choose to have gone last weekend, especially as I paid $10 to see Caspian.
First, Iron Man is a freakin' juggernaut. Moviegoers (and I suspect industry types as well) are shocked by how well that movie is doing, as the sheer amount of positive reviews for a "genre" film are astounding. Usually superhero movies make a big splash when all of us geeks go, and then fade fairly rapidly.
Second, all three of these movies (after the first weekend for Iron Man) have the same audience. Families. Mom and Dad take their 2.5 kids to the movies, that film gets 4.5 tickets sold. You pull in families, you make a lot of money. For kids older than kindergarten age, most PG-13 action flicks are not out of the question.
Third, I don't think people "get" Speed Racer. It's an animated film, akin to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. Just because human actors are in it doesn't mean it's a 'live-action film.' I went into seeing it with the cartoon mindset, let myself go, and absolutely enjoyed it.
Fourth, as for why Caspian didn't manage to match Wardrobe, what else was out December 9-11, 2005, when TLTL&TW premiered? Syriana, Walk the Line, Yours, Mine and Ours, and Aeon Flux. Oh yeah, and one of the Harry Potter movies that had been out for a month. The first Narnia film had great timing. Early December, after everyone has seen Harry Potter and there is nothing else to go see. Caspian has too much else to compete with.
Lastly, the box office last weekend may have experienced a slight dampening because of Indiana Jones anticipation. If everyone is going to the movies this weekend, they may not choose to have gone last weekend, especially as I paid $10 to see Caspian.
Labels: Movies
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