SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/8/11

[Shrykespeare]

Official Theater Counts:

Zookeeper - 3,482
Horrible Bosses - 3,040
Project Nim - 4
Beats, Rhymes & Life - 4
Ranchero - 2
Rapt - 1

[Buscemi]

Early Friday Estimates:

Transformers 3 $15 million (I was expecting a bigger drop since it was agreed to be only slightly better than Transformers 2)
Horrible Bosses $9 million (which according to some may be an underestimate)
Zookeeper $7 million (a Saturday increase is expected)

[silversurfer19]

Hopefully Horrible Bosses maintains that momentum, I put it on virtually every slate at the last minute. Transformers is doing pretty well, and despite not faring much better with the critics than the last one, I think most people tend to have enjoyed it a hell of a lot more. I think that should ensure it's drops are at a minimum.

[Buscemi]

What I don't understand is that why people even bothered. Since they hated Transformers 2 so much and Transformers 3 is basically more of the same (give or take a few things), why go see it? Are people's memories really that short?

[silversurfer19]

While I gave this one a wide berth, to be honest, yes. I think people are willing to forgive and forget for 2 hours plus of mindless entertainment. Transformers 2 even wouldn't have gotten to $400m without repeat viewings, so despite it being bad, obviously the need for such entertainment ensures success. However, this one won't finish quite so close to it's predecessor, it's already trailing by quite a margin and I think it'll probably finish a good $50m+ behind when its run ends.

[thswrestler160]

its not trailing way behind. its only 27 mil behind the last one and out side of its first 2 days only 10 behind. its day to day holds are better than the second. that will change in the next few days since the second was hitting the holiday weekend but still 350-360 isn't out of the question.

[numbersix]

It will at least pass the first movie, and worldwide it'll probably outsell them both.

From word of mouth, I think a lot of people forgot about Transformers 2 when they watched the trailer of 3.

[Buscemi]

Here's something that I found out: in China, Transformers 3 (along with every imported production) is being withheld as the government wants audiences to watch their propaganda piece The Beginning of the Great Revival (which also got an American release recently and flopped). The word of mouth is awful (the IMDb rating is 2.0 and is on the Bottom 100) but China won't allow international productions to be screened until the film grosses the equivalent of $123 million American dollars. In short: Transformers 3 may never get an Chinese release.

And somehow, Chow Yun-Fat and John Woo are in the film.

[Chienfantome]

Yeah it's a pure propaganda film apparently. Woo may have participated in it to be in good terms with the people greenlighting fiklms in China. Or maybe he just supports the Chinese politics...
Great to see T3 is holding well !

[Buscemi]

Actually, Woo and his family were often targets of the Chinese government when he was a child (they were Christian, the government frowns upon the practice of western religions) and actually left due to his opposition of the government. Woo is however filming a movie there at the moment (Flying Tigers).

[Chienfantome]

What would humans do to get what they want

[Brockster]

imdb for Zookeeper is down to 3.8

pissed I dropped HB from a few of my slates

[Geezer]

Most of the "common moviegoers" aka "not us" that I have talked to about Transformers say that they actually liked the second one. Its really more the serious film goers that have thrashed it.

[W]

Looks like Michael Rappaport's doc is a good pick. It's expected at about $40 K PTA, which will be tough for Nim (or anything else) to beat. Am I the only one that grabbed it?

[Brockster]

I grabbed it too! A Tribe Called Quest is huge to hip hop fans, I knew they'd come out for it. I think I had it on 4 of my slates (all Ultimate).