Walleye's Weekly Winners - Oct 26th
Posted: October 23rd, 2018, 9:46 pm
The lamest week in October. This has been a record breaking month, almost 2 months actually going back to The Nun in September. And what do I get? Hunter Killer.
Last week saw the ridiculousness of the 2018 Box Office continue with 76 million for the 76th Halloween sequel. Although this one was special because it had Jamie Lee Curtis. I mean we had that in 2002. And 1998. But whatever, this one was special. At least a lot of people thought so. A Star is Born continued to impress with 19 million and a second place. And, anecdotally, this is the movie that everyone I know has told me I need to go see. Remember that when it gets a ton of Oscar noms. Mid-90’s convincingly earned top PTA honors, kicking Melissa McCarthy while she’s still recovering from Puppet Pals Semi-porn. All in all, a pretty remarkable weekend last week. Which makes this week an even bigger downer.
The biggest movie of the week stars Gerard Butler of Phantom of the Opera, and Gary Oldman of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (those were their biggest hits, right?) in a movie that must have been made in the 90’s. I mean I love a good Submarine movie. Crimson Tide, Hunt for Red October. Heck U-571 wasn’t bad. But in 2018 I’m surprised this got greenlight. Perhaps this gets to what Boosh has been saying - no one can resist the 90’s right now. Hunter Killer has a preposterous plot that the Americans are going to save the Russian President. Like we have a secret soft spot for him or something? So this Submarine team and a bunch of Navy Seals somehow risk WW3 by nearly starting WW3. Butler has surprised before with his “Fallen” movies, but don’t get fooled. This movie is going to tank. Even with 2700 theatres I’ll predict 8 million on its way to the high teens. A couple of Top 5 points, and that’s all she wrote. That’s a hard pass.
The next biggest opener this week is Indivisible - another Christian marketed movie in 700+ theatres. As this is my world, I usually get a decent gauge on the potential for these movies, but I’ve got no feel on this one. I’ve heard it advertised a fair amount on Christian radio, and the cast is actually above average. Sarah Drew in particular has been wonderful (loved her in Everwood). But the plot feels a little too “been there, done that” for even this target audience I’m guessing. With I Can Only Imagine or Miracles from Heaven there was at least some twist to a familiar story. Don’t expect those kind of returns here. You might get 5-8 million total on this one after a 1 million opener. No top 5, no PTA, Probably not a very good IMDB rating with all the down-voting that will likely happen. It’s another pass.
As is Johnny English. If this were an international game this might be a sleeper pick, but here in the good ol U.S. of A. Johnny’s third go around is getting a meager 500 theatres. This is not your first rodeo, you know that number is the kiss of death, no matter how much you love Mr. Bean. It’ll be a tight race to see who make more - Johnny or Indivisble. But that’s the only interesting thing about this battle. I’m predicting slighlty less for English on this side of the pond. 6 million total. Zip, Zilch, and not much in all categories but IMDB. Pass.
If you believe America hasn’t had enough horror you could pick up Suspiria. For anyone tired of looking at the outside of Dakota Johnson, now you can apparently see her insides too! This is not my kind of movie, I’ll have to admit, but it’s tempting in the game. It’s got buzz (good or bad doesn’t really matter) and is supposedly just on 2 screens? That’s potential. There was some rumor about it going wide at some point too. If you’re feeling risky, you could grab it and ride it to gory glory! It’s got a shot at some PTA love, and that BO is tempting if it expands. Still, I think it only gets you 3 PTA and a few million at best, if it all breaks right for you. Me? I’d pass again (Man, I feel like Patrick Mahomes)
Last, and possibly not least is Burning - a Korean movie that I read a few things on - and I still don’t know what it’s about. It has Glen from TWD in it so that’s good. But the plot seems incomprehensible. Don’t pick this for your slates. And watch Train to Busan instead.
There you go. The lamest week since late August! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Good thing next week we get Freddie Mercury kicking us all back into life. Until then. . .
Top 5
Halloween - 30 million (A steep dive!)
A Star is Born - 14 million (A less steep dive)
Hunter Killer - 8 million (Dive - Dive!)
Venom - 8 million (I’m still here!)
First Man 6 million (Up Up and Away)
PTA
Mid-90’s
Can you ever forgive Me
Suspiria
A Star is Born
Halloween
Last week saw the ridiculousness of the 2018 Box Office continue with 76 million for the 76th Halloween sequel. Although this one was special because it had Jamie Lee Curtis. I mean we had that in 2002. And 1998. But whatever, this one was special. At least a lot of people thought so. A Star is Born continued to impress with 19 million and a second place. And, anecdotally, this is the movie that everyone I know has told me I need to go see. Remember that when it gets a ton of Oscar noms. Mid-90’s convincingly earned top PTA honors, kicking Melissa McCarthy while she’s still recovering from Puppet Pals Semi-porn. All in all, a pretty remarkable weekend last week. Which makes this week an even bigger downer.
The biggest movie of the week stars Gerard Butler of Phantom of the Opera, and Gary Oldman of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (those were their biggest hits, right?) in a movie that must have been made in the 90’s. I mean I love a good Submarine movie. Crimson Tide, Hunt for Red October. Heck U-571 wasn’t bad. But in 2018 I’m surprised this got greenlight. Perhaps this gets to what Boosh has been saying - no one can resist the 90’s right now. Hunter Killer has a preposterous plot that the Americans are going to save the Russian President. Like we have a secret soft spot for him or something? So this Submarine team and a bunch of Navy Seals somehow risk WW3 by nearly starting WW3. Butler has surprised before with his “Fallen” movies, but don’t get fooled. This movie is going to tank. Even with 2700 theatres I’ll predict 8 million on its way to the high teens. A couple of Top 5 points, and that’s all she wrote. That’s a hard pass.
The next biggest opener this week is Indivisible - another Christian marketed movie in 700+ theatres. As this is my world, I usually get a decent gauge on the potential for these movies, but I’ve got no feel on this one. I’ve heard it advertised a fair amount on Christian radio, and the cast is actually above average. Sarah Drew in particular has been wonderful (loved her in Everwood). But the plot feels a little too “been there, done that” for even this target audience I’m guessing. With I Can Only Imagine or Miracles from Heaven there was at least some twist to a familiar story. Don’t expect those kind of returns here. You might get 5-8 million total on this one after a 1 million opener. No top 5, no PTA, Probably not a very good IMDB rating with all the down-voting that will likely happen. It’s another pass.
As is Johnny English. If this were an international game this might be a sleeper pick, but here in the good ol U.S. of A. Johnny’s third go around is getting a meager 500 theatres. This is not your first rodeo, you know that number is the kiss of death, no matter how much you love Mr. Bean. It’ll be a tight race to see who make more - Johnny or Indivisble. But that’s the only interesting thing about this battle. I’m predicting slighlty less for English on this side of the pond. 6 million total. Zip, Zilch, and not much in all categories but IMDB. Pass.
If you believe America hasn’t had enough horror you could pick up Suspiria. For anyone tired of looking at the outside of Dakota Johnson, now you can apparently see her insides too! This is not my kind of movie, I’ll have to admit, but it’s tempting in the game. It’s got buzz (good or bad doesn’t really matter) and is supposedly just on 2 screens? That’s potential. There was some rumor about it going wide at some point too. If you’re feeling risky, you could grab it and ride it to gory glory! It’s got a shot at some PTA love, and that BO is tempting if it expands. Still, I think it only gets you 3 PTA and a few million at best, if it all breaks right for you. Me? I’d pass again (Man, I feel like Patrick Mahomes)
Last, and possibly not least is Burning - a Korean movie that I read a few things on - and I still don’t know what it’s about. It has Glen from TWD in it so that’s good. But the plot seems incomprehensible. Don’t pick this for your slates. And watch Train to Busan instead.
There you go. The lamest week since late August! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Good thing next week we get Freddie Mercury kicking us all back into life. Until then. . .
Top 5
Halloween - 30 million (A steep dive!)
A Star is Born - 14 million (A less steep dive)
Hunter Killer - 8 million (Dive - Dive!)
Venom - 8 million (I’m still here!)
First Man 6 million (Up Up and Away)
PTA
Mid-90’s
Can you ever forgive Me
Suspiria
A Star is Born
Halloween