I invented a new word today which appears in the title of this blog post, and it may not be a great one, but I think it gets the point across.
In the second week of our summer blockbuster season, Speed Racer is looking like it could be a flop. Right now it’s tracking on Rotten Tomates with a 34%…egads. My wife said USA Today gave it 1.5 out of 4 stars.
Now, the Cap’n can back me up on this, but I am certainly not surprised by this. I told him on Monday I was planning on writing an article about how I thought it might not do well. In fact, over a week ago in our Summer Box Office predictions article, I didn’t even include the movie in my Top 10.
I had zero desire to see this film once I started seeing more and more trailers for it. I never got into Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or Cool World, and the scenes I saw in the Speed Racer previews with real actors in the middle of CGI effects made me think of those two movies.
I guess it’s part of why the new Star Wars films annoyed me. CGI is cool, I love it, but nothing can replace “real” stuff. George Lucas started thinking that he could paint an entire canvas exactly how he wanted out of CGI, and not ruin the integrity of his movies.
But he was wrong. All those special effects and computerized characters just left us disconnected. Jar Jar Binks? Really?
And seeing the racing scenes in Speed Racer just looks like a computer game with Emile Hirsch’s head stuck on a body.
Anyways…I’m really curious to see how much money Speed Racer will make. I could look like an idiot on Monday after writing this, because a lot of the time bad reviews can have ZERO effect on what moviegoers want to see.
Do you still want to see it after hearing the 34%? Do you ever care about reviews? Do you watch movies based solely on your own interest, without listening to what others say?
I was tempted to see it but it’s not even available in English here. It’s only in French and I don’t like translated versions. Then again, Transformer was not available in English last year. That one was weird. We get more English movies now.
Anyway, it means that the distributor don’t think it will make money in English here. I wonder if I can track movie performance this way now
You’re basing whether this movie will make money on Rotten Tomatoes? Seriously? Come on now Mike. That audience is going to be people that are invested in the show or have families and don’t even know what Rotten Tomatoes is.
This is really one of the only family movies until Wall-E comes out–this movie will make good money–probably not Iron Man money, but it will make money.
I’m seeing it tomorrow for free. I’ve read a few reviews, mostly negative, but the good ones are saying that it’s a typical movie where you need to turn off your brain for a couple hours and that it really is just a visual spectacle. And you can’t say with a straight face that teenagers won’t eat that up.
Michael, did you read this quote:
“Anyways…I’m really curious to see how much money Speed Racer will make. I could look like an idiot on Monday after writing this, because a lot of the time bad reviews can have ZERO effect on what moviegoers want to see.”
I completely understand that reviews have no bearing on box office.
But to me, a flop is more than just box office, it’s also quality.
Not only is it all CG stuff, but the CG sutff isnt even realistic looking. the car races scenes from trailers look like a bad video game with cars doing turns with really bad physics… the Trailers also demonstrate a high level of bad acting… I’m with Mo… this looks like it cost alot to make and may not recoop it. But dont be surprised for an initial first week take in, but subsequent weeks would drop extremely. I have no interest in this one, though may be a rent…
Anyone who wants a live action adaptation of a cartoon, especially this one, to look “realistic” probably wasn’t going to like this movie no matter what.
It’ll recoup the money. No problem there. It’ll make a ton here, but it will be a monster overseas, especially in Japan.
Did The CW have any involvement in this picture Michael? I’m just getting that vibe…lol.
“Anyone who wants a live action adaptation of a cartoon, especially this one, to look “realisticâ€Â? probably wasn’t going to like this movie no matter what.”
… thats going to be the majority of people…
Here’s why you’re wrong…
“Speed Racer,” is fast adaptation that kids are looking forward to…its got fast cars and mind blowing racing sequences. You’re thinking way too “Iron Man,” crowd and not “Ice Age,” crowd.
I understand you note that rottentomatoes has zero impact on a movie’s underlying appeal, you’re being way too generous…rotten gives movies like “Knocked Up,” higher ratings than films that end up winning best picture.
Its subjective, sure…its a matter of timing…I’m with that but this movie a flop - NOPE - watch for upper numbers opening weekend into the high 40’s - mid 50’s million range, maybe even higher.
Stay outside the box, the business in never one tracked.
Ricky, we’ll see how it goes…but as far as summer blockbusters, $40 million isn’t going to cut it. I’d see that more of a flop compared to the $101 million that Iron Man got.
And Rotten Tomatoes obviously takes all critics reviews into account for ANY film, but it’s not their call on what wins Best Picture of course. Snooty Academy people do that, and they’d never pick Knocked Up despite rave reviews from MOST critics.
Thanks for stopping by, good points all around.
It’ll EASILY make $40 million, maybe even by the end of Saturday, let alone for the weekend. I’m thinking more like $70million at least.
And Mike, you do know that The CW is partially owned by Warner Bros. right? I mean, come on, I never said it was going to be a good movie–I don’t really expect it to be Lord of the Rings. But I do expect it to make money and not “flop”.
Cap’n: “Anyone who wants a live action adaptation of a cartoon, especially this one, to look “realisticâ€Â? probably wasn’t going to like this movie no matter what.â€Â?
… thats going to be the majority of people…
Really? I’d like to see your proof of that. It’s a kids movie for God’s sake.
Michael, I’m just saying…I know you work there, but you have a habit of coming on defending any sort of opinion against The CW, Warner Brothers and that kind of stuff in general.
Also, the Cap’n was saying that people who wanted a live action version of it wont like this film. How do you need proof for that? It’s just an opinion, and a good one.
@Formerly known as chaplin… “Really? I’d like to see your proof of that. It’s a kids movie for God’s sake”…
I’ll go hurriedly and survey all 350 million americans to give you your proof…because surely if YOU say it , it must be true, and proof is needed to undo what you said, LOL… I’ll brb with that proof…
But just because its a kid movie doesnt mean its going to be a hit. will this earn money, sure… are you gonna see it.. go right ahead, me and my surveyed people probably wont…
Well, I put the movie in my top ten for the summer and I still think it’ll end up there. What we have to realize is that what we think and what we hear isn’t necessarily everything that’s being said or talked about.
If I had financed the film I would be somewhat concerned over the negative buzz in the media and online, but there are a lot of grade school and junior high kids who are excited to see this movie and bad reviews, illogical plots, and negative buzz won’t keep them from seeing the movie.
I think Michael’s probably right about it doing a lot of business this weekend although Iron Man is bound to show some good legs. It’s the upcoming weeks that will be hard on Speed Racer and may end up causing the film to be labeled “disappointing.” I don’t think it’ll be a flop - certainly not in worldwide grosses.
I have a big problem with eye candy for the sake of eye candy. And just as you said, this was one of the chief downfalls of the 2nd Star Wars trilogy. When CGI was backbreakingly difficult and mindbogglingly expensive, you had to have a damn good reason to fit it into your movie’s budget. It had to support the plotline or it simply couldn’t be justified.
Now, it’s just so cheap that whole movies are crafted out of CGI with little or no thought to actual story or character development or anything beyond the eye-popping fluff. “Transformers,” anyone?
There are some innovative folks out there still. I was really enthralled with Kerry Conran’s “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.” Sure, it was massively CGI-laden - it was filmed in a warehouse, fer cryin’ out loud! - but the graphics supported the “pulp” style of the film and wasn’t a substitute for plot.
Pixar films are typically an excellent example of this - the technology always tales a backseat to the story and its underlying heart.
So, nah, I have little desire to see “Speed Racer.” I think the Wachowski bros may be quickly becoming the next M. Night Shyamalans - one trick ponies.
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Going to see it was all the buzz Monday at my son’s Boy Scout troup meeting. It is geared toward a younger demographic, probably 8-15 male. Can that demographic bring in the numbers to pay for it? Good question.
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@Rob - I agree with you about the CGI and about “Sky Captain” which I thought was excellent. Not sure I agree with the comparison between the Wachowski brothers and M. Night Shyamalan. I’m not a Shyamalan hater. I still think he’s a great filmmaker (just needs to tell someone else’s story for a change).
I was really hoping this one would be good since I loved the original as a kid, but not surprised to hear it’s getting mediocre reviews.
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I’m with ya on M. Night, Jason. His visual storytelling is incredible but he needs someone else’s story to tell.
Sadly enough, Frank, it is precisely that younger 8-15 male demographic (seeded with far too much disposable income from well-meaning but ignorant parents) who keep punks like Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, & Eminem flush with all the cash they’ll ever need.
So, yeah, they’ll probably keep “Speed Racer” afloat…
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Hmmmm…easily make $40 million?
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/speed-racer-crashes-burns-to-become-first-summer-bomb-iron-man-still-strong-no-1/
@ MichaelB …Well it took me all weekend, but heres your proof you wanted:
LOS ANGELES - “Speed Racer� was lapped in its opening weekend at the box office as “Iron Man� continued to fire its jets with $50.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The anime-inspired race movie edged into the No. 2 spot with $20.2 million, slightly ahead of the 20th Century Fox comedy “What Happens in Vegas,� which debuted at $20 million.
“Our tracking was stalled toward the end,� said Dan Fellman, president of Warner Bros. theatrical distribution, about market surveys before the “Speed Racer� opening. Fellman added “Speed Racer� would have difficulty recouping its $120 million budget.
Now as far as…”It’ll EASILY make $40 million, maybe even by the end of Saturday, let alone for the weekend. I’m thinking more like $70million at least.”…. I guess it EASILY wont even come close, and the real question is.. where was YOUR proof LOLOL…. come on now say it with me.. “FLOPBUSTER…”
Have a nice day
FLOPBUSTER! Well I can see that. Speed Racer was popular with the older generation. I don’t remember it being insanely popular back then. They’ll probably still make money though. After all the merchandise sales.
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