Can Monsters Inc 2 keep Bond 23 off the top?

[Kristatos]

The only film scheduled to go head to head with Bond 23 is something called Ouija, a "supernatural action-adventure film" directed by the appalling McG, which doesn't sound as if it will be much competition for Bond. The thing is, Monsters Inc 2 is released a week before it in the US. Now, if Bond 23 doesn't make number 1 in the US box office charts, that will be a huge red flag for the franchise. Studios set great store by the number 1 slot. Remember 1993, when Last Action Hero and Demolition Man were released? The two films both had similar budgets and box office returns, but the former was perceived as a dismal failure, while the latter was perceived as a hit. Why? Because Demolition Man made number 1 while Last Action Hero was kept off by the juggernaut that was Jurassic Park.

Which brings me back to Monsters Inc. 2. A second week at number 1 for that film might finally give EON the message. But will it happen? The portents aren't good. Pixar films have stayed at number 1 for a second or even third week in the past, but not when they've been followed by major franchise movies. The new releases competing against them were mainstream films, but with slightly more limited appeal - comedies like Shallow Hal or dramas like The Green Mile. Has QOS reduced Bond's box office appeal to those levels, I wonder?

[English Agent]

If Bond 23 gets very good reviews, then it should get a No1 spot in the US in its opening weekend.

Then again i remember TND was 2nd to Titanic in Dec 1997, but despite being up against the boat, did very well in its run in the US.

EA

[007]

I daresay they'll ram Bond 23 down our throats as if their life depended on it. Daniel Craig will be the world's best dressed man again, man of the year, the world's greatest actor. The film will make money and Babs will move heaven and earth to get him back for Bond 24.

[Mazer Rackham]

They will try but the P&R budget may be greatly reduced. At this point they have no sponsors either. Their 3 film deal with Ford expired with Quark. Most of the major luxury car manufacturers are just holding on, I hate to justify dumping money into a pit like Bond. Who was it Expedia? that got burned by the last movie. Had a "Travel like Bond" promotion which made everyone who saw the last movie wince.

[FormerBondFan]

Speaking of big franchises, Star Trek: Nemesis was highly promoted but ended up a box office failure, not to mention finishing 2nd during its opening weekend. Plus, it received horrid reviews with many reviewers said that the franchise had grown stale. According to former Trek producer Rick Berman, he said that the reason Nemesis failed was due to competition with big blockbusters including COS, DAD, and TTT. I wonder if Bond is starting to end up the same the fate as Trek was back then. Holiday season 2012 will be crowding up with families and teens thanks to Monsters, Inc. 2 and Twilight 4.2. Plus, Supie and Middle Earth creatures will be crowding up the theaters as well.

[Alessandra]

They will try but the P&R budget may be greatly reduced. At this point they have no sponsors either. Their 3 film deal with Ford expired with Quark. Most of the major luxury car manufacturers are just holding on, I hate to justify dumping money into a pit like Bond. Who was it Expedia? that got burned by the last movie. Had a "Travel like Bond" promotion which made everyone who saw the last movie wince.

This is the main point that a lot of people seem to be forgetting about. They do not have nearly as much money as they did with previous movies to invest in either PR OR advertising. QoS made the studio book a loss, MGM has filed for bankruptcy, they are STILL to find the partner AND still to sign a distribution agreement because they're so desperate to get money and cash flow they don't manage to convince anyone, AND they only have ONE WEEK to stand up alone, and not even since they're up against Monsters, Inc. After that, Twilight comes in and it's absolutely guaranteed they will get no.1 spot and leave only crumbs to others, Bond included.

I do think they may not even go to number one if they don't have a great movie. They won't have the budget for a campaign as big as the previous ones. Anyway, first we need to see what actually happens with the movie. IF by some cosmic miracle they end up producing something decent, then surely I agree it will make good money. But so far? It doesn't seem like that will be the case at all. News we've gotten about the movie so far indicate a duplicate of QoS, and that is certainly not going to end up no.1 at box office, let alone do well in general.

I honestly don't know what to think... until we have clearer ideas on what the movie is going to be like, it's hard to say. What we know for sure is the budget won't be nearly as big as that of QoS. Which, considering QoS booked a loss despite the MASSIVE promotion, surely isn't an omen for no.1 box office spot and good revenue for Bond 23. I think in the end Bond 23 may just and only do so and so. Unless, of course, they produce a decent movie... which for now seems highly unlikely.

[Kristatos]

Speaking of big franchises, Star Trek: Nemesis was highly promoted but ended up a box office failure, not to mention finishing 2nd during its opening weekend.

What a piece of junk that film was. Who wrote that crap? Wonder what he's working on at the moment....

[Kristatos]

I do think they may not even go to number one if they don't have a great movie.(snip) Unless, of course, they produce a decent movie... which for now seems highly unlikely.

I'm not sure that the quality of the film has much to do with the opening weekend. My main point in creating this thread is that QOS is not percieved as the failure that it was purely because it had a strong opening weekend, and that was mainly down to the success of CR. I've been saying for a long time that QOS's poor reception may negatively impact Bond 23's opening weekend, I was just wondering whether it's possible that Monsters Inc. 2 might have strong enough holdovers that it might stay at the top for a second weekend, thus stripping EON of their last remaining figleaf. Based on previous box office history, I actually don't think it's likely, but it's possible.

[Dr. No]

unless MI2 is the best family movie of all time I doubt it. But it will be a family movie and farily popular, in more theaters and in 3d.... I think I might of ruined my own argument.

[FormerBondFan]

Speaking of big franchises, Star Trek: Nemesis was highly promoted but ended up a box office failure, not to mention finishing 2nd during its opening weekend.

What a piece of junk that film was. Who wrote that crap? Wonder what he's working on at the moment....

Logan wrote Trek 10.

[Kristatos]

Logan wrote Trek 10.

I know. I was making a sarcastic jab at the fact that he's also working on Bond 23.

[FormerBondFan]

Logan wrote Trek 10.

I know. I was making a sarcastic jab at the fact that he's also working on Bond 23.

I hope Bond 23 does end up like Nemesis (maybe not international market). That will teach EON a lesson.

[Kristatos]

This is probably old to a lot of people, but I just found this excellent skewering of ST:N (warning: contains strong language) -

http://www.stardestroyer.net/Nemesis/Pictorial-1.html

[oscartheman]

This is probably old to a lot of people, but I just found this excellent skewering of ST:N (warning: contains strong language) -

http://www.stardestroyer.net/Nemesis/Pictorial-1.html

Funny stuff.

[Thunderpussy]

Funny Indeed "Join me in a laugh Number One " I always thought that Picard with his driving glasses looked just like Capt Mannering from Dads army.

[Alessandra]

The Logan point is a great one, Kristatos. Of course him being in Bond 23 spells ahem, good box office news? Not

I think Monsters Inc. 2 will be a big hit. Now, if as you are inferring (and it's certainly a valid argument), QoS memories impact Bond 23 then I think there's no way they make it to no.1 even the first week. If not, I still think a lot depends on how much advertising they do (and they for sure won't have as much money for it as they did last time around) and on what the trailer is like. That's what influences the general public. Of course for us fans, we'll know way before then what the movie is going to be like, but the general moviegoer will just either keep or not keep QoS into account and then decide based on advertising, press/critics and trailer. I honestly can't see how they can make numbers that are anything more than barely ok with this one, but hey, miracles happen so who knows. If the film isn't good (which sadly seems the case so far, given the people in charge for script and direction, not to mention the Bond actor ) then I think there's no way they do well with it. If this is anything like QoS, we are running the serious risk of remaining without a franchise, and I REALLY don't want that to happen.

[bjmdds]

bjmdds » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:50 am
I am not so sure this crummy film will open in 2012. Once Eon sees the competition, they might push it back into 2013.

[FormerBondFan]

bjmdds » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:50 am
I am not so sure this crummy film will open in 2012. Once Eon sees the competition, they might push it back into 2013.

Iron Man will rise again in 2013. Hopefully Narnia will be there too.

[Thunderpussy]

Thunderpussy » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:57 am
There was a time a Bond Movie didn't have to worry about the competition, It was a guarenteed Hit, Thanks to the great work of Babs and Co, Bond has become a generic action hero with mild depression. and can't really be distinguished from Bourne etc.
I would say the New Direction they've taken Bond is down the toilet.

[Kristatos]

Iron Man will rise again in 2013. Hopefully Narnia will be there too.

Given the lacklustre box office performance of the last two Narnia films, I won't hold my breath.