Posted on 10/10/2017 6:16:05 AM PDT by Red Badger
Despite underperforming, “Blade Runner 2049” could still have the biggest box office opening this month
After an “It”-fueled surge in September, the box office is slowing down again in the early stages of October. After “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” closed out last month by taking the top spot with just $17 million, “Blade Runner 2049” surprisingly underperformed with $32.7 million, well below hopes of a $45-50 million start.
But despite that letdown, it could still have the highest opening weekend of this month, as the remaining releases on the October slate aren’t expected to do any better.
This weekend, the film expected to take the top spot is Universal/Blumhouse’s “Happy Death Day,” which is projecting for a $18-20 million bow.
From 2010-2015, the highest opening total for an October release was at least $45 million, with 2013’s “Gravity” and 2015’s “The Martian” pushing above $50 million. But last year, all of October’s releases had openings of under $25 million, resulting in the lowest total revenue for the month since 2007. While this October will see a small flow of revenue from “It” as moviegoers flocking to it again as Halloween approaches, it’s looking like this month’s offerings will perform as disappointingly as last year’s did.
The September boom helped 2017’s year-to-date totals catch up to 2016, dropping the deficit from 6.3 percent to 4.7 percent, but by the time this month comes to an end, much of that progress could be undone.
“There was a little hope that we could ride it out this month until we get to a much better November,” said Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock. “But this is going to be a really rough month. The only possible hope I can see is if ‘Happy Death Day’ is able to get a strong turnout from the high school and college-age crowd, which is where horror has been getting a lot of traction recently.”
Indeed, even though “It” was an R-Rated film, comScore says that teens made up 15 percent of the audience that contributed to its record $123 million opening.
“Happy Death Day,” which follows a college-age girl forced to relive the day of her murder over and over again until she figures out the killer, could possibly perform above expectations if it can court younger audiences.
Its PG-13 rating will help with that, as will the fact that it is being produced by Blumhouse, the studio that turned “Get Out” and “Split” into box office juggernauts this past winter.
But for now, the forecast points to another dry spell for movie theaters, which will be anxiously waiting for “Thor: Ragnarok” to come to the rescue at the start of November. Early tracking for the next Marvel installment will arrive this Thursday.
I tried! I really really tried! It just couldn’t keep my attention so I shut it down.
Hollywood now produces only boring rehashes and filth because they have given themselves over to a reprobate mind.
I really can’t get excited over movies...all I see is a bunch of liberals who hate my guts!!!
Time to die.
>>I tried! I really really tried! It just couldn’t keep my attention so I shut it down.<<
Try again. It is a film made when the story is the important thing. The “slowness” of it is a specific mood — depressing, introspective, dark, ponderous — this is Decker’s (and everyone’s?) life.
Not Mad Max dystopian but rather spiritually dystopian. Just hang in there and when you are done you will find yourself pondering many aspects of the film for a long time, up to and including questions about life and its meaning.
And pay attention to the cinematography — for a move made in 1982 the ability to portray a future world are beyond amazing.
BR is’t a snob movie — it is just a really good one.
The original Blade Runner was a box office bomb, but went on to become a cult classic, as I expect the sequel will as well. As for the rest of the spew from Hollywood, the American public isn’t buying the crap they’re selling. It’s as simple as that.
I saw it Sunday night. Think I am going again also.
Like BR1, it has cult status magic.
I was going to try again. Need to watch it before I try to watch the new one.
Speaking of portraying a future world it's funny to re-watch Blade Runner and see all the product placements for companies that have since disappeared. Panam, Atari and all the others apparently fought hard to be in that film because they wanted audiences to associate those companies with the future. Now all gone. Apparently a lot of companies were reluctant to have their names associated with the current film for just that reason.
"Orion's Shoulder" is not the shoulder of the familiar constellation, but rather - something else, off of which one could, indeed, see ships on fire.
"C-beams" must be really fascinating-looking things.
Etc.
That's all you need to know to enjoy the scene.
Regards,
Saw the original Blade Runner in 82’ and several alternate versions (usually a give away the film has problems).
It’s boring, depressing, lifeless, cold and did I write boring. It tries to be a sci-fi film noir mystery but there is no mystery and no surprises. Performances are phoned in, other than Sean Young, who is only in the film for ten-fifteen minutes.
Pay attention to the cinematography? That’s the problem. The film looks good (most Ridley Scott films have that)but there is no soul...I didn’t care about any of these characters, and apparently neither did Harrison Ford, or the audience.
The original BR1 is not a feel-good movie. It’s actually kind of depressing. But watch it all the way through - then think about what happens for a couple days... it is a masterpiece!
>“Happy Death Day,” which follows a college-age girl forced to relive the day of her murder over and over again until she figures out the killer, could possibly perform above expectations if it can court younger audiences.<
Gack! Think I’ll watch Groundhog Day on DVD, instead!
Health tip: Stop drinking heavily so early in the day.
number one in a slow market. Want to see the movie, but I will stream it when it’s available.
>>I didn’t care about any of these characters, and apparently neither did Harrison Ford, or the audience.<<
Different strokes for different folks. For example, I despised “Seinfeld” and “Friends” which puts me many standard deviations from the norm.
I had no idea Ford didn’t like it. Just out of curiosity, got a link?
But the gross is/was rather low so I guess it is a niche movie (the 8.2 on IMDB is probably just fans).
*shrug*
Don’t watch 2049. It’s a love letter to fans of the first, if you don’t like the first you’ll hate 2049. No big, not everything is for everybody.
Every year is the year of remakes, reboots and sequels. Going back to the earliest days of the industry. Movies are expensive, movie companies like “proven audiences”, always have always will.
In Blade Runner Harrison Ford gets killed with a light saber by his son. Yep.
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