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Why ‘Mortal Engines’ Is the New Top Blockbuster Bomb of 2018 Box Office
The Wrap ^ | December 16, 2018

Posted on 12/16/2018 8:14:10 PM PST by SMGFan

Peter Jackson-produced blockbuster has a budget of at least $100 million and a domestic opening of just $7.5 million

Most of this year’s box office flops have been mid-budget releases like “Annihilation” and “The Hurricane Heist,” rather than blockbusters with $100 million-plus budgets like 2017’s “Ghost in the Shell.” “Robin Hood” was the closest to that budget mark with a reported budget of around $97 million.

But “Mortal Engines” had a budget of at least $100 million, with some reports estimating it as much as $150 million. While Universal doesn’t disclose budget figures, it’s possible that the studio might not make back its production costs, let alone that of its marketing campaign. Overseas figures haven’t been good either for “Mortal Engines,” with an international launch of around $34 million and a global start of $42.3 million. Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman” has made it extremely difficult for this film to get a foothold, as the DC film’s global total this weekend nearly tripled that of “Mortal Engines” with $126 million grossed and a $261 million cume.

(Excerpt) Read more at thewrap.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: chat; chatforum; clickbait; mortalengines; peterjackson; tvmovies
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first ad I saw , and I thought it was a ridiculous idea and few would want to see it.
1 posted on 12/16/2018 8:14:10 PM PST by SMGFan
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To: SMGFan

I enjoy reading reviews of bad movies.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mortal_engines


2 posted on 12/16/2018 8:16:00 PM PST by SMGFan
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To: SMGFan

I hated the Hobbit movies. Jackson did OK with LOTR (plenty of flaws, but some nice bits too). Overall, Jackson doesn’t make good movies.


3 posted on 12/16/2018 8:16:11 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (If White Privilege is real, why did Elizabeth Warren lie about being an Indian?)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: SMGFan

It doesn’t pass the suspension of disbelief test.


5 posted on 12/16/2018 8:22:16 PM PST by Vince Ferrer
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To: ClearCase_guy
Jackson doesn’t make good movies.

I disagree. He tackles difficult movies and makes okay to good movies. He took over The Hobbit when another director left. It would be very difficult to make that movie with what he was handed. He doesn't make great movies but he does make average ones which nowadays is an accomplishment.

6 posted on 12/16/2018 8:23:59 PM PST by BipolarBob (Have a McClane Christmas : "Now I have a machine gun HO-HO - HO".)
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To: SMGFan

Watched a bootleg copy online. Meh.


7 posted on 12/16/2018 8:27:58 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: ClearCase_guy

LOTR movies were amazing.


8 posted on 12/16/2018 8:28:34 PM PST by for-q-clinton (This article needs a fact checked)
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To: Rebelbase

I took one look at the previews and said why would people in a post-apocalyptic world live in giant steampunk cities on wheels?


9 posted on 12/16/2018 8:29:46 PM PST by jyo19
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To: SMGFan
A city going around on wheels attacking and plundering the countryside? Seems more like a Month Python skit. In “Meaning of Life” Monty Python had a marauding skyscraper that acted like a pirate ship
10 posted on 12/16/2018 8:34:11 PM PST by Nateman (If the left is not screaming, you are doing it wrong)
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To: SMGFan

I saw it in IMAX 3d because I have an AMC “A-List” sub... mostly because I wanted to see a movie in IMAX 3d... it wasn’t horrible but it could have used more character development...

Best movie out now... “Instant Family” ,, insightful and funny with a good message.


11 posted on 12/16/2018 8:41:58 PM PST by Neidermeyer (Show me a peaceful Muslim and I will show you a heretic to the Koran.)
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To: SMGFan

Movie releases still don’t grasp the reality of modern viewing. They’re trying to got massive crowds to unpleasant venues for high single-viewing prices.
The market for streaming purchases on release day is huge, and untapped; every day they don’t sell streaming is money down the drain.

Last outing, I paid >$40 for 4 tickets to “Nutcracker”, which frankly was grossly disappointing (hint: it’s not the Nutcracker you’re expecting). At that costly a mistake, I’m very unlikely to visit a theater again. I’d pay high prices to own movies opening day - better to own “Nutcracker” for $30 than see it once for $40. Also, I may not watch an opening day purchase that weekend, but I’ll pay to get it; if I have to watch it that weekend, I’ll likely defer to a much later, and cheaper, date.

Theater blockbusters are passe. Sell to the new market already.


12 posted on 12/16/2018 8:49:15 PM PST by ctdonath2 (The Red Queen wasn't kidding.)
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To: SMGFan

The article has a 14-slide slideshow explaining the biggest flops of the year. The author makes absurd claims, like “Hurricane Heist” bombed because of audiences have climate change fears, and that the Death Wish remake starring Bruce Willis turned off audiences because of the spate of “mass shootings” in America.

The echo chamber of CTRL+Left politics has even taken over film critic ‘journalism’! They can’t just argue that these movies suck. Their failures have to be blamed on politics. Absurd!


13 posted on 12/16/2018 8:50:20 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: jyo19
aa73285ab7caf4c073b3e83632e673c9-boston-album-lp-covers


14 posted on 12/16/2018 8:54:37 PM PST by Moonman62 (Give a man a fish and he'll be a Democrat. Teach a man to fish and he'll be a responsible citizen.)
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To: Nateman

#10 Monty Pythons - Meaning of Life - The Crimson Permanent Assurance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSO9OFJNMBA


15 posted on 12/16/2018 9:04:26 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: ctdonath2

Has The Nutcracker received the ‘Hamilton Treatment’ yet?
Meaning has anyone dared to perform the Nutckr using RAP?
I can tell you right now, I wouldn’t spend a penny on that genre, which is mostly mumbo-jumbo.


16 posted on 12/16/2018 9:07:38 PM PST by lee martell (AT)
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To: ctdonath2

FWIW: think “Tim Burton’s The Nutcracker” but without the brilliance of Tim Burton.


17 posted on 12/16/2018 9:12:22 PM PST by ctdonath2 (The Red Queen wasn't kidding.)
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To: BipolarBob
" I disagree. He tackles difficult movies and makes okay to good movies. He took over The Hobbit when another director left. It would be very difficult to make that movie with what he was handed. He doesn't make great movies but he does make average ones which nowadays is an accomplishment."

The Lord of the Rings was a challenge for any filmmaker. Difficult material to translate to the screen (maybe impossible without CGI). The liberties with the Aragorn-Arwen angle I think were more to appeal to a broader audience.
Jackson was a natural to take over for "The Hobbit" based on his work with LOTR.

His choices in other material I agree are somewhat questionable. This latest IMHO is to toy with the Steampunk genre (another difficult bit of material to make a film successful).

18 posted on 12/16/2018 9:12:43 PM PST by Tench_Coxe
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To: SMGFan

Well, I just watched it a few hours ago, and I enjoyed it. Kept my attention, not too preachy... I found it enjoyable enough.


19 posted on 12/16/2018 9:32:44 PM PST by A_perfect_lady
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To: SMGFan

The book of short stories, Mortal Engines by Stanislaw Lem was excellent.

I guess this movie had nothing to do with that book. Pity.

Lem was a genius with no shortage of plots and twists

Thought of reading it again ... then saw amazon has the hard bound for $187.79


20 posted on 12/16/2018 9:48:49 PM PST by jcon40 (The other post before yours really nails it for me. I have been a DOithS / PC guy forever and alway)
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