Posted on 05/08/2005 1:50:24 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Director STEVEN SPIELBERG wept at a premiere of pal GEORGE LUCAS' final STAR WARS movie EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH.
JURASSIC PARK film-maker, Spielberg was so moved by the eagerly-awaited conclusion of the sci-fi saga, he burst into tears at its screening last week.
But he's unashamed by his tears, insisting fans will also cry at the end of the film, because its moving conclusion marks the end of Lucas' epic story.
Spielberg says, "I saw it about a week ago, and it's absolutely amazing.
"It's the best of the last three episodes. It's the best way you could possibly imagine for George to finish it off, it has a tremendous ending and it's very dark. You'll cry at the end, it's wonderful."
When it becomes profitable, remind me again.
Star Wars 3 now owns the single day record (and is also 8th) for highest sales; and is also the largest opening of any movie.
1 Star Wars: Episode III - $85,514,000
Considering it took $113 million to make...and it is up to $85.5 million is receipts...you'll have a reply by Tuesday.
OK...I'm now reminding you. It took $113 million to make. As of today, it has made $158+ million domestic and $145 million overseas...for a total of $302 million. So...I think that qualifies as slighly profitable. You have to remember...not everyone is an idealogue.
Overseas: $248,900,000
Worldwide: $520,093,000
Think it's profitable yet?
As they say in LaLaLand, every penny of the $120 million production cost shows on the screen. Not only are all three of the prequels profitibal on their own, they are an amazing infomercial for Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic.
How many special effects movies of this quality have been made for $120 million?
It "feels" big, but one hour after watching it, you find it has all floated away. It is the Chinese food of movies. Well, that and swiss cheese - lots of plot holes that leave one really unsatisfied afterwards. It is not bad only because its sibling movies in the "Star Wars" saga have already lowered expectations.
There is actually a book out where the Jedi are re-formed and battle anti-Jedi beings. Pretty good.
what a putz
it was not that good at all
best scenes had the emperor and yoda battle it out
rest of it sucked
padme whines
Anakin whines
everybody frickin whines
General Grievous runs away then gets killed
Not being considered is the marketing budget. Not available on BoxofficeMojo.com. My guess US budget is going to be about $150+million (they had been running ads fulltime for the last few weeks). Also, count in the money Fox TV put into the Fox distrubition network by running all the other Star Wars in the weeks leading up to it's release. Not as profitable as it seems.
It seems to be down to $70million on a 3 day holiday weekend. Not so good. It will be gone from the top very soon (consider that ET was #1 for 16 weeks). In the end it will break even or make a small profit. But a blockbuster no. Those days are over. This was one of the worse Memorial Day weekends in years.
http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm
Now adjust these figures for inflation and you can see where you are at in real terms of success.
What kind of ganga are you smoking?
Why not? How many actors have played Jack Ryan? Or the Griswold kids in Vacation?
My guess is the marketing costs were underwritten by corporate sponsors. Most of the marketing was done by press release. I haven't seen a single paid ad, but then I don't watch broadcast TV.
My local newspaper did half a dozen features and reviews -- all free to Lucas.
Still, $120 mill production plus $150 mill marketing adds up to only $270 million. The box office take is $500 millinon in two weeks. Even by the 250% rule it will be in the black by next week.
Most of the marketing cost is born by the distributor.
My comments are unaffected by inflation. SW3 has already hit 500 million and will easily top 900 million by the end of June. That's worldwide, but it's all green eventually.
Then there's DVD sales, of which Lucas will get a big portion.
Your point on inflation is well taken, however. Adjusted, Gone with the Win takes top honors. Video/DVD and increased entertainmenty options cut down on theater life and thus tickets sold.
Still, by any reasonable measure this movie is making plenty of accountants very, very happy.
I had just the opposite reaction, along with everyone else I know that has seen the film. We spent the entire next day talking about the movie, the questions it answered, and the new questions it raised. With the sole exception of Hayden Christensen's eternally embarrassing acting, Episode III was awesome. If you're a fan of the Star Wars movies, this movie is not at all forgettable. If you're not a fan of the movies, then you probably won't become one now.
My point originally was not so much about SWs itself, but I'm of the opinion that American's are sick of Hollywierds politics, and are not going to the movies as much. That is why, for now, mega boxoffice successes are not very likely. (Ask the French how Americans know how to avoid buying products from something they don't like.)
Can't say I know anything about Lucas's deal, but the old deal was 1)First the house makes a profit 2)Then the distributor makes a profit 3)Finally the maker makes a profit. If #1 does not happen they won't show the movie, so there is no chance of #2 or #3 happening. Poorly phrased but you get the idea.
Get David Duchovny to play Han Solo, Brad Pitt for Luke Skywalker, and Angelina Jolie to play Princess Leia.
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