'Revenge of Sith' midnight shows reap about $17 million

Hollywood Reporter ^ | 5/20/05 | Brian Fuson

[BurbankKarl]

While the storm troopers of doubt circled the beleaguered boxoffice of late, the Force was beginning to flex its power as 20th Century Fox's "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" was shattering records out of the gate with an estimated $16.5 million-to-$17 million in receipts from the midnight shows alone, the distributor said Thursday. "We'll be counting the grosses for a while. It's an absolutely remarkable number. It seems like the industry got kickstarted last night at midnight," said Bruce Snyder, president of domestic distribution for Fox. Snyder noted that final numbers will not be available for some time because midnight shows are not usually broken out of a single day's gross at the boxoffice. "Revenge of the Sith" began playing midnight shows in 2,900 theaters in North America at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Snyder could not give a firm screen count, but noted that it could be significantly higher because of interlocking, the practice of taking one print and showing it on multiple screens within a theater, and the lack of any other films playing midnight shows on Thursday.

[billbears]

I grew up going to that mall. It used to be the mall to go to in Charlotte. South Park was sort of eclectic back then. But from what I hear from my parents who still live in the area, Eastland has gone to the gangs.

[sixmil]

I saw it on the way home from work. Best of the new 3, but Lucas is no romantic. That hardly matters because the biggest thing I can't get past is the digital animation. I just prefer the models and puppets. Just like the first Matrix compared to the second and 3rd. Digital is best used for cleaning up real shots and adding special effects. I really like the remastered episodes 4-6. If you are going to do CG, do it all CG like Final Fantasy. You'll never be blown away like you are by the first one being so new and out there. You have to see for closure. I plan on seeing it another time or two in the next couple weeks, and of course I will buy the 6 disk set to keep for all eternity. Well done George, it was a great ride. Random thoughts, but that's how it hit me.

[RandallFlagg]

France? Please explain.

[RandallFlagg]

Those are some of the shortest Vaders I've ever seen.

[MitchellC]

Um... is that a member of KISS in the background?

[beebuster2000]

i stand corrected !!!

only seen as much of charlotte as you can see from terminal B

[Frank_Discussion]

Lucas took his movie to France's Cannes Film Fest, and claimed that SWEP3 was a a cautionary tale of sorts about our current political state and ginning up fake wars (Iraq) blah, blah, blah...

He was trolling for votes, he movie no bashes the USA than I'm a short, body-balding Wookie.

France got scammed.

[Frank_Discussion]

I don't know about that, but it looks like a Harkonnen got put in the back of the woodpile...

[theFIRMbss]

>I still don't think it will get to 'Titanic' numbers

Remember how cool
the scene was in the first film,
when Luke shoots his line

over the abyss,
Leia gives him a kiss, then
the two swing across . . .

Look at what Lucas
has done to his story and
fans who had liked it --

This new, final film
has a big seen where Vader
kills children Jedis . . .

From fun action to
murdering children. How proud
George Lucas must be . . .

[Frank_Discussion]

Two things:

1. That there was a SPOILER! Cut it out! Despite the high $'s so far, that's a big plot point, and not everyone has seen the film.

2. The plot point certainly establishes how deep Vader's abyss is, and how quickly he fell. It firmly nd effectively establishes the despair of the new Empire. It was not meant to be another teddy bear picnic.

[theFIRMbss]

>That there was a SPOILER! Cut it out! ... The plot point certainly establishes how deep Vader's abyss is...

Sorry. But the press
has talked about this for days.
I thought people knew.

The "plot point" only
establishes Lucas as
an awful writer.

Once upon a time
a real writer did a book
where a key plot point

was missing trophies.
And I bet there was more real
human tragedy

in Brautigan's book,
than in Lucas's entire
convoluted mess.

(Haven't you noticed
how many Hollywood films
in the last few years

have built their "drama"
around children in danger?
Bad writers desire

to manipulate
emotions, rather than to
create empathy.

When killing children
becomes just a "plot point" then
something bad is up.)

[Frank_Discussion]

The press has been talking about the the murdered kids? I missed that. As for this being high art, I'm not even deluded enough for that...

;)

[theFIRMbss]

>The press has been talking about the the murdered kids? I missed that

Some CBS guy
put out a ton of details
like four days ago . . .

  Zero Stars For Star Wars VI (Spoiler Alert) cbsnews.com ^ | May 16, 2005 | John Podhoretz

[Frank_Discussion]

What a horrible review. My review of his review gets a thumbs-down. His whole premise that the movie isn't lighthearted enough is really idiotic. The Republic just sank into the throes of corrupt empire, and what does he want, a dance revue?

However, you're right, he throw out the youngling slaughter spoiler. He shouldn't have done that.

Obviously, I missed this article, thanks for showing it to me.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Enlight{saber}ening post. Thanks for the info.

[ColdSteelTalon]

You know I know this sounds like a dumb question, but how do we know if this is the last star wars movie???

[theFIRMbss]

>how do we know if this is the last star wars movie???

It can't be the last.
Episode Six left with Luke
as the lone Jedi

in the galaxy,
for practical purposes
Luke had just replaced

the emperor as
the only human who can
use super powers

to accomplish things.
Obviously this will cause
problems, in Luke's mind

and with "normal" folk
so all the empire's problems
are still around, just

with a young blond guy
instead of a gross old guy.
In Hollywood terms,

that "happy ending"
lasts till the guy ages, or
the producer needs

more liquidity.
Either way, of course look for
pictures nine thru twelve!

[Frank_Discussion]

A bit of humor:

http://www.starwars.com/community/fun/caption/2005/05/captions20050517.html

[theFIRMbss]

>A bit of humor

"Mesa friends should bez along
any minute to free mesa.
Any minute now... Any minute...
Any minute... Any... " (flynx)

[Frank_Discussion]

My Personal Favorite:

"He's alive and in perfect hibernation... let's try again." (darth.havoc)