Well, it was significantly below Hollywood expectations.
IIRC, it was projected to make $50m (and $2m is pocket change in box office dollars). I think we're mainly seeing a "HA! TAKE THAT, CRUISE! You're crazy and your movie bombed!" reaction.
Jayne is a girl's name.
River ,'Trash'
Buffista Movies 5: Development Hell
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Jessica - May 10, 2006 1:35:49 pm PDT #1698 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Sean K - May 10, 2006 1:59:19 pm PDT #1699 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Plus, there've been rumors (no link right now) that big chunks of the ticket sales for MI:3 were driven by Scientologists buying huge numbers of seats (that are not necessarily filled with butts when the opening credits roll).
Matt the Bruins fan - May 10, 2006 2:00:22 pm PDT #1700 of 10001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Do the studios really care? Ticket money for empty seats will spend just like any other...
§ ita § - May 10, 2006 2:04:16 pm PDT #1701 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I think it'll affect Tom's reputation--I don't think they can assume that Xenu will bankroll him forever.
Sean K - May 10, 2006 2:04:30 pm PDT #1702 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Do the studios really care? Ticket money for empty seats will spend just like any other...
No, of course not. Studios don't give a rat's ass if not a single pair of eyeballs watches, as long as the ticket sales are there. It just adds a little schadenfreude sauce to the small helping of schadenfreude tar tar that comes from the movie not making expectations.
But truth be told, I think Jess' point is quite valid.
Jessica - May 10, 2006 2:08:44 pm PDT #1703 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
It just adds a little schadenfreude sauce to the small helping of schadenfreude tar tar that comes from the movie not making expectations.
Mmmmmm, delicious schadenfreude...
(psst -- tartare)
I'm just glad Tom's around to take the blame, leaving JJ's reputation intact enough that he'll get to make another movie.
Sean K - May 10, 2006 2:26:54 pm PDT #1704 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
(psst -- tartare)
Or that thing that Jess said.
Jessica - May 10, 2006 2:31:50 pm PDT #1705 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Chopped raw schadenfreude seasoned with salt, pepper and lemon juice, topped with parsley and capers.
Nutty - May 10, 2006 4:30:17 pm PDT #1706 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
Oh I thought he meant tartar sauce, the stuff you put on fish sticks. And was going to wonder why you would put sauce on your sauce. Tartare makes much more sense!
Unless that is some weird LA thing, where you DO put sauce on your sauce, in which case, uh. Congratulations?
I think, to be a proper haute Hollywood tartare, it's got to be pan-seared in a piquant papaya salsa and served with haricots verts, am I right? And one of those little carrot curlicues as a garnish.
sumi - May 10, 2006 5:14:35 pm PDT #1707 of 10001
Art Crawl!!!
I think that the theatre chains mind the empty seats because you can't sell snacks to empty seats.