Last August went quite well for me. I hit 5 out of 16 openings right, the most of all predicters I follow, closing a gap to leaders. Overall, this year is worse for us, shooters, than the last one. The amount of movies is identical (86 now, 85 then), but no one reached 26 right shots. That was the best result last year at the start of September. This time, a counter stopped at 23.
Movies have got a bit harder to evaluate. They started getting unexpected boosts from their audiences. Like
No Good Deed last weekend. A run-of-the-mill movie, but managed to break the line of $ 10,000 per theater. An opening this big happened for the 24th time this year. I think we'll close the year with a number higher than last year's 29 times.
This weekend we have three openings.
MONDAY: Official numbers!
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WHAT CAN WE DEDUCE ABOUT A MOVIE FROM A WAY IT USES ARTICLES AND PREPOSITIONS?
This movie,
A Walk Among the Tombstones, is an action R movie, from Universal.
The title starts with
a, but the most important is what stands after
the. The Tombstones. I feel I am supposed to know what or whose those tombstones are. But I don't know. The poster doesn't reveal any vital information. I see a cemetary, one of millions.
What if tombstones are a metaphor of mortal dangers crouching behind every corner, waiting for the lead character to fall into one of them? It's certainly more interesting. It'd also explain the use of proposition
among. By the classic definition,
among means being in a center and surrounded by. The expression of
a walk among I'd translate as the noun, a curvy path that meanders around. You do it with great care, avoiding being hit or even touched.
The deduction above is, however, more interesting than the movie itself. Producers didn't use Liam Neeson to the best of his abilities. An environment doesn't add to overall drama tension, like it did in
Non-Stop. This is just another thriller, like they do with Jason Statham or Dwayne Johnson.
Shots:
$ 20 mln -- C.S. Strowbridge, The-Numbers
$ 19 mln -- Andy Burns, BiffBamPop
$ 18 mln -- ThisIsNotMyName, BoxOfficePredictionsOnline
$ 17 mln -- Gitesh Pandya, BoxOfficeGuru
$ 16 mln -- Ray Subers, BoxOfficeMojo
$ 15,7 mln -- Edward Douglas, ComingSoon
$ 15,5 mln -- Mitch Metcalf, ShowBuzzDaily
$ 14,95 mln -- Mario Ludwinski, USBOPredictions2014 (2712 theaters, $ 5512 per theater)
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$ 14 mln -- Box Office team
$ 12,76 mln -- the official weekend number of the movie (2712 theaters, $ 4705 per theater)
$ 12,5 mln -- Laremy Legel, RopeOfSilicon
SaberToothDragon, BoxOfficeFrontier, didn't post his shot for this movie.
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DO THOSE KIDS ARE REALLY LOST?
This movie,
The Maze Runner, is a thriller PG-13 movie, from Fox.
As a serious trap of the Young Adult literature I see an unability to create memorable side characters. The lead character experiences life dilemma, he/she is a mirror for target audience to feel emotions, choices, and repercussions. But all other characters seem to be cut from cardboard. They usually don't go wide with their ambitions, fears, needs, actions. Everything is kept tight to a lead character's path.
Lost, a TV series, reinvented TV entertainment in many ways. One of them was presenting a story through multiple characters. Of course, we had the leading three in Jack, Kate, Sawyer, but all other received spotlight throughout the series. Life of other people rarely revolves around us: that would be a terrific lesson for young adults. Instead, almost every movie skims that.
By addition of the maze, creators wanted to present another level of interest for audience: mystery surroundings. But you know, for today's teenagers a public bus ride is also stressful. Tension rises, emotions boil. The maze is -- again -- a metaphor of a world of adults they don't understand. Why my dad doesn't want to drive for me after school? Why mother invites so many men to us? Why a guy I like doesn't pay any attention to me? The graphic maze is not a help in finding answers to these questions. It rather is a distraction, an easy pill that temporarily blunts senses. Not a way out, just another trap forcing staying in.
In short: not a good movie. Low opening weekend.
Shots:
$ 40 mln -- Andy Burns, BiffBamPop
$ 37 mln -- Box Office team
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$ 34,5 mln -- Mitch Metcalf, ShowBuzzDaily
$ 34 mln -- Ray Subers, BoxOfficeMojo
$ 34 mln -- Edward Douglas, ComingSoon
$ 32,51 mln -- the official weekend number of the movie (3604 theaters, $ 9021 per theater)
$ 31 mln -- Mario Ludwinski, USBOPredictions2014 (3604 theaters, $ 8955 per theater)
$ 30 mln -- C.S. Strowbridge, The-Numbers
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$ 28 mln -- Laremy Legel, RopeOfSilicon
$ 27 mln -- SaberToothDragon, BoxOfficeFrontier
$ 26 mln -- Gitesh Pandya, BoxOfficeGuru
$ 26 mln -- ThisIsNotMyName, BoxOfficePredictionsOnline
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TAGLINES ARE DANGEROUS TOOLS TO SELL MOVIES
This movie,
This Is Where I Leave You, is a comedy R movie, from Warner Bros.
There are three rules a good tagline must exercise. First, involve contrast. Second, provide a glimpse of later events. Third, emotionally connect with audience.
The first rule is fulfilled by combining words
home and
uncomfortable. The second rule is not expressed openly. We can suppose the movie will show some uncomfortable moments and possibly some family reunions, healing, hugging. It's the most obvious route, that doesn't mean it is a bad route. The third rule is broken: though I think many families are uncomfortable to be with, it isn't something we want to enjoy on our own free will. And pay money for that. The best thing about this movie is that you can leave the room, if you feel too uncomfortable. This isn't something you can do during your real family meeting.
Shots:
$ 18 mln -- SaberToothDragon, BoxOfficeFrontier
$ 15,1 mln -- Laremy Legel, RopeOfSilicon
$ 13 mln -- Andy Burns, BiffBamPop
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$ 12,6 mln -- Edward Douglas, ComingSoon
$ 12 mln -- Gitesh Pandya, BoxOfficeGuru
$ 12 mln -- ThisIsNotMyName, BoxOfficePredictionsOnline
$ 11,56 mln -- the official weekend number of the movie (2868 theaters, $ 4030 per theater)
$ 11,5 mln -- Box Office team
$ 11 mln -- C.S. Strowbridge, The-Numbers
$ 11 mln -- Ray Subers, BoxOfficeMojo
$ 11 mln -- Mitch Metcalf, ShowBuzzDaily
$ 10,7 mln -- Mario Ludwinski, USBOPredictions2014 (2868 theaters, $ 3731 per theater)
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