WWE and Fox join forces for movies: You've have got to be frickin' kidding me.

Zen Peckinpah · 02-26-08, 12:31 PM

Quote:

World Wrestling Entertainment has signed a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox that gives the studio rights to distribute movies headlined by the company's pro wrestlers.

Beginning next year, WWE Films plans to develop, finance and produce at least one theatrical release and up to four direct-to-video titles annually, with Fox receiving a distribution fee should it release the films in theaters, on home video or digitally. It's similar to the pact comicbook giant Marvel Entertainment has with Paramount and Universal on the upcoming Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.

Going forward, though, WWE will focus on making movies across all genres that appeal to a broader audience and land a PG-13 rating, vs. the hard R it had been going after with its previous pics.

First pic out of the multi-year deal with Fox is 12 Rounds, an actioner toplined by John Cena that will be released in 2009 under the Fox Atomic label. Production on the movie, with Renny Harlin at the helm, begins this month in New Orleans.

WWE is looking to spend around $20 million for theatrical releases while direct-to-DVD titles would be made for around $3 million to $5 million.

The wrestling organization has had mixed success since forming its film division in 2002, releasing three pics, See No Evil, featuring Glen "Kane" Jacobs; The Marine, also with Cena; and The Condemned, with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

It sounds to true to be that way. 20th Century Fox, proprietor of 60% of all genre turds produced in Hollywood today, aligning itself with an organization devoted to having grunting, roided-out angry men beat the shit out of each other and exploit anything that isn't famous. Yes, it's true, Vince McMahon and Tom Rothman: the Dynamic Duo of Shlock Hell.

Also, this John Cena movie. Three words for the director: WHAT THE FUCK. Renny Harlin! He's not Scorsese or Kubrick, and he was responsible for Cutthroat Island and Deep Blue Sea, but he really does not deserve this bad of work. And I can just see than the powers that be were probably more thoughtful of The Covenant and Driven than giving this guy the job for Die Hard 2 and The Long Kiss Goodnight.

The horror...the horror.

devilshalo · 02-26-08, 12:37 PM

You do realize that you are not forced to watch these movies?

Is it any different than Sony's Screengems? Michaael Bay's Platinum Films? Dark Castle?

fumanstan · 02-26-08, 12:39 PM

They're low budget titles and there are enough wrestling fans for them to make a profit. Not really a big deal to me.

But I know you hate Fox so I understand.

Giles · 02-26-08, 12:41 PM

raven56706 · 02-26-08, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen Peckinpah

I really wish this was a joke.

It sounds to true to be that way. 20th Century Fox, proprietor of 60% of all genre turds produced in Hollywood today, aligning itself with an organization devoted to having grunting, roided-out angry men beat the shit out of each other and exploit anything that isn't famous. Yes, it's true, Vince McMahon and Tom Rothman: the Dynamic Duo of Shlock Hell.

Also, this John Cena movie. Three words for the director: WHAT THE ----. Renny Harlin! He's not Scorsese or Kubrick, and he was responsible for Cutthroat Island and Deep Blue Sea, but he really does not deserve this bad of work. And I can just see than the powers that be were probably more thoughtful of The Covenant and Driven than giving this guy the job for Die Hard 2 and The Long Kiss Goodnight.

The horror...the horror.

whats the big deal..... people still watch the meet the spartans movies..you must live in Cuba

The Bus · 02-26-08, 12:53 PM

It doesn't surprise me that this is happening, and it doesn't surprise me that it is with Fox. I would say more, but I know there's fans of wrestling on this board.

RichC2 · 02-26-08, 01:37 PM

?? The Condemned and The Marine already came out, it's no surprise. Renny isn't a good director and generally makes schlocky movies that occasionally entertain - this is right up his alley.

Zen Peckinpah · 02-26-08, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilshalo

You do realize that you are not forced to watch these movies?

Is it any different than Sony's Screengems? Michaael Bay's Platinum Films? Dark Castle?

True, it's just aggravating though.

No hard feelings or anything. Perhaps I should rephrase myself on Fox: I mainly dislike them for how they run ideas and franchises into the ground, but Fox Searchlight actually has a clue of what to do...look at Juno and Once.

Fanboy · 02-26-08, 01:56 PM

For what it's worth, I don't think wrestling fans made up the majority of the audiences (whether theatrical or DVD) for these films.

One generic schlock horror and two generic action (with a third on the way) have a way of finding audiences the same way that generic comedies and generic kid flicks do. To blame wrestling fans for blindly supporting bad movies is ignoring the tastes of the movie-going public in general.

dadaluholla · 02-26-08, 02:09 PM

I'm looking forward to their upcoming projects. See No Evil was terrible, but I actually enjoyed the Marine and Condemned. Yes, I am a wrestling fan, but I am equally a fan of cheesy action films. They remind me of the Golan Globus era of 80's action.

GuessWho · 02-26-08, 02:38 PM

i fail to see how this impacts the OP's life in any way, shape or form.

Bluelitespecial · 02-26-08, 03:04 PM

Someday the power at fox will change hands and they might actually care about making good movies.

raven56706 · 02-26-08, 03:07 PM

Condemned wasnt that bad....

has anyone watched the Game Plan?

GuessWho · 02-26-08, 03:14 PM

I still think Triple H would make a good He-Man

fumanstan · 02-26-08, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raven56706

Condemned wasnt that bad....

has anyone watched the Game Plan?

I have. It was ok for what it was

Zen Peckinpah · 02-26-08, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuessWho

i fail to see how this impacts the OP's life in any way, shape or form.

I must live or die by it!

Honestly, there's no impact on my life, just something to roll my eyes at vehemently.

rw2516 · 02-26-08, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raven56706

Condemned wasnt that bad....

I watched Condemned and RE: Extinction the same night. Condemned was waaay better. This zombie/action stuff is getting tired real quick.

Jam Master Jay · 02-26-08, 05:40 PM

I hope they do The Marine 2!

Rypro 525 · 02-26-08, 09:01 PM

Well, they're also paying Floyd Meyweather 20 million bucks for a match at wrestlemania, so it seems like the wwe is pissing money away.

Jackskeleton · 02-26-08, 09:47 PM

These are low budget films that eventually make a profit because there's wrestling fans and all that jazz.

Yeah, How dare Fox try to make some money

And I have to disclose that I am owned by news corp.

ALL HAIL RUPERT!

JeffTheAlpaca · 03-22-13, 04:39 PM

Could they be the next successful studio since it seems they are branching out of just wrestler based action movies or they just got lucky with the Call?

Quote:

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, WWE Studios thriller The Call grossed an impressive $6.2 million on Friday night, en route to a projected $16-$17 million opening weekend (numbers via The Hollywood Reporter).

Assuming the movie, with Oscar winner Halle Berry as a troubled 911 operator, continues to perform well, it should come in at No. 2 at the U.S. box office behind Disney blockbuster Oz the Great and Powerful.

This marks WWE Studios' best opening weekend for a film to date, easily overtaking the $7 million made by 2006's The Marine.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...ios-movie-ever

Groucho · 03-22-13, 04:44 PM

Why So Blu? · 03-22-13, 05:24 PM

Dead Man Down was also WWE. Did that film make a dent? I missed it.

Matthew Chmiel · 03-22-13, 05:46 PM

Dead Man Down cost $30M to produce and will gross less than $15M domestically once all is said and done. The Call, on the other hand, was made for $13M and has already made $20M in the first week of its release.

WWE also has No One Lives with Luke Evans which has been sitting on a shelf somewhere with Fox alongside Leprechaun: Origins with Lionsgate due later this year. This is in addition to all of the direct-to-video and made-for-television shit (which there's surprisingly quite a lot of) on deck for this year too.

GuessWho · 03-22-13, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jam Master Jay

I hope they do The Marine 2!

02-26-08, 12:37 PM	#2
devilshalo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell Posts: 24,142	You do realize that you are not forced to watch these movies? Is it any different than Sony's Screengems? Michaael Bay's Platinum Films? Dark Castle? __________________ Just once, I would like to be a puppetmaster and have nothing go wrong. Is that too much to ask? - Dwight Schrute

02-26-08, 12:39 PM	#3
fumanstan DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 33,283	They're low budget titles and there are enough wrestling fans for them to make a profit. Not really a big deal to me. But I know you hate Fox so I understand. __________________ 3x Sheep Champion VG Round 1b \| VG Round 7 \| NFL

02-26-08, 12:41 PM	#4
Giles DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Washington DC Posts: 29,863	__________________ [2ndDVDTalk Action/Adventure/Crime Challenge 2013 Film List / Unrated-Alternate-Director's Cuts: DVD (updates) / My DVD collection Entertainment or Die soundillustrated - Weekly Music Food

02-26-08, 12:53 PM	#6
The Bus DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 51,620	It doesn't surprise me that this is happening, and it doesn't surprise me that it is with Fox. I would say more, but I know there's fans of wrestling on this board. __________________ Movies: 2002 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 2013 "Too much disclaiming in this post." – Dr. Mabuse

02-26-08, 01:56 PM	#9
Fanboy DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,251	For what it's worth, I don't think wrestling fans made up the majority of the audiences (whether theatrical or DVD) for these films. One generic schlock horror and two generic action (with a third on the way) have a way of finding audiences the same way that generic comedies and generic kid flicks do. To blame wrestling fans for blindly supporting bad movies is ignoring the tastes of the movie-going public in general. __________________ I wanna be Torvald, sucka!

02-26-08, 01:37 PM	#7
RichC2 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 19,928	?? The Condemned and The Marine already came out, it's no surprise. Renny isn't a good director and generally makes schlocky movies that occasionally entertain - this is right up his alley.

02-26-08, 02:09 PM	#10
dadaluholla DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilmington, OH Posts: 5,449	I'm looking forward to their upcoming projects. See No Evil was terrible, but I actually enjoyed the Marine and Condemned. Yes, I am a wrestling fan, but I am equally a fan of cheesy action films. They remind me of the Golan Globus era of 80's action.

02-26-08, 02:38 PM	#11
GuessWho DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 21,965	i fail to see how this impacts the OP's life in any way, shape or form.

02-26-08, 03:04 PM	#12
Bluelitespecial DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 3,820	Someday the power at fox will change hands and they might actually care about making good movies.

02-26-08, 03:07 PM	#13
raven56706 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Back in the Good Ole USA Posts: 18,835	Condemned wasnt that bad.... has anyone watched the Game Plan? __________________ There is a master key and a spare key for the office. Dwight has them both. When I asked, "what if you die, Dwight? How will we get into the office?" He said, "if I'm dead, you guys have been dead for weeks."

02-26-08, 03:14 PM	#14
GuessWho DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 21,965	I still think Triple H would make a good He-Man

02-26-08, 05:40 PM	#18
Jam Master Jay DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,669	I hope they do The Marine 2!

02-26-08, 09:01 PM	#19
Rypro 525 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: a frikin hellhole Posts: 26,313	Well, they're also paying Floyd Meyweather 20 million bucks for a match at wrestlemania, so it seems like the wwe is pissing money away. __________________ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheChewDefense

02-26-08, 09:47 PM	#20
Jackskeleton DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca. Posts: 52,228	These are low budget films that eventually make a profit because there's wrestling fans and all that jazz. Yeah, How dare Fox try to make some money And I have to disclose that I am owned by news corp. ALL HAIL RUPERT! __________________ *OTHER FORUM TEAM 7 leader*I will not say them here nor there. I will not say them anywhere. I will not say those Words you twit. I will not, will not sayI quit! Leaving a dark wet stain where your brain used to be? weird..tv? The bank is worth the risk

03-22-13, 04:44 PM	#22
Groucho DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 62,081	Re: WWE and Fox join forces for movies: You've have got to be frickin' kidding me.

03-22-13, 05:24 PM	#23
Why So Blu? DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,890	Re: WWE and Fox join forces for movies: You've have got to be frickin' kidding me. Dead Man Down was also WWE. Did that film make a dent? I missed it.

03-22-13, 05:46 PM	#24
Matthew Chmiel DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 10,935	Re: WWE and Fox join forces for movies: You've have got to be frickin' kidding me. Dead Man Down cost $30M to produce and will gross less than $15M domestically once all is said and done. The Call, on the other hand, was made for $13M and has already made $20M in the first week of its release. WWE also has No One Lives with Luke Evans which has been sitting on a shelf somewhere with Fox alongside Leprechaun: Origins with Lionsgate due later this year. This is in addition to all of the direct-to-video and made-for-television shit (which there's surprisingly quite a lot of) on deck for this year too. __________________ Google+ / Instagram / Letterboxd / Spotify / Twitter Find me on PlayStation Network / Xbox Live / Steam: cupboardoflove