On Friday Star Trek made 1.4 million. Last weekend it made 18 million total.

In comparison, The Hot Chick made 1.5 million on Friday!

This is a gigantic drop off (for Star Trek)! Could this be a drop off of about 70 or 80 percent this weekend? OUCH! That hurts. This film might bomb worse than many thought.

Good, maybe they'll bring it to DVD sooner.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I may be happy about this. I would give anything for TPTB to realize that the franchise is in desperate need of a creative overhaul, and Berman and Braga should be taken out back and shot in the face. I would much rather have them recognize this on a creative level, but since Paramount only understands $$$, if miserable monetary failure is what it will take to make them remove their heads from their asses, then I guess I can get on board with that.

das

Forget Star Trek, how'd LOTR do this weekend?

(I maintain that, the movie's quality itself aside, Paramount was moronic to open ST X five days before LOTR. Dumb, dumb move.)

I have been a dyed in the wool Trekkie for as long as I can remember, but I agree with you. The series needs a break, if not retirement. They have gone beyond scraping the bottom of the barrel, they're whoring out the bunghole on the top of the barrel. Yes, I know, an unpleasant mental image, but Paramount has never considered Trek any more than a beautiful nymphomaniac daughter it could sell on any street corner for a weekly crack fix, and like heroin addicted hogs, we run to the trough everytime.

For the first Trek film in ages, I did not see Nemesis on it's opening weekend. I don't plan on seeing it over the holidays until I see the Two Towers either. I might just wait for the DVD, and that's only if they restore a lot of the deleted scenes.

Unforutnately, with the poor showing of Insurrection, this was the test Trek film. I believe that if this one failed, then it was the end of the franchise.

Seriously, aside from the original series and TNG, none of the other Trek incarnations have a wide enough fan base to justify 70-100 million dollar production movies.

SPY

I know it's sort of cliche for Trek fans to rag on Berman and Braga, but hell, just look at what's been put out over the years: Insurrection (if this were just an episode, it would've been at the bottom of the barrell, near), Voyager, Enterprise.

Trek needs people who have a vision controlling it. People who respect the history of the franchise.

I really wonder what's going on at Paramount.

I mean, look at Trek. It's been sloughing off viewers. The ratings have been dropping. The movies have been tanking.

Yet B & B are seemingly untouchable.

After failures like Voyager and Insurrection, I'd think Paramount would've ****- canned them years ago. The shows and movies still might be making some money, but they're creative failures. And they've been chipping away at the "franchise" for so long that the bleeding is slow enough, but it will eventually kill the beast.

Are the heads of Paramount so ignorant of science fiction that they can't see how bloody awful their beloved franchise has become? It's the laughing stock of the genre. It's the butt of jokes.

And I'm not saying as someone who hates Trek, but as someone who wants GOOD Trek.

Here's the breakdown, according to boxofficemojo.com

1 Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers $61,500,000
2 Two Weeks Notice $14,700,000
3 Maid in Manhattan $10,700,000
4 Gangs of New York $9,200,000
5 Drumline $7,300,000
6 The Wild Thornberrys $6,500,000
7 Star Trek: Nemesis $5,200,000
8 The Hot Chick
9 Die Another Day $4,100,000
10 Harry Potter $3,900,000
11 The Santa Clause 2 $3,200,000
12 Analyze That $2,300,000

Is the title of this thread going to be the next Star Trek Movie title?
Star Trek: Obliterated

If they were smart, they could draw in a whole new crowd of star trek fans with Star Trek: OCliterated

It should also be noted that spike lee's 25th hour made $106,000 on 5 screens.

That's 21,200 per screen.

$10 of that is my money. I loved it.

And LOTR is over $100 million in just five days! To quote Keanu, "Whoa."

As to "Gangs", that's only 1500 or so theaters. I think it opens nationwide next week.

1500 theatre's is nothing to sneeze at though.

I predicted GONY wouldn't make 100M, and I have a feeling that it probably won't even crack 70M.

Regarding Gangs of New York, I think Miramax would love to see this movie be a huge financial success, but their goal is probably more in the range of 60-70 million dollars. That would make the film profitable for them. Yes, it cost 100 million dollars, but keep in mind they sold off the foreign distribution rights for nearly 71 million dollars, so their financial stake is domestic at about 30 million dollars. (that's not counting P&A). That coupled with the low opening screen count (the movie was #2 in the top ten for per screen average), makes this opening, while not great, definately not too disapointing. Just, ok I would say.

How about the next film: Star Trek:Braga/Berman

I have a different figure from Boxoffice Mojo.
It shows Star Trek as #9, not 7.



BOX OFFICE MOJO
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
December 20-22, 2002
Studio Estimates
(Next updates: Monday afternoon - Top 30 Actuals; Monday night - Final Top 120)
_

TW LW Title (Click to view daily chart) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count/Change Average Total Gross Cost* Week #
1 N Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers NL $61,500,000 - 3,622 - $16,979 $101,500,000 $94 / $45 1
2 N Two Weeks Notice WB $14,405,000 - 2,755 - $5,228 $14,405,000 $60 / $30 1
3 1 Maid in Manhattan Sony $11,000,000 -41.2% 2,866 +28 $3,838 $35,544,000 $55 / $33 2
4 N Gangs of New York Mira. $9,120,000 - 1,504 - $6,063 $9,120,000 $100 / $25 1
5 3 Drumline Fox $7,600,000 -39.7% 1,837 +1 $4,137 $22,834,000 $20 / $15 2
6 N The Wild Thornberrys Par. $6,100,000 - 3,012 - $2,025 $6,100,000 $25 / $22 1
7 5 The Hot Chick Dis. $4,510,000 -39.1% 2,217 - $2,034 $13,708,000 - / - 2
8 6 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets WB $4,455,000 -29.6% 2,750 -275 $1,620 $228,905,000 $100 / $50 6
9 2 Star Trek: Nemesis

Amen.

Maybe they should put the people that were in charge of Farscape and give them the job of writing for Enterprise. They are out of a job so why not give them the challenge of reinventing Star Trek????

As jms always says about writing for Trek, "I don't know how to write while in hand-cuffs." If I were a talented writer, I'd steer clear of the franchise too.

das

I'll donate my money to this too, it looks excellent. Ed Norton can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Yes, that includes the Smoochy thing too, dammit!

Honk!

2 words: Red Dragon.

Ironically, I think that the (apparent) death of Farscape has helped to fuel my dissatisfaction with what the death-defying Star Trek has become. Let me explain.

Back in the day, I remember how the thought of anything Trek made my pulse rate jump a bit. I'd be there opening weekend whan the new movie opened, rush home on a Saturday afternoon to catch a new TNG or DS9 episode, etc.

Never owned a pair of plastic ears, but let there be no doubt I was a fan.

Now, flash forward five years or so. As I see Farscape - a show overflowing with new ideas, a sense of fun about itself, and obvious passion from cast & crew alike - cut down in its prime... it unbearably hurts to see Roddenberry's creation so obviously in it's "Fat Elvis" phase.

As it's been re-stated ad infinitum, it's mired in lackluster writing, star's egos, and a overly self-reverential tone that has stifled any potential for excitement. And that's a crime, pure and simple.

Lord knows, Nemesis might not be as bad as some around here are saying. However, personally, I will not be seeing it during its theatrical run. Star Trek used to be fun... and it can be again.

But something's got to change. Maybe a nice, fat box-office disaster could be the thing to get things rolling.

This is my question. So, why is that, despite my utter agreement on this topic. Despite the amounts to which I held loathing and apathy [can you both loath AND have apathy towtards something?] for the past two pseudo-franchises. Despite my expectations going in. ....I really enjoyed this movie?

Mayhaps it had something to do with the fact that it was a lazy Saturday afternoon with not too much going on. Possibly the fact that I sat next to my awestruck 7 year old who was dazzled by the effects and characters. Perchance I just love seeing Picard on the big screen, which is no more than a testament to TNG's hold on me. I really do not know. I don't think this movie was a force to be reckoned with or a marvel of our cinematic age, not by a long shot. But, man, I was right there from the beginning. They held my attention and I was thoroughly enjoying the plot line and the drama and the action. It was just a lot like one of the better episodes of TNG. Not like the better movies, but just like one of those great two-parters that you couldn't wait till the next week or even maybe the next season to resolve.

I do think the series needs a serious rest. I think that the teams involved, from my naive standpoint, could definately be rebuilt. I think all of the same things I am reading here and other places, but I was still taken to a far off place and escaped the day and the tedium for a fun piece of adventure. Plus, I really liked the guy who played Shinzon. It just worked for me.

Also, I liked the commitment, or seeming so at this point, to the end Data plot. It could have easily been given the easy way out with a B4 dupe/bait/switch scenerio. I kept waiting for that and then realized it was really true and it hit a little harder at that point.

So, just my opinion. I'm glad I enjoyed it. I'm feeling a little like all those guys reviewing TTT that have never read the books or are now for the first time. But, maybe, sometimes, ignorance is indeed bliss.

Just a thought...

I'll attempt to answer your question. I think Nemesis works fine as an action/adventure film. Frankly, I'm surprised it's not doing better at the box office (releasing it days away from TTT was damn moronic, but even still ...). And I certainly didn't hate it. I laughed when Worf bemoaned Irving Berlin ... I cried when ... and it pleased me to see familiar faces on screen one more time. It was a fun action adventure ... but it wasn't Trek. It lacked the heart and vision that are the foundation of the franchise. Baird admitted that he had no sense of what Trek was about, and his direction showcased that. Logan appeared so full of himself and caught up in self-reference that he completely glossed over who the Romulans really are and significant character development of the crew. Add to that the egotism from Spiner and Stewart and the inclusion of the disgrace known as Janeway, and there's a lot for us die hards to loathe.

I would expect this to be a very dividing film. The purists will likely respond much the same why I have ... the more forgiving fan (along with those who are new to Trek) will likely respond the way you have ... and, of course, there will be some overlap.

It's definitely an entertaining film, and I see nothing wrong or surprising with enjoying it. I'm also not surprised there are many that want to wipe their asses with it. Guess it just depends on what you wanted out of the film.

das

P.S. Three words, jkingfish ... Diet Code Red