The matrix doesn't recognize human currency. Currency is just a sub-function in the human illumation program; easily reversed and modified with a simple update. The movie can never come out, or come out and make $200 million opening weekend. Only HE knows; and HE is coming.......... May 15.... to a theater near you!

Will the R rating really effect it that much? I mean...everyone knows what it is about. If someone wants to see the the Matrix Reloaded, they are going to see it. It'll be absolutely sold out the whole weekend. I plan on seeing it twice opening weekend. I usually catch a movie once every 3-4 weeks.

It'll be huge.

I'm old enough to have seen Star Wars in its original theatrical run and in my whole life this is the only movie to ever tempt me to go to one of those midnight, first day sessions.

How many smart, cool movies get released with this kind of budget? I can't think of any. Some of you guys are really underestimating it. I would bet my life savings it will smash a $240m gross.

The Matrix was my first and many peoples 1st dvd purchase. If the sale of the Matrix dvd is any indication, I'd say there are many more fans of this film then some are led to believe.

I'm guessing $88.4 Million.

I picked $60 million, which would beat Hannibal (58 million opening weekend) and 8 Mile (51 million opening weekend) for the highest opening weekend for an R-rated movie.

As far as total box office, here's the only R-rated movies so far to make 200 million domestically:
Beverly Hills Cop Par. $234,760,478 1984
The Exorcist WB $232,671,011 1973
Saving Private Ryan DW $216,335,085 1998
Terminator 2: Judgment Day TriS $204,843,345 1991

I suspect, with good reviews and good word of mouth, the Matrix Reloaded will be the next R-rated to 200 million, it might even approach 300 million; more than that, I'd be really surprised (but I also expected AOTC to beat out Spiderman, so what do I know).

If you care about opening weekends, and box office grosses, here's a great site: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/

The R rating will be keeping Families and kids out.

I'm going high with a bunch of friends too. 76.8 million opening weekend.

At least $80 million.

I disagree. Star Wars is mainstream FAMILY entertainment. LOTR is the kinda the same (but to a lesser degree). Parents can take their kids to these movies, but the Matrix doesn't really play to that audience. Don't get me wrong, I love the Matrix, and I loved Matrix Reloaded, but it is not near as mainstream as the aforementioned trilogies.

I think that MR will haul in the area of 75-80 million. The overall gross on this one will not be stratospheric. The ads are clearly aimed at action fans and this film has several intellectual components beyond the great action sequences that will turn off "J6P" and there will be less repeat business. Also working against it is two of the best things about it: R rating and running time.

As far as the rating goes, this film is VIOLENT. We adults may be conditioned to it, but I can imagine smaller children being scared of it. I completely understand the R rating. My hat is off to the brothers W for not buckling to pressure to tone it down to get the PG-13...

I predict it will do around the same as the original, perhaps slightly better.

The Bloomberg report:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news...d=aZ1wMZwF6oHQ

http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movi...eut/index.html

The film made $42.5 million on Thursday, and almost $10 million on Wednesday's 10 p.m. showing.

Whoa!

Yeah, does $115 mil look so ridiculous now? I saw it last night, plan on seeing at again tomorrow (if I can get a ticket!).

It's still unclear whether the $42.5 million includes the Wednesday preview or not. Usually the Wednesday preview numbers are lumped in with the Thursday numbers.

The article I read said that it made $42.5 total between the Wed sneak peek and Thursday.

Allow me to be the first to say: Yeah, right.

I work at a cinema and that R rating hasn't stopped parents bringing the kids to this film, sad as it is.

$120-130m is definitely possible here

Wow, looks like I was way off only saying $75M. Looks like the Friday-Sunday take could go get close $100M and the 4-day total could be upwards of $140M.

Wow!

It pulled in an estimated $32 million yesterday, according to www.boxofficemojo.com

Now it's take for the Wednesday night showing - Friday night is about $73 million.

What I've always found to work, once the Friday numbers are up, for three days is...

Friday total = FT

FT + 1.5*FT + 0.8*FT = ~3.3 * FT

So $32 mil * 3.3 = ~$105 mil for the weekend

So damn close to beating Spiderman, and so much more deserving.

But for a R-rated film, its box office take is astounding!

very much so.
its R rated records will stand for a loooooong time.

i still don't see this as being the "one" when this summer is over though.
i don't think we will see ANY film significantly outperform the other highest grossers.

I Just wonder how the "What the ****" reaction at the end of Reloaded to many of your casual movie goers will effect Revolutions' release. . .I don't think it will make quite as much.

Bump - any final figures for the weekend???

BoxOfficeMojo is reporting 135.9 million since opening day.

http://www.boxofficereport.com/wbon/estimates.shtml