Brother Bear - A Saturday opening?
 

I noticed during a television spot for the movie Brother Bear the other day that the film doesn't open until Saturday, November 1st. I guess this is because Friday is Halloween - but why not open it on the 31st per usual film opening dates? I guess this goes to show how Disney can do whatever the heck they want.

well by Saturday all the kiddies will bouncing off the walls anyway from all that sugar, sit them down in a theatre and watch the chaos ensue.

True..It's a fun filled kids weekend! I think parents are dedicating that weekend to their kids, so it's a perfect time for Disney to open the movie up! I think it will do well that weekend..

I still don't understand the Saturday opening either. I mean, it wouldn't hurt their box office to offer the movie on Friday. This just limits viewing. I suppose Disney just really wanted this movie to open in November, not on Halloween. Or something. I guess.

If there are any kids in the showing that I go to, I am leaving. I dont need any snot nosed brat ruining my day.

I have come to the realization that no good movie will open up on my birthday.

Nightmare on Elm Street: Part Two
I Spy
Now Brother Bear.

And technically, the film already opened up in New York and LA.

I have to say that i'm pretty disappointed to see the reviews coming out for this...I was really looking forward to seeing it with my 4 yo and it looks as though we'll be better off staying home and watching Finding Nemo again. It looked good from the trailers, but the critics are not being kind.....ah, well.....

What are the critics saying? I thought the trailer looked really good. Disney hasn't come out with an animated movie in a long time...I think it will be good. Maybe not as good as the other ones they have come out with, but I don't think it's going to be horrible at all.

No kidding, what kind of parent would take there kid to see a disney film!

Yeah I hope you caught the sarcasm there. It just seems like everyone here at Dvdtalk hates for anyone under 21 to be at movies.

Reviewers are not being to kind

Brother Bear at RottonTomatoes

But I will still see it on Saturday!

Its like why didn't they release Monster's Inc. in October?

Maybe they are afraid it will bomb and don't want the first weekend boxoffice to stink. They'll mask it by not providing a full weeken. I'm just grasping here.

I actually think the RT rating will be fresh by the end of the day. It's consistently gotten better the more reviews they've posted. I wonder if the critics are just being harsher coming down from all the Nemo love?

I think they're releasing it on NOV.1 b/c it's an easier day to remember and looks better in the ads than OCT.31 does... i dunno, just an opinion.

Brother Bear was horrible to be working because it was continuos kids wanting popcorn and candy and soda 9 hours straight for me. Its the most work I have ever had to do

I'll be curious to see if the Saturday opening idea pays off in box office. I have a feeling it'll be seen as a mistake, but who knows?

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HEY, ROEPER LIKED IT!
HOW BAD CAN IT BE?</center>

Saturday opening = less time for negative word of mouth to effect the two most important days for any Disney movie...


...Saturday and Sunday.

Well, it opened with an estimated $18,540,000 for the weekend (with $16,000 of that from Friday's limited engagements). I think they actually made a smart move here. Box Office Mojo has it making $10,900,000 on Saturday, and the studio Sunday estimate is $7,650,000 for Sunday. Just to compare, here is what Good Boy (the only other family flick) did this weekend:

Friday $412,000
Saturday $1,033,000
Sunday $805,000

Its Friday was almost half of its Sunday, which is even lower than usual. Even the adult movies were down on Friday (with the exception being Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a clear benefactor of Halloween spirit). Yes, Brother Bear would have added a few mil on Friday, but I think that potential audience will now simply go next weekend.

I'll be taking the kids to see this a matinee later this week.

So, are these numbers bad enough for Disney to put the kibosh on their 2D animation division like they said they would?

god, I hope not.

their reasoning is almost as bad as the RIAA/MPAA's way of thinking..

Since they just released the trailer for Home on the Range, I don't think 2D is dead yet.

I'm going to take my nephew to see this on Wednesday.

I saw the movie this weekend and really enjoyed it. I think the earnings from this movie turned out pretty good for a 2-day total. I think Disney will keep creating 2-D animation. I'll be really upset if they don't.

:D