wow, that's gotta hurt!

I guess nobody wanted to see Brad Pitt in a skirt.

Not a bad take for Troy, really, being an R rated movie...

it also pulled in 54+ million this weekend in 47 other countries (#1 everywhere) so a first weekend haul of over 100 mil.

Van Helsing had a 61% drop - ouch...

It wouldn't be a bad take if it was any other film. But they were really expecting big numbers from this one.

Helluva drop for Van Helsing. Surprised it wasn't more. ;)

Were they? Who was? Honestly, I seriously doubt the studios were expecting much more, and definately not much more than 60 million. Seriously, this is a 3 hour R rated movie. I really don't think the studio was expecting numbers in the range of 80 million. Gladiator itself cost 100 plus million, but when it opened to 34 million was hailed a major success. Now you have a longer, just as violent movie opening to 45 million. Sure it's not as high as it could be, but I doubt anyone is that stupid to think this movie was going to perform like a 90 minute pg-13 sequel.

A film that cost 150-170 WB was HOPING for a big debut as it is one of the films they have paid a lot of attention to marketing and is one of there big summer pictures.

Gladiator may be the closest thing to compare it to yes, R rating, time span and so forth but it only had a 103 million budget compared to this close to double that for troy. That extra 15 million doesn't really cover that much compared to the two. I'm sure they will state they are "as expected" but for the most part it's just slightly below what would have been a wow factor.

Then again, I'm sure that makes all those who were hoping for that extra few millions to be "that stupid" -rolleyes- . I'm sure they were hoping it would perform like a 170 million dollar flick. If it made 50 or 55 million perhaps it would be a more pleasing factor. As it is now it will be lucky to make it's budget back in it's theater run. It has yet to open in a couple of markets so that can help with international take in. Does it pay the bills? Yes, does it pay the bills and buy you lunch? that's what the studio is hoping for.

Well the headline in today's Los Angeles Times read:

The article goes on to say:

The L.A. times article also mentioned that Troy opened on 500 more screens than Gladiator.

I'm not saying it's a Terrible take in. 45 million for a film is always a good thing. I'm just saying it's less then perfect and an event that studio PR folks will call "Expected" instead of "Well above expected" ;)

<TABLE BORDER> <TH COLSPAN=12> <b>Final Figures for Weekend May 14 - 16, 2004</b> </TH>
<TR> </TH> <TH> TW </TH> <TH> LW </TH> <TH> Title </TH> <TH> Studio </TH> <TH> Weekend Gross </TH> <TH> % Change </TH> <TH> Theater Count </TH> <TH> Change </TH> <TH> Average </TH> <TH> Total Gross </TH> <TH> Cost* </TH> <TH> Week # </TH> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> N </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Troy </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> WB </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $46,865,412 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> - </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3,411 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> - </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $13,739 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $46,865,412 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $150 / $50 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Van Helsing </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Uni. </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $20,727,515 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -59.90% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3,580 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 5 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $5,789 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $85,095,305 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $160 / $50 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Mean Girls </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Par. </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $10,182,766 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -25.50% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3,015 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 43 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $3,377 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $55,400,970 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $17 / $25 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 4 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Man on Fire </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Fox </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $5,101,128 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -38.10% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2,650 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -196 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,924 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $64,169,492 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $70 / $30 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 4 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 5 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> N </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Breakin' All the Rules </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> SGem </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $5,088,577 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> - </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1,318 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> - </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $3,860 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $5,088,577 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $10 / - </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 6 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 5 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> 13 Going on 30 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> SonR </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $4,107,023 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -29.40% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2,656 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -502 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,546 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $48,522,282 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $37 / $35 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 4 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 7 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 4 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> New York Minute </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> WB </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $3,814,307 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -36% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3,006 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> - </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,268 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $10,783,723 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $30 / $20 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 8 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 6 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Laws of Attraction </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> NL </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $2,009,380 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -45.40% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 2,003 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -446 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,003 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $15,367,000 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $32 / $20 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 9 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 7 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Kill Bill Vol. 2 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Mira. </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,628,802 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -46.10% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1,401 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -551 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,162 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $60,836,074 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $30 / $30 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 5 </TD> </TR>
<TR> </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 10 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 9 </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> Envy </TD> <TD ALIGN = left> DW </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $1,042,949 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -58.40% </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 1,417 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> -1,028 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $736 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $11,899,458 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> $40 / $20 </TD> <TD ALIGN = right> 3 </TD> </TR>
</TABLE>



Chris