my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Speed Racer: Big or Bust? (Page 1)

This topic comprises 7 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7

Author Topic: Speed Racer: Big or Bust? Matt Fields Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 545 From: Ohio, United States Registered: Jun 2005 posted 04-19-2008 09:18 AM                     I'm not sure what to make of this movie...the action looks neat, and it is definitely original, but what demographic will want to see it? How do you think it will do at the box office? I predict 100 mil in the US.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-19-2008 09:49 AM                        I think you're in the ballpark with the $100M prediction. It's going to get buried by Iron Man, Narnia and Indy. They were crazy to put it in May which is WAY too crowded. July 25 would have been far better...the X Files movie on that day will draw an older crowd and the next major competition (Star Wars: Clone Wars) is three weeks away.  |  IP: Logged Shane Cooper Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Little Rock, Arkansas Registered: Jun 2004 posted 04-19-2008 11:22 AM                     I am with you about not seeing the targeted demographic. When I watch the trailers, I feel it is trying to reach an older audience, (from the makers of the Matrix Trilogy...), but the PG rating suggests family-appropriate content. Here is how I see it: With the early May opening and niche audience, I think the opening weekend under whelms and the total run is under $80 million.  |  IP: Logged Rene Ferron Film Handler Posts: 52 From: New Brunswick, Canada Registered: Feb 2008 posted 04-19-2008 12:07 PM                     I really don't know what to think of this movie at all. It looks ok but (big blank spot here) i just don't know. I was not a big fan of Speed Racer as a child. I don't know anything about the characters nor the plot, so it's hard to judge this one. I just see that they chose a wrong time to come out, Iron Man and Indiana Jones will take the spotlight that's for sure.  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 04-19-2008 12:41 PM                     The sub-run theatres will have it before school starts back up for fall, easily. Iron Man, too. Narnia, later.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 04-19-2008 01:20 PM                     I see this as somewhat of a flop. It might have a decent opening weekend but it looks kinda "pointless" for lack of a better word. I don't remember much of it but I think speed racer was kind of a campy cartoon. This looks too serious for the subject matter that it is based on. Also, doesn't look to have a real good target audience. I'm going to say $30 Million opening, $75 Million Total.  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-19-2008 02:07 PM                     I don't think it will do well. This one could really become the meat in the sandwich, considering what is scheduled in front and behind it. As usual, the distribs are going with their same old formula, front loading the summer schedule. This time it could be a disaster for exhibitors, with the economy being what it is. Too few dollars chasing too many "big" releases, and I'm going to predict folks will be having to make diffucult decisions, because they can't afford to see everything. Think as a movie goer would: If you only had money to see two movies in May, what would they be? Mike- What the devil are you going to do? May has to be a booking nightmare for a single screen player.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-19-2008 03:10 PM                     I am going to go see Speed Racer. I think it has a good shot of being a hit movie. The visuals look great. The Wachowski brothers are well tuned into cultural "Asian chic" and likely have a very good idea how this movie should be handled. At first I thought it seemed strange for the Wachowski brothers to choose this project to follow The Matrix saga, but it seems to make more sense the more I think about it. Also, I was ape-shit over the Speed Racer cartoons when I was in elementary school. So it will be kind of a trip down memory lane. Obviously this movie is going to appeal to kids. It may also appeal to a good number of Generation X aged grown-ups.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 04-19-2008 05:02 PM                        They were shooting for a "G" rating on this film and did not get it. When I saw the trailers - I was like "huh?" - that's not a "G" movie. Anyways..... They got the "PG" without the "13" Attached. However, my four year old son is literally a "Speed Racer" himself - he has wanted to be a race car driver since he was born. So he wants to see this movie. For me, I think it reminds me of the Pod races in Episode 1. It doesn't thrill me at all. AND YES - May is overloaded. What are they thinking? They are going to shoot their load in May and have nothing left for July or August.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-19-2008 05:27 PM                     Here's a few of the movies coming up for June and July. June 2, 2008 Hancock - Columbia Pictures June 6, 2008 Kung Fu Panda - Dreamworks/PDI June 13, 2008 The Happening - 20th Century Fox June 20, 2008 Get Smart - Warner Bros. June 27, 2008 Wall•E - Disney/Pixar Wanted - Universal Pictures July 11, 2008 Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Universal Pictures July 18, 2008 The Dark Knight - Warner Bros. (IMAX) Mamma Mia! - Universal Pictures  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-19-2008 05:35 PM                        quote: John T. Hendrickson, Jr Mike- What the devil are you going to do? May has to be a booking nightmare for a single screen player. Well, Indiana Jones is a given, and everything else will fall in around that. I hope we can play Narnia and Iron Man in order right after Indiana. A big question for me is Speed Racer vs. What Happens in Vegas, on the 9th. We tend to do well both with kid movies and romantic comedies, so either one of those could be OK to lead into Indy. The one we skip will probably get lost in the shuffle. The question is which (if either) has two weeks of "legs". I think this year's June is the weakest in years. Good thing we'll have a good supply of May leftovers to pick from.  |  IP: Logged Geoff Jones Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 579 From: Broomfield, CO, USA Registered: Feb 2006 posted 04-19-2008 06:07 PM                        What about showing The Lion Witch & the Wardrobe & Raiders of the Lost Ark in that little window? Make a couple of little "events" out of them to re-introduce the franchises. And you'd get better terms than with a new release, right? Just a thought, Geoff PS: Could care less about Speed Racer. It's all about Wall*E!  |  IP: Logged Anslem Rayburn Master Film Handler Posts: 476 From: Yuma, AZ, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 04-19-2008 08:00 PM                     quote: Bobby Henderson June 2, 2008 Hancock - Columbia Pictures June 6, 2008 Kung Fu Panda - Dreamworks/PDI June 13, 2008 The Happening - 20th Century Fox June 20, 2008 Get Smart - Warner Bros. June 27, 2008 Wall•E - Disney/Pixar Wanted - Universal Pictures Don't forget about You Don't Mess With the Zohan on June 6, The Incredible Hulk on June 13, and The Love Guru on June 20. I think it looks like a pretty good June, but some of these will undoubtedly flop.  |  IP: Logged Sam Graham AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues. Posts: 1431 From: Waukee, IA Registered: Dec 2004 posted 04-19-2008 08:27 PM                        quote: Lyle Romer I don't remember much of it but I think speed racer was kind of a campy cartoon. This looks too serious for the subject matter that it is based on I was a huge Speed Racer fan as a child and couldn't agree more. Nothing about the trailer feels like the cartoon to me. Still, I'm seeing it. And predicting "bomb".  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-19-2008 08:31 PM                        quote: Geoff Jones What about showing The Lion Witch & the Wardrobe & Raiders of the Lost Ark in that little window? Any of the new movies would walk all over those because they're on DVD. Besides, Disney doesn't book anything that isn't in current release, so the original Narnia would be out. Raiders? We'd probably get a crappy print.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 7 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.