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Topic: Monsters Inc. vs. Harry Potter

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-20-2001 02:07 PM

OK, it's time for another round of predictions in the Family Film Wars.

Last year, Film-Techers accurately predicted that THE GRINCH would eat 102 DALMATIANS for lunch.

Then this spring, Film-Techers also were accurate in predicting that DreamWorks' SHREK would walk all over Disney's ATLANTIS.

So what will happen this year? Will MONSTERS INC. out-scare HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE? Let the predictions begin!

I think they will both do outstanding business but I think when the dust settles, Disney/Pixar will have the winner if not by a landslide, by a small margin. What's everyone else think? Holiday season this year is shaping up to be a good one, IMHO.

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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 08-20-2001 02:23 PM

Mike,

IMHO Harry Potter will be hugh in the urban areas, with Monsters in the burbs. In the end Harry out the Monster by $10,342,564.52 gross by January 5th at 2:15 in the afternoon.

P.S. My guess will be closer than but I do get nervous around guess.

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 08-20-2001 03:08 PM

I also think they will both do great, but Monsters Inc will have the upper hand. Lets face it, Pixar has not had a dud yet, though there is a first time for everything (crosses fingers since we are booked for Monsters Inc).

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-20-2001 03:54 PM

Pixar rules! Disney has lost the upper deck, thats for sure. Even Julie Andrews couldn't save Disney.........
Mark @ GTS

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Dwayne Caldwell
Master Film Handler

Posts: 323
From: Rockwall, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 08-20-2001 04:12 PM

Yeah. Pixar's pretty damn good and I've enjoyed every picture of their's so far. But Potter's a children's book phenomenon. And even though I don't care much for Chris Columbus, I do think Harry Potter will beat out Monsters Inc. It just looks like it'll be a lot of fun and the Hedwig Theme from John Williams is generating a positive buzz for both the soundtrack and the movie. If it's anything like the book, it'll be a real treat.

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The man with the magic hands.

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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 889
From: Freehold, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 08-20-2001 05:21 PM

This is a tough one. We're showing trailers of both right now, with audience reaction about even. Monsters, Inc. will have the upper hand at the beginning with the earlier release date, but I think the Potter following will ultimately prevail. Both will do big business, with Harry coming out on top by the handle of a broomstick.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 08-20-2001 05:24 PM

I know of the "Harry Potter" phenomenon, but I don't think it will translate to the big screen quite like what Warner Bros. is hoping. With previous flops bearing success in other formats like "Tomb Raider" and "Final Fantasy", I cannot say "Harry Potter" is a guaranteed hit. Also if printed success is to translate to big screen success then all those damned Pokemon movies should be the top money earners at the box office. I don't even have any kids of my own and I am sick to death of the Pokemon fad.

A really bad sign (for me anyway) is how WB is showing so much of "Harry Potter" in the previews. I almost feel like I don't need to see the movie after having seen so much in the trailer. There might be a ratio to go by on how much of a film gets shown in trailers versus the film's actual quality. The more they show, the more it stinks.

"Monsters Inc" on the other hand has a specifically designed teaser not from the film. I don't know much about it. But the teaser was simple, funny and cool looking. Pixar is also very consistent about putting together good stuff. The joy these guys at Pixar have in creating the film also comes out in their exemplary work as well. So I am more excited about seeing this film than "Harry Potter".

I also think "Monsters Inc" is going to do better business. I would say $175 million domestic for "Monsters Inc" versus a generous $100 million guess for "Harry Potter".

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Charles Everett
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: New Jersey
Registered: May 2001

posted 08-20-2001 06:19 PM

It's Disney corporate hype vs. AOL Time Warner corporate synergy. Look what Disney corporate hype did opposite Mr. Grinch and Lara Croft. Didn't sell a lot of Happy Meals, did it?

Monsters, Inc. will get 2 weeks business. THEN . . . Harry Potter comes along and blows everything away until The Lord of the Rings at Xmas.

Me? I'm looking forward to Harry Potter. I even saw the trailer in front of The Princess Diaries (Disney) this past weekend. Monsters, Inc.? Thanks, but no thanks. Remember, Harry Potter opens the Friday before Thanksgiving -- just like The Grinch did.

Another good sign: The UA Union Square already has "Coming Soon: Harry Potter" on the marquee at Broadway & 13th.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-20-2001 07:02 PM

I bet Harry Potter will sell a lot of tickets in the short run but Monsters, Inc. will have steady ticket sales throughout its release.

Harry Potter will do big business in the first two or three weeks of release. Then all the kids will have seen it and think it's not as good as the book. After that the business will drop off to a trickle.

Monsters, Inc., on the other hand may get crushed by Harry Potter for a couple of weeks but I think it'll have better "legs". Then, of course we'll receive another "blooper reel" for the end of the movie and we'll get a couple more weeks out of it.

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John Scott
Master Film Handler

Posts: 252
From: Oakdale, MN, USA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 08-20-2001 11:59 PM

I guess I'll be the one to go against the conventional wisdom of the thread, but I think Potter will open HUGE (potentially biggest opening ever, that's my prediction) and will have fairly good legs considering the opening. The books are not only popular with kids, but many adults as well (including me). While I do think Monsters Inc will do extremely well, I don't think it is the phenomenon that Harry Potter will be.

I'll also go on a limb and say Harry Potter will do better than Fellowship of the Ring.

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Aldo Baez
Master Film Handler

Posts: 266
From: USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 08-21-2001 01:02 PM

Trailer wise, Ice Age would kill both of them at the box office.

As for which will win, I think Monsters Inc. will but I will just be glad if both are good movies and will enjoy them (I think too many people will nitpick at what they think Harry Potter should be like.)

And as for Harry Potter getting more than LOTR. There is absolutely *no* way that will happen. Especially with the huge international fan base LOTR has.

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 08-22-2001 01:42 AM

Monsters is one of those movies that people will go to see because of the interesting storyline and top-notch animation. It will do really well, with probably no less than $60 million on opening weekend.
However, Harry Potter is a household name. Warner Brothers could get by without any press screenings, sneak previews, or even advertising and still drive in anyone ages 6-13 within 30 miles of the theater!
Harry Potter could get at least $75 million on opening weekend.

It won't matter in the end, though. Lobbies will be packed, parking lots will be death traps, and the only safe place in the theater will be in the booth!

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 08-22-2001 02:24 AM

Harry Potter will have the biggest opening, but Monsters Inc will play the longest and gross more. At least that's my bet.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-22-2001 07:19 AM

This is a tough one. From the trailers, it looks like both of them will do good business. I'm guessing that Monsters will have more "legs," but who knows. Actually, the opposite will probably turn out to be the case, since I'm generally terrible at predicting boxoffice numbers...I am always amazed at lousy films that get great numbers and vice versa, but that seems to be par for the course in this business.

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-24-2001 02:43 AM

Monsters Inc. will out-gross Harry by a fair whack, but Harry will win in the opening weekend sweepstakes.

That's me...

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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.

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