Graphic novel adaptation's box office numbers nothing to brag about
BY EMIL TIEDEMANN
Just five weekends into its theatrical run, and Warner Bros. is already pondering when to pull their comic book "blockbuster" Watchmen from theatres, as it ranked #13 at this weekend's box office race, earning a tepid $1.08 million for a 31-day domestic tally of just $105.35 million. That seems like a lot of money to the average Joe, but for a highly-promoted action movie that cost $120 million to make and had major expectations, it's chump change.
Watchmen is now considered a failure for Warner Bros. (distributed overseas by Paramount), despite pulling in--so far--another $67.27 million internationally, and will rely heavily on DVD/Blu-Ray rentals and sales to reach targeted profits, and perhaps merchandise monies as well. In fact, Watchmen is still two positions back from cracking the Top 20 list of the top-grossing comic book superhero movies (Marvel & DC) of all-time, finally scrapping by 2003's disasterous Daredevileffort ($102.5 million). However, it still remains slightly behind 1997's Batman & Robin ($107.2 million) at No.21, and 1980's Superman II ($108.2 million) at No.20.
It is safe to say that Watchmen will slowly slide past the forgettable Batman & Robin feature, and will come close to Superman II's earnings (which are impressive for a film nearly three decades old), but is unlikely to catch any of the other comic films on the list. Below are the Top 20 highest-earning (domestically) feature films based on comic book superheros/villains by either Marvel or DC Comics, and their North American totals:
1. The Dark Knight (2008)-$533.3M (DC) 2. Spider-Man (2002)-$403.7M (Marvel) 3. Spider-Man 2 (2004)-$373.3M (Marvel) 4. Spider-Man 3 (2007)-$336.5M (Marvel) 5. Iron Man (2008)-$318.3M (Marvel) 6. Batman (1989)-$251.1M (DC) 7. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)-$234.3M (Marvel) 8. X2 (2003)-$214.9M (Marvel) 9. Batman Begins (2005)-$205.3M (DC) 10. Superman Returns (2006)-$200.0M (DC) 11. Batman Forever (1995)-$184.0M (DC) 12. Batman Returns (1992)-$162.8M (DC) 13. X-Men (2000)-$157.2M (Marvel) 14. Fantastic Four (2005)-$154.6M (Marvel) 15. The Incredible Hulk (2008)-$134.5M (Marvel) 16. Superman (1978)-$134.2M (DC) 17. Hulk (2003)-$132.1M (Marvel) 18. 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)-$131.9M (Marvel) 19. Ghost Rider (2007)-$115.8M (Marvel) 20. Superman II (1980)-$108.2M (DC)
Monsters vs. Aliens easily fights off the competition.
DreamWorks Animation's 3-D animated feature Monsters vs.Aliens grabs the number one spot on its opening weekend with $58.2M. While not playing in 3-D in approximately 7600 screens it opened on, the overall contribution from the 3-D screens was just over 56%. Being the largest 3-D launch ever, it bodes well for future films with a 3-D tag attached to them.
Second place would be taken by The Haunting in Connecticut which grossed $23M also on its first weekend of release. Its debut landed in the Top Ten of supernatural horror movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo), shy of the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror. "Based on true events" was also the marketing scheme that Amityville had used.
Summit's sci-fi thriller Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage had another strong weekend despite not being able to hold onto No. 1. The film dropped 40% yet still finished third, grabbing $14.7M bringing the total up around $46.2. Across the ocean and into the international box office Knowing looks to have snatched another $9.8M placing itself at No. 1.
Last weeks big release I Love You Man finished fourth, the R-rated comedy from Paramount had a 29% decline but still pulling in $12.6M with a cumulative total of $37M. Duplicity, the Universal flick with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen dropped almost 50% bringing in $7.6M for fifth place and a total gross of $25.6M.
Race to Witch Mountain maintained a steady pace with $5.6M, the Disney film has grossed $53.3M so far. 12 Rounds opened this weekend as well to a first round knockout from the other 6 films ahead of it. Grossing only $5.3M, the WWE may want to reconsider the venture into movies with its wrestling stars.
Watchmen has continued to fade worldwide. Domestically falling 59% in its fourth weekend to an estimated $2.8M for a total of $103.3M. Overseas, it grossed $4.6M for the weekend, $68M overall internationally. The property is not quite well known outside the USA but it is still disappointing for Legendary Pictures and Paramount.
Rounding out the top ten is Taken, with a total $2.7M bringing its impressive take at $137M. The Last House on the Left fell 4 spots in the third week of release. Garnering $2.6M which brings the remakes total just above $28M.
Compliments to director Zack Snyder on his laborious quest to bring one of the most celebrated graphic novels--Dave Gibbons & Alan Moore's Watchmen--to a theatre near you. Visually stunning, melodically nostalgic, and just plain fun to watch, the 162-minute epic updated a story first told back in 1986, and in my humble opinion, was well worth the wait. As one of the darker superhero movies we've seen, the R-rated Watchmen shamelessly delves into the loathsome chambers of humanity and its heroes, and comes out the other end questioning the morality of one's thurst for unity and peace, all wrapped up in a pretty--and expensive--package.
After the anticipation of hearing that one of my favourite books was being brought to the screen, I got a little worried. Could it be transferred without losing its effectiveness from book to film? Guess I shouldn’t worry when Zach Snyder is directing the adaptation of the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons 12 issue maxi-series, which is now known as one of the greatest graphic novels of our time. “Watchmen” is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorshach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion, Rorshach glimpse a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity, but who is watching the Watchmen?
Snyder adapted the film faithfully, not missing a beat even though he was forced to cut out scenes or avoid sub-plots from the book. The direction of the movie shows he was the right choice, not skipping any minor detail that was on the pages. Small hints at items from the book, a joke only someone who has read it would get but he did it without confusing the casual movie fan who has not read the book. The montage that Snyder created for the opening credits over “The Times They Are A-Changing” was worth the ticket price alone. Aside from the one scene that could have been probably left out as it almost ruins your view on a certain character right away. Bringing us the history, albeit brief history, of the Minutemen and the way the path the world has taken since the dawn of the costumed hero era started in the 1940s.
Casting was extremely well done; Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman are perfectly cast. But it is Jackie Earle Haley who takes the weight of the movie on his shoulders by really becoming the character Rorshach, almost to the level that Heath Ledger did with the Joker in the Dark Night. The only character miscast I felt, was Matthew Goode as Ozymandias. Robert Wisden as Richard Nixon also was miscast, but that could just be because of Frank Langella’s spectacular performance in Frost/Nixon as the same character.
Attempting to bring Dr. Manhattan to the big screen in his entire blue glory was probably the one thing I was worried wouldn’t work. Yet again, Snyder and crew make it work perfectly. Along with the stunning visuals was the soundtrack, which was taken from various artists in that era. While those songs may not have worked in other films, it works wonders for Watchmen. The soundtrack to the film reminded me of the Donnie Darko soundtrack. While the score for the film was almost forgetful, yet it worked well not overpowering the superheroes on the screen.
The ending has been changed, more of tweak from the book. Without giving it away, all I can say is the effect is the same. They just used a different means to get to the end. The only flaw I found within the movie was the lack of worry about the nuclear holocaust. Maybe it was because I knew the outcome of the book and assumed it was the same for the movie, but it came across as an empty plot just in the background. With more focus, it would require more emotion from the characters as well as the viewer if we were shown that a mass genocide was immanent
This film is a highly complex character study which is layered with everything from military posturing, politics, patriotism and asks the philosophical question of what is right and what is wrong. Sitting in the theatre after the credits roll, I still don’t know who was right as both sides have very valid arguments.
With the announcement of a really good chunk of footage being added to the DVD release I will have to do another review, as the movie will be much different. Until I can see those special features I will just imagine Snyder sitting with the cast and crew showing them storyboards, but really they are not storyboards. Just the graphic novel cut out and pasted in front of them, which is how faithful the movie really is. Alex Tse and David Hayter didn’t really write a screenplay, they just took Alan Moore’s graphic novel and typed it out word for word. Not to say they didn’t work on the script but, let’s be honest, Alan Moore wrote this film and Dave Gibbons shot it.
Zack Snyder's Watchmen epic pulled in an estimated $4.6 million in its midnight shows alone, hitting theatres across North America at 12:01 am Friday morning. That bested the $2.5 million that Snyder's last blockbuster, 300, earned with its midnight showings back in March 2007, but came up short for first-day tallies, as Watchmen made about $25 million on Friday, compared to 300's $28.1 million take. That gives Warner Brothers' Watchmen the third highest-grossing first-day total for an R-rated film, behind 300 and The Matrix Reloaded, which garnered $42.5 million in '03. Watchmen also opened in more theatres--3,611--than any other R-rated movie in history, some 500 more than 300, which went on to produce an accumulated $210 million at the domestic box office.
Watchmen, which is a superhero feature based on the 23-year-old 12-book DC graphic novel series penned by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is the first major blockbuster flick of the year, and is expected to rake in about $65 million in its first weekend, less than the $70.9 million total that 300 did two years ago. These numbers are more than good enough to give it the #1 spot at the box office this Sunday, bumping Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail from its two-week reign at the top.
While a few of these movies won’t be big box office hits. These are the movies I am most looking forward to watching coming up this New Year. It looks like May will be the busiest month with a movie every week. Guess I should go get my popcorn ready! I would also like to thank Trailer Addicts for making the movie trailers easy to place for your viewing pleasure. Check back shortly after the movies come out as there more than likely will be a review for it.
The Unborn – Jan 2 – David S. Goyer hasn’t succeeded as a director as he has a screenwriter, but the trailer looks good enough that I will check it out.
The Plot: Haunted by strange dreams and recurring ghostly visions, Casey Beldon (Odette Yustman) turns to a spiritual advisor (Gary Oldman) for help. Together, they learn that Casey had a twin brother who never made it to term, and that her intended sibling is tied to a curse that requires Casey's death in order to manifest itself in our world.
Notorious - Jan 16 – A bio pic of the West Coast rapper looks good from the strong cast and with newcomer Jamal Woolard playing a young Notorious B.I.G. looking to make a name for himself. Derek Luke plays Sean “Puffy” Combs who I was surprised didn’t play the role himself.
The Plot: A chronicle of Christopher Wallace's (Woolard) rise from the streets of Brooklyn to become Notorious B.I.G., one of biggest and best rappers of the 1990s, under the tutelage of mentor/producer Sean Combs (Luke)
Watchmen – Mar 6 – Another comic book based film that looks like it could be really good given the director loves the material and didn’t want to do a disservice to it. But with a lawsuit between WB and Fox on who owns the rights the movie has a possibility of the release being pushed back.
The Plot: Set in an alternate vision of the year 1985, the murder of an ex-superhero causes a vigilante named Rorshach (Haley) to look into the matter, an investigation that reunites him with his surviving old colleagues -- all of them former superheroes themselves -- and gradually unveils a conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – May 1 – With Hugh Jackman returning as the character who made him a household name and his arch nemesis Sabertooth (Liev Schreiber) returning in this prequel we could be looking at another great X-related film. Although the first trailer didn’t make it look fantastic, it definitely looked better than X3.
The Plot: An origins story that follows the early life of James Howlett (Jackman), also known as Logan, and best known as Wolverine. The chronicle of his younger years as a mutant connects to his relationship and eventual falling out with Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Schreiber), and his fateful entry into the Weapons X project, the governmental program that turns willing and unwilling beings into living weapons.
Star Trek – May 8 – I have never been a huge Star Trek fan but after hearing JJ Abrams was going to be taking the helm I was intrigued. And after seeing the first trailer I will be going to see this one in the theatres.
The Plot: The origin story of Captain James T. Kirk, Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise before they had boldly gone where no man had gone before.
Angels and Demons – May 15 – May will be a busy month already without the sequel to The Da Vinci Code being released. I enjoyed Angels and Demons the book over The Da Vinci Code so I have high hopes for this movie.
The Plot: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) finds himself in Rome, where he has to race against time to prevent the Illuminati, a secret society, from putting in motion a terrorist act that could destroy the Vatican. He's aided in his quest by the beautiful Italian scientist Vittoria Vetri (Ayelet Zurer).
Terminator Salvation – May 22 – Christian Bale looks like he is more than ready to step into John Conner’s shoes, with McG at the helm and a solid supporting cast of Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin and others. Another movie franchise I was never fond of looks like it could draw me in for a look see.
The Plot: John Connor (Bale) is joined in his attempt to defeat Skynet and its army of Terminators by Marcus Wright (Worthington), a man who apparently has been rescued from the past, though Connor wonders if instead he's been sent from the future as a foil to his plan. As Connor and Wright push deep into the heart of Skynet, they get closer and closer to learning the secret behind the organization's mission to wipe humankind off the planet.
Up – May 29 – Another Pixar movie taking to the skies, this one literally. Until Pixar makes a bad film I don’t think you can go wrong walking into the theatre to see this movie.
The Plot: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.
Public Enemies – Jul 1 – Johnny Depp and Christian Bale star in this Micheal Mann film base of the real life gangsters of the 1930s. Also has a fantastic supporting cast.
The Plot: The incredible and true story of legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger (Depp)the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoovers fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger. No jail could hold him.
Transformers Revenge of the Fallen – Jul 3 – Not much is known about the plot yet and no trailer or poster has even been released at this point. But with everyone from the original reprising there roles I don’t think you can not go see this unless the trailer looks god awful.
The Plot: Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – Jul 17 – I have liked each movie more and more in this franchise so my hopes are rather high for this movie. After being pushed back from a summer 08 release it will finally see the light of day.
The Plot: In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter discovers even more about the evil Lord Voldemort's past, thanks to his mentor Dumbledore and mysterious textbook marked "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince." By the end of the year, nothing will ever be the same.
Just five weekends into its theatrical run, and Warner Bros. is already pondering when to pull their comic book "blockbuster" Watchmen from theatres, as it ranked #13 at this weekend's box office race, earning a tepid $1.08 million for a 31-day domestic tally of just $105.35 million. That seems like a lot of money to the average Joe, but for a highly-promoted action movie that cost $120 million to make and had major expectations, it's chump change.
1. The Dark Knight (2008)-$533.3M (DC)
