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Filed under: Box-Office News

Box-Office Oracle: May 22 – May 24, 2009

Terminator should win, but will it hit $70m?

#1 movie predicted correctly: 4 Weeks in a Row
Please note that these projections don't include Monday's holiday. Now then, back in 1991 T2 opened at $31.8m. Given inflation, I think we can say a similar result would be near $50m. However, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines opened at only $44m in July of 2003. So my $61.8m projection would make for a bullish opening weekend, throw in the holiday and Warner Bros. will be pleased. But will it hold up? I say no… but as it's not yet next Thursday I'll hold off on that line of dialogue.
Estimate: $61.8 million
The original only opened at $30m ($42m if you count the holiday) so I don't think this one can expect exponential growth. The strength of the first one was how well it held up, it didn't fall 40% (week over week) until it had been out for ten weekends. That's impressive, but did that trend build up enough goodwill for this one to take the title? Probably not.
Estimate: $54.0 million
It's now passed Wolverine domestically, though it was released a week later. That's a good sign for those of us that demand superior film.
Estimate: $26.7 million
I'm only dinging it at the rate Da Vinci Code fell. I'm not sure what else to do with it at this point.
Estimate: $20.4 million
I managed to miss this screening, but I've put it on the higher Epic Movie level because kids love dance movies… even spoof ones. If it goes Disaster Movie style it won't crack double digits.
Estimate: $13.8 million
I think it's been overly criticized, but it didn't help matters that everyone loved Star Trek. Still, it's officially passed the first X-Men (worldwide cume), a film most people enjoyed.
Estimate: $7.7 million
It doesn't look like they've got much of an international release planned. Evidently ghosts and McConaughey are only a North American staple.
Estimate: $4.0 million
Sony / Screen Gems put on a release date clinic with this one; every dollar it makes from here on out is pure profit.
Estimate: $3.1 million
Luckily, even if Terminator Salvation doesn't get a warm box-office reception, they've still got this title's cash to fall back on. It's all one giant offshore slush fund anyway, right guys?
Estimate: $2.5 million
The best it can hope for is Night at the Museum II runoff dollars.
Estimate: $2.1 million

Any early projections for next weekend? I'd originally have guessed Terminator in a repeat but now it looks like Up is set up to clear $50 or $60m. taking first easily. And Drag Me to Hell is set up to cash in on the neglected horror fans. I'll take updated predictions for this weekend too; if you see areas where I'm all wrong let a fella know. Have a solid holiday weekend!


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Post #1
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I think that Salvation might open a bit lower, $58 million, depends on word of mouth. That Dance Flick should bomb. I don't understand what good-minded person would see a film like that–or any in that "____ Flick, ______ Movie" series.

- Eric
( May 21st, 2009 | 1:20 pm )
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Post #2
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No way in hell will star Trek make more than $25 million this weekend.
I think it will make closer to $17 million

- chris_sc77
( May 21st, 2009 | 1:58 pm )
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Post #3
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no sir, not after brad's review, or any other review for that matter, turns out, the movie is a legit bomb. but what the hey, ill still put down my 10 bucks, it'll still be a fun night out with friends.

- ddurden33
( May 21st, 2009 | 2:03 pm )
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Post #4
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@ddurden33: That's the attitude. I think reviews are helpful, but I also don't think they should ever deter someone from seeing a movie they have been looking forward to seeing. Hope you like it more than I did.

- Brad Brevet
( May 21st, 2009 | 2:29 pm )
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Post #5
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I agree with you that Terminator could have been MUCH better, and it should have been! but i dont know about your "D" rating.
Even after reading your review, I entered the theatre with an open mind still. I saw some things you pointed out that definitely were a letdown, but there was still alot of good in the movie. I didnt see Christian Bale's "one dimensional" portrayal of John Conner. I thought he did well. Sam Worthington did an amazing like you said also.
The theatre I went to premiered the movie in 5 rather large theatre and they all sold out. I think the overalll numbers with be aboce your projected $61 million.

- atlroller
( May 21st, 2009 | 2:30 pm )
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Post #6
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I have seen a million "Dance Flick" commercials, and what else is geared for African-American viewers on a long holiday weekend?

- Steve
( May 21st, 2009 | 3:34 pm )
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Post #7
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"no sir, not after brad’s review, or any other review for that matter, turns out, the movie is a legit bomb. but what the hey, ill still put down my 10 bucks, it’ll still be a fun night out with friends."

Exactly. That's gonna be the mindset everyone (including me) will choose to go with this weekend. It honestly doesn't look like it could be as bad as the critics are saying. No one's gonna miss out on this one. I'm guessing 95% of moviegoers who hear the bad reviews will be like "Ah it got bad reviews.. oh wait, it has Christian Bale battling huge robots. Nevermind I'll see it. That's worthy of a shot and my money".

3-DAY PREDICTIONS
1. TERMINATOR: SALVATION – $91.4 million
2. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN – $77.3 million
3. STAR TREK – $26.0 million
4. ANGELS & DEMONS – $16.8 million
5. DANCE FLICK – $14.2 million

MEMORIAL DAY
1. TERMINATOR SALVATION – $12.5 million
2. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN – $10.8 million
3. STAR TREK – $5.5 million
4. DANCE FLICK – $5.2 million
5. ANGELS & DEMONS – $3.6 million

=

4-DAY TOTALS
1. TERMINATOR SALVATION – $103.9 million
2. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN – $88.1 million
3. STAR TREK – $31.5 million
4. ANGELS & DEMONS – $20.4 million
5. DANCE FLICK – $19.4 million

Memorial Day weekend is the weekend for audiences to either see a BIG action summer blockbuster (Terminator, Star Trek) or something the whole entire family can enjoy (Night at the Museum 2). Or something silly and stupid (Dance Flick). "Angels & Demons" is rather low because I doubt on Monday (and throughout the weekend), mom and dad are gonna pack the kids into the minivan so they can all go see Tom Hanks deciphering spiritual conspiracies and dark matter. "Dance Flick" is the counter-programming to the big action flicks – just something really light and silly. And the reason why it's higher than past spoof movies is because it has a genuine urban-ness to it (we haven't had anything urban since "Next Day Air" and that was R), and it's got the Wayans Brothers name tied to it, so that'll guarantee… welll… I guess "better" spoofing? At least better than that Epic/Date/Disaster Movie crap. Dance Flick is actually focusing on one thing to spoof and isn't just spoofing ANYTHING like those movies were. That's the difference between the Wayans. and the wannabes.

I'll be checking out Terminator: Salvation, Night at the Museum 2, and possibly Star Trek again this weekend.

Have an extraordinary weekend, everybody! :]!

- Chuck Bartowski
( May 21st, 2009 | 3:39 pm )
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Post #8
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I agree with chuck, I think terminator will make a lot despite the weak reviews. Wolverine reviews were just as bad and it still managed nearly 90 on opening weekend, Terminator should be able to come close to that,no way will it just make 60.

- Kid
( May 21st, 2009 | 3:48 pm )
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Post #9
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All for 4-day weekend…

NATM: $78.7M
Termynator Salvation: $75M ($97M 5-day)
ST: $31.1M
A&D: $24.8M

Dance Flick: $15.8M
What it deserves: $80 dollars

- Gophers Attack!
( May 21st, 2009 | 4:00 pm )
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Post #10
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add 3M to each movie in the top 4 then it should be ok.

Star Trek will beat A&D. Star trek will get 25M

- Topy
( May 21st, 2009 | 8:25 pm )
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Post #11
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I watched T4, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Originally I thought its drops would be horrendous, maybe 65%+, but now I'm going to predict it'll drop no more than 60% in its second weekend. As for "Up" and "Drag Me to Hell," they'll both do well. Early reviews are highly positive for both, so also expect them to have good holds throughout June. "Up" will win the weekend with $60+ million, while "Drag Me to Hell" will get as least $30 million. Though maybe it'll be a repeat of Pixar's last opening weekend, where "Wanted" took over $50 million; maybe "Drag Me to Hell" will do the same. It looks like it's good enough to deserve it.

- JM
( May 21st, 2009 | 10:55 pm )
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Post #12
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I actually hated T4, so you're pretty much right on the money from my viewpoint, Brad. Boring as hell. I gave it *1/2. It'll make lotsa money, sadly. They should spend it on quality movies (aka Wolverine, which for the record I loved, or Star Trek, the best film of 2009 so far). Nothing in the way of actual numeric predictions though. Hard to say.

- Joel
( May 21st, 2009 | 10:59 pm )
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Post #13
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@Joel: you loved wolverine, and you hated T4???? so i guess after all T4 is an amazing movie, coz wolverine was a real peice of crap. and im not alone who feels that way about wolverine. hell even spiderman 3 was better than that. it should be ranked right up with daredevil when it comes to crappy superhero movies.

- ddurden33
( May 22nd, 2009 | 2:53 am )
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Post #14
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I am going to disagree, I think Night at the Museum will take the number one spot. It has a broader audience and suburban families can't get enough of Ben Stiller. Combine that with the bad reviews that Terminator is getting and the still popular Star Trek and I think that T4 will not make the top spot.

- Rosa
( May 22nd, 2009 | 10:40 am )
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Post #15
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4 day weekend:

1.NatM: 72mil
2.Terminator Salvation: 58mil (78mil, 5-day)

As for next week:

Up: 65mil
Drag me to Hell: 15mil

- Raichu
( May 22nd, 2009 | 1:30 pm )
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Post #16
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1. Terminator- $75.9 million
2. Night At The Museum II- $53.2 million
3. Star Trek- $$36 million
4. Angels & Demons- $22.6 million
5. Dance Flick- $15.5 million
6. X-Men Origins: Wolverine- $9.7 million
7. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past- $5.2 million
8. Obsessed- $3.0 million
9. Monsters Vs. Aliens- $2.7 million
10. 17 Again- $1.9 million

- Bustray
( May 22nd, 2009 | 4:48 pm )
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Post #17
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So much for all that talk that this years Memorial Weekend will be the biggest ever. Judging by the reported preliminary Friday (5/22) grosses, both Terminator Salvation and Night at the Museum 2 barely managed 15mil apiece. For the traditional Fri-Sun period, both will be around 50mil. I think Night at the Museum 2 will earn more on Memorial Day itself and finish with a 4-day of around 60-65mil. Night at the Museum should've stuck with the Winter Holiday release that the first one had, because Summer holiday weekends are best suited for the "Big Boys" of Franchises, such as Spidey, Pirates, Batman, Potter, and the like. Night at the museum may be a Franchise, but it probably ranks among the 2nd and even 3rd tier of film franchises today.

- junjun
( May 23rd, 2009 | 1:23 am )
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