Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Nada

many people will stay away for the first couple of weeks because I'm there's somebody already lined up for the movie and that tends to scare some people off who don't want to deal with the lines and crowds.

So what? It doesn't matter when people see it. The only difference is that on really long runs, which rarely happens today, the theatre actually gets a bigger cut (most theatres get only 5% of the ticket price in the opening weeks).

But don't forget that this is going to be playing on a tremendous number of screens, as did Episode III. I was consulting for a theater/print evaluation company in those days and the multiplex they sent me to was playing the film on 10 screens. So after opening weekend, I don't think it's going to be that hard to see.

Opening weekend is only important because it serves as a prediction for how the film will do overall and it's not even that good an indicator - the 2nd weekend is the real indicator.

While the following won't happen today due to the prevalence of home video, the original Star Wars played in many first-run theaters for a year!

Reviews won't matter for this film because people don't really read them anymore. What will matter are people's opinions of the film, but the fact remains that this one of the few films where there's interest from 10-year-olds to baby boomers across the board. Even if it gets middling reviews, it's still going to do very big grosses because of the curiosity factor. If it's not a great film, it will have a greater impact on box-office for Episode VIII because some people will lose interest.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Nada

The Phantom Menace wasn't a bust, far from it, creatively and financially. If that were true, then why did it sell millions of VHS tapes, DVD's, pull in $100 million worldwide in a 3D re-release, etc. etc.?

I just said it smashed it, didn't I? I meant a BUST more along the lines of the fanboy contingent...

...who'll probably go and see it 12 times anyway, even if it does suck

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by Nada

The Phantom Menace wasn't a bust, far from it, creatively and financially. If that were true, then why did it sell millions of VHS tapes, DVD's, pull in $100 million worldwide in a 3D re-release, etc. etc.?

Just like Justin Bieber. Success =/= quality. I still think TPM is the best prequel though.

Serious question: when the heck are you going to get out of here? All you do is ***** and moan. It's irritating. I already blocked you, but you keep getting quoted, so I still see your crap. You're not even having a conversation. You're crapping on the film and people's expectations, just because. Are you Geroge Lucas or something?

[prozacnation1978]

I am starting to get excited for star wars.

Loved the franchise.
Since this is a new one not a prequel im more intrigued

3d
And the spin offs coming
Star wars for years to come.

Huge nostalgia for me since i grew up with them.
Remember having the toys and actions figures when i was a kid.
Saw all of them in the theater besides the first one. Wasnt born yet i do remember empires strikes back in the theater

I cant wait

[kylor]

I still remember this.

Star Wars Revenge of the Jedi Trailer Rare - YouTube

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

Just like Justin Bieber. Success =/= quality. I still think TPM is the best prequel though.

Serious question: when the heck are you going to get out of here? All you do is ***** and moan. It's irritating. I already blocked you, but you keep getting quoted, so I still see your crap. You're not even having a conversation. You're crapping on the film and people's expectations, just because. Are you Geroge Lucas or something?

Sorry bro, I know how annoying it is when people keep quoting the ignored person. Haven't quite got there with putting Nada on my list yet.

[spanky87]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sorry bro, I know how annoying it is when people keep quoting the ignored person. Haven't quite got there with putting Nada on my list yet.

Looks like that won't be necessary now.

[Ernest Rister]

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[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

Serious question: when the heck are you going to get out of here? All you do is ***** and moan. It's irritating. I already blocked you, but you keep getting quoted, so I still see your crap. You're not even having a conversation. You're crapping on the film and people's expectations, just because. Are you Geroge Lucas or something?

I thought I was the only one. I reported him for calling me "sad and depressing" in the marathon thread. Nothing was done then. I'm guessing something changed. Nice.

[Ernest Rister]

EricJ and Nada in the same year. Thanks, mods...I know you don't enjoy doing it, but thanks.

Back on topic, is it true opening night IMAX showings are now going for $800 dollars? I've got marathon tix (non IMAX, all seven movies), and then a second showing of The Force Awakens in laser (non-IMAX) right after. I won't see SW7 in 3D IMAX until Saturday. Imagine buying a $16 ticket and then selling it for $800...

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But Phantom Menace proves that even if a new Star Wars film IS a bust then it'll do crazy business anyway.

And so will the next one, which is even more important IMO. Often times a crappy sequel will get good box office based purely on the franchise, but then the next sequel will feel the brunt of audiences' waning interests. With Star Wars though, Phantom Menace didn't stop Clones from being a huge hit, and neither did Clones stop Revenge.

In other words the SW fanbase is going no matter what. They'll go even if it looks like another prequel (which it doesn't). The fact Ford and such are in it, and it actually looks good, will boost it well beyond Revenge of the Sith numbers, IMO.

Though I don't see much point in debating whether it will be 5th biggest all time or 2nd or whatever else. Who knows? But it will be huge.

[RazorwireRyan]

Wait, have I missed something or is being abrasive and having a different opinion grounds for being banned? Nada annoyed the hell out of me too, but seems a bit much, unless I've missed other exchanges of course. He had that attitude a lot seem to have right now, like they know it's going to be a bad movie, which is really weird. How could a film from a completely different writer/s and director be bound to repeat itself? I read the other week someone saying that 136 minutes was too long a running time for TFA. "It'd be better if around 10 minutes was trimmed out to fix the pacing." Fix the pacing?! It's like they think they've already seen it. The amount of people who act like they know the entire plot/script is laughable too.

Back on topic, I wonder if Jurrasic World was so unnecessarily successful because all the 20 somethings who grew up with the original were so taken back with nostalgia. When you measure that to the original Star Wars films you're looking at people in their 30s/40s/50s. I still think SW has a bigger fanbase though, and it'll definitely have the bigger opening.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

And so will the next one, which is even more important IMO. Often times a crappy sequel will get good box office based purely on the franchise, but then the next sequel will feel the brunt of audiences' waning interests. With Star Wars though, Phantom Menace didn't stop Clones from being a huge hit, and neither did Clones stop Revenge.

In other words the SW fanbase is going no matter what. They'll go even if it looks like another prequel (which it doesn't). The fact Ford and such are in it, and it actually looks good, will boost it well beyond Revenge of the Sith numbers, IMO.

Though I don't see much point in debating whether it will be 5th biggest all time or 2nd or whatever else. Who knows? But it will be huge.

Clones did have a HUGE drop in takings though while Sith pulled it back some. I guess what I meant by new Star Wars film (in reference to Phantom Menace) is that it's the start of a new SW trilogy in general, i.e. it was guaranteed to pull in crazy business just because of all the hype alone, and the same will apply to Force Awakens. If it's actually any good, then watch them box office records tumble...

Originally Posted by spanky87

Looks like that won't be necessary now.

[RazorwireRyan]

I just looked through some of his posts to see if the banning was warranted, and chuckled at these two posts, one day apart: "This will surely hit around $150 million." Followed the next day by: "It'll be lucky to break $150 million." Says it all.

[prozacnation1978]

Glad to see how people being banned is warranted
Guess if enough people complain about you
The site response would be for a ban. Pretty messed up way of dealing with members on the site. Yet im not suprised one bit

[RazorwireRyan]

I haven't seen anything from him that justify it beyond being a little abrasive and rude. Could have built up over months though, and I'm not going to look into it. Move along, move along.

[spiderfan1985]

Originally Posted by matirocker

Ugh. You know what I meant. Some characters HAD to be in the PT. Others like Jabba, Boba and Chewie were thrown in for fun but were basically glorified cameos.

The PT is about how Anakin became Darth Vader. You really expect Anakin and Obi Wan not to be there?

The PT is about more than just one person's downfall though. Yes, Anakin's fall from grace was the major linchpin, but the PT in its entirety is also about the fall of an entire way of life. And seeing as the ST looks to be dealing with the still ongoing repercussions of what happened the PT is an important part of the whole SW story.

[Ernest Rister]

Folks we are now less than eight weeks out. We are at 54 days. I don't care about the movie making more money than some other films, I don't even hope for some freakish modern classic. Just give my family a fun, communal, celebratory time at the cinema. If you think about it, that's a tall order for anything, for any film, so set expectations accordingly.

This place is gonna blow up when the press screenings start and the early word starts to leak. Setting my phasers to fun. I'll be more than satisfied with fun. 54 days.

[Geoff D]

I keep thinking about that, Ernest. We're less than two months away from only the 7th episode of Star Wars in nearly 40 years, it's gonna be awesome when it finally hits if only to see the Internet explode (whether it's good or bad, everyone's gonna go nuts for one reason or another). But yeah, I wants FUN first and foremost, not ****ing trade disputes. JJ knows how to make a popcorn blockbuster so we're in safe hands IMO.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I keep thinking about that, Ernest. We're less than two months away from only the 7th episode of Star Wars in nearly 40 years, it's gonna be awesome when it finally hits if only to see the Internet explode (whether it's good or bad, everyone's gonna go nuts for one reason or another). But yeah, I wants FUN first and foremost, not ****ing trade disputes. JJ knows how to make a popcorn blockbuster so we're in safe hands IMO.

Exactly, JJ gets the joy of seeing Star Wars for the first time.
Lucas obviously could never capture that