Article on Serenity from The-Numbers.com (no spoilers)

POSTED BY: JR
UPDATED: Sunday, October 9, 2005 01:11
VIEWED: 11721
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JR

Thursday, October 6, 2005 2:38 PM

Interesting article on Serenity from The-Numbers.com

Quote:

Serenity seemed to have a lot going for it: a rabidly loyal fanbase from the TV series, incredible reviews, and a popular feel that should have made it a big hit. However, the studio may have dropped the ball when it came to marketing the film; they relied on viral marketing and while that was able to get the base excited, but obviously wasn't t able to connect with the average moviegoer, as the film could do no better than $10.1 million. If you were to look for something positive, the per theatre average wasn't bad and the word-of-mouth should be excellent, as it earned a Cinema Score rating of A. Even so, the Fanboy Effect will likely kill this film next weekend and it will have to wait until late in its the home market run to show any kind of profit. On the other hand, the DVD is ranked number two on Amazon.com.

link:
http://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=1497

--

When faced with a moral dilemma, just stop and ask yourself; What would StrongBad do?

ICCLEDAMES

Thursday, October 6, 2005 3:37 PM

Well it all looks a little confusing, all those numbers but erm, it's not looking too good is it?

JAVIDRHO

Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by iccledames:
Well it all looks a little confusing, all those numbers but erm, it's not looking too good is it?

What I got from the article is the belief that Universal is partly to blame for the low numbers, due to their gamble in marketing this film. The gamble being viral marketing, and aiming trailers for the fans. I think most of us could (and have) come up with better ideas for trailers in the past few months (and we don't get paid for it).

I hate always blaming the marketing people for low numbers (this goes for both Firefly and Serenity), but maybe Joss's world really is too different for major houses to "get" and therefore market correctly.

BROWNCOAT1

Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:17 PM

We can not discount the historical low #s that the last weekend in September is notorious for either. Few movies have done anything considered remotely well during this time of the year as it is a slow time at the box office.

Seems that many factors are playing roles in the box office returns for the BDM.

__________________________________________

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JPURVES

Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:24 PM

The point is still the same. Go see it again this weekend, bring all your friends, and tell everyone else you know to go see it.

"2 For the Money" with McConaughey and Pacino is going to be a big draw, so only our influence will keep Serenity up towards the top.

LIVINGIMPAIRED

Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:39 PM

While, of course, box office is still important, and I will be going again this weekend and taking friends, I don't know that there's much more we can do at this point. Serenity will likely share the same fate as Firefly: It's real performance will come on DVD.

As I see it, it will be that, and not necessarily box office results that will ditermine Serenity's fate. Consider the following:

1) Movies make more overseas than they do in the US. Firelfy is a TV show that did well overseas, and Serenity is the type of movie that typically does well overseas: Action and sci fi.

2) Serenity is not the only experiment in marketing this year. King Kong is going to have a unique distribution pattern, as they're releasing it on DVD the same day it comes out to theatres. Theatres are dying and the studios know it. If Serentiy kicks ass on DVD like Firefly did, then box office might be a mood point.

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SLGN

Thursday, October 6, 2005 11:23 PM

Quote:
...the DVD is ranked number two on Amazon.com

And that would be FF dvds. I was curious if they meant pre-orders and Uni was doing an early-dvd-release... but no, it's Firefly. And it's great that FF keeps selling (we knew it would come Serenity).

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BAPTISMO

Thursday, October 6, 2005 11:26 PM

What is the "Fanboy effect" and why should it kill things?

CRANSTON

Friday, October 7, 2005 5:39 AM

Quote:

1) Movies make more overseas than they do in the US. Firelfy is a TV show that did well overseas, and Serenity is the type of movie that typically does well overseas: Action and sci fi.

Gotta disagree with you here. If you look at Box Office Mojo's stats on all of the movies "similar" to Serenity, the majority of them made less overseas than in the US -- many of them substantially less.

I know I'm being pessimistic, but I can't help but see Serenity making maybe $30 million domestically, with maybe $15-20 overseas, for a $45-50 million worldwide total. And that's not good. But I really, really hope I'm wrong.

And I know that Universal's getting a lot of bashing for its marketing strategy now, but I have to say: if Serenity had opened on its original date in April, we wouldn't be in this situation. The marketing sank the film.

THEPYRO

Friday, October 7, 2005 6:05 AM

I keep hearing "the original date of April" I just know i love Firefly and Serenity, but i dont know all about that kinda stuff? are we talking April 06 or 05? if its 05, f no it would do better, 06 yes i do think so, they didn't give enough time for people to wait for it....and as much as i wanted to see it, as bad as i did, i would have rather waited and saw it do better....now i might be way off base here if we're talking 05.....help? The other thing i think they shoulda done is put more of Joss's name and Buffy and Angel in the marketing....any one disagree? But on the other side, we just dont want the Buffy fans coming, cause i know alot of people that think that is the stupidest show ever and then they'd be bias against Serenity....

The Pyro

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