SUPERMAN RETURNS: $84.3 MILLION IN FIRST FIVE DAYS

[MattBrady]

Though technically, the holiday “weekend” still has two days left in it, Superman Returns has seen an estimated $84.3 million in its opening "weekend" (also known as first five days), counting its total from its June 28th opening through Sunday’s showings, according to Box Office Mojo. The total amount breaks down to $32 million on Wednesday and Thursday, and $52.1 between Friday and Sunday. Additionally, $5 million came from the film’s IMAX opening, making it the largest IMAX opening to date, beating out Batman Begins’ $3.1 million. Superman’s $52.1 million easily set it on top of the weekend box office earners.

Worldwide, the film has seen an estimated $104 million in its box office returns.

Speaking of Superman’s neighbor in Gotham, Superman Returns weekend was stronger than that of Batman Begins, with Batman seeing an $48.7 million opening weekend.

"We're looking at $110 million for the first seven days," said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros.' president of distribution in a release. "If you can join that $100 million club in the first seven days, you have to be proud. Considering Batman Begins, which was a great success for us last year, and what it did in its first week, you can't be more pleased."

Despite Fellman’s predictions, many critics and analysts are suggesting that the less than $100 million opening five days is somewhat troubling, given that: a) many films see up to 50% or more of their total domestic box office on their opening weekend, and b) the film reportedly cost more than $200 million (although portions of that reported figure are openly disputed by those close to the film).

[nietoperz]

I do think that this proves all the doom-merchants wrong.

[BTX]

While I don't think SR will lose money, it looks to be a dissapointment a la Peter Jackson's King Kong, which also saw a lot of hype and big expectations. Saw the film Saturday in Brooklyn. Not only was there no line, the theatre was little more than half filled. Where was everybody? When I walked home, I saw a huge crowd standing outside a restaurant. They were watching the World Cup. In the stinking heat. Not looking good for the Big Blue.

BTX

[Abe]

just wait til the dvd comes out, then we'll see some numbers!
and a sequel with either doomsday, or general zod, fighting ol' big blue.

[nietoperz]

So it was a hot day and people were outside? Not a surprise. I'll bet the evening performances were better subscribed.

To describe $104 Million in five days as "not looking good" is kind of silly. Especially since it hasn't opened in all territories yet. It doesn't come to Sweden for another couple of weeks, for example.

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

I do think that this proves all the doom-merchants wrong.

yeah, it was clearly a success. Although, maybe not as big a success as some (including me) might have hoped.

[nietoperz]

Originally Posted by EmeraldGuy32

yeah, it was clearly a success. Although, maybe not as big a success as some (including me) might have hoped.

I think it will end up doing just as well, if not better, than Batman Begins. WHich has to be a good thing, no?

[erikthered25]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

I do think that this proves all the doom-merchants wrong.

Doom merchants aside I'm concerned cuz a movie that reported cost 260 million+ to make the money it's made so far is disappointing. I asked my movie clerk at AMC in florida and he said that it sold out a couple of times, not like X3 or Spiderman which were sold out considerably. Now you have Pirates of the Carribean coming out which was a surprisingly big hit the first time around. I'll be surprised if Superman can hold on to the box office for the next week. Let's see Supes made 3 million on tuesday, 18 mil on Wed, 11 mil on thurs, 16 mil on friday, 18 on sat and 17 on sunday. I'm hoping that it'll be like Batman Begins and have a long shelf life or Warner Bros is going to lose money.
Like someone else mentioned I was surprised when I went to my theater and there were no lines and none of the shows were sold out. X3, I had to buy tickets for my friends so that they all could get in because tickets were selling so fast. Everytime I would call to the theatre shows would be selling out. Not with Superman. It was like it was a B list movie that was out and not an A list movie, folks did not seem interested in seeing it.
I believe that Warner Brothers and Bryan Singer miscaluculated the fanbase. Most people wanted to see a new Superman movie not an combination of Superman 1 & 2. Most people I know who have been seeing it have been saying that the movie was just okay. Nothing special. Nothing to get excited about and its reflecting in the box office returns.

[Jimmy Palmiotti]

it will make its money back in a heartbeat when it opens worldwide...which it didnt yet,but really, all I care about is that it was a good movie, which there is a shortage of this summer...

[nietoperz]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Palmiotti

it will make its money back in a heartbeat when it opens worldwide...which it didnt yet,but really, all I care about is that it was a good movie, which there is a shortage of this summer...

Hey Mr P - you aren't around so much, so as you're here: thank you for Jonah Hex. You've made this old timer very happy.

[Jimmy Palmiotti]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

Hey Mr P - you aren't around so much, so as you're here: thank you for Jonah Hex. You've made this old timer very happy.

the pleasure is all mine, and justins and a number of talented artists....glad you are enjoying the book. thanks for the kind words...come by and say hi at paperfilms.com. we talk hex over there.

[clemsonfn]

Originally Posted by erikthered25

I'm hoping that it'll be like Batman Begins and have a long shelf life or Warner Bros is going to lose money.

There is really no way it's going to lose money after you count overseas numbers, merchandising, and DVD sales. Hollywood's hype machine is so efficient that I think it would be hard to find any blockbuster movie these days that loses money, regardless of how much it cost to film and market it.

[nietoperz]

Will do: I've bookmarked the link!

[Darren J. Gendron]

Jimmy's right. All that matters is that is was good and entertaining.

And oddly, from WB's perspective, all that really mattered to them is that it be high-profile. This franchise will easily make a profit, possibly from the domestic box office, definately from the international box office (which notably gets it's movie on AFTER the world cup wraps). And then they've got so many more renvenue streams - the toy lines alone. When's the last time Superman had such a robust line of action figures?

Because of that factor, I wouldn't be shocked to see a Bizarro- or Brainiac-based movie next time out. Much easier to have good action figures to play with.

[KyleCowstar]

The franchise is easily going to make money. Maybe not double it's investment, but it'll make money.

[clemsonfn]

Originally Posted by KyleCowstar

The franchise is easily going to make money. Maybe not double it's investment, but it'll make money.

Heck, just the one movie will make money. King Kong made over $300 million in profits at the theatre. Freaking WATERWORLD made an $80+ million profit.

[TheWay]

Maybe I missed it, but has anyone mentioned the fact the X-Men 3 did much better its opening weekend? I would think that there would be a thread on here comparing the two. Comparisons such as money made the first weekend, which movie is better, should Bryan Singer have stayed with the X-men. Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but the dollar numbers seem to lean toward X-Men as the better movie so far. We'll see...

As for me I can't say which movie I liked more. They are a bit different in that one is a team movie while the other is focused on a single hero. I think Singer did better work with the X-men. I had less problems with all the X-men movies to date mainly due to plot holes, story, and casting. I felt that certain scenes were a bit akward or drawn out in Superman Returns, but there were some really great moments as well. I still thought Superman Returns was worth seeing and a good effort by Singer.

[c_andrew_s]

I am really happy for them... and I look forward to the next installment

[jedifish]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Palmiotti

it will make its money back in a heartbeat when it opens worldwide...which it didnt yet,but really, all I care about is that it was a good movie, which there is a shortage of this summer...

Agreed. If it was a bad movie, I'd be concerned with the numbers. But its got good reviews and I thought it was a very entertaining movie (and so did my wife and she's not bias). I think it'll get some pretty good word of mouth and should have a nice run this summer.

[zeraze1]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

I think it will end up doing just as well, if not better, than Batman Begins. WHich has to be a good thing, no?

Well, that was a given. I think many fans and box office analysts were expecting a box office opening equal to Spider-Man 1, which went on to make over $400 M.

So, from that perspective, SR's first five days is disappointing. And with really positive buzz for Pirates 2, the latest Superman film has a tougher time reaching the $400 M mark. Read more here:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...-pirates_x.htm

Also, USA Today notes that SR didn't draw as many female moviegoers, who were a major reason Spider-Man 1 became the top grossing comic book film:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...analysis_x.htm

zeraze

[TheArtofComics]

Originally Posted by erikthered25

Doom merchants aside I'm concerned cuz a movie that reported cost 260 million+ to make the money it's made so far is disappointing. I asked my movie clerk at AMC in florida and he said that it sold out a couple of times, not like X3 or Spiderman which were sold out considerably. Now you have Pirates of the Carribean coming out which was a surprisingly big hit the first time around. I'll be surprised if Superman can hold on to the box office for the next week. Let's see Supes made 3 million on tuesday, 18 mil on Wed, 11 mil on thurs, 16 mil on friday, 18 on sat and 17 on sunday. I'm hoping that it'll be like Batman Begins and have a long shelf life or Warner Bros is going to lose money.
Like someone else mentioned I was surprised when I went to my theater and there were no lines and none of the shows were sold out. X3, I had to buy tickets for my friends so that they all could get in because tickets were selling so fast. Everytime I would call to the theatre shows would be selling out. Not with Superman. It was like it was a B list movie that was out and not an A list movie, folks did not seem interested in seeing it.
I believe that Warner Brothers and Bryan Singer miscaluculated the fanbase. Most people wanted to see a new Superman movie not an combination of Superman 1 & 2. Most people I know who have been seeing it have been saying that the movie was just okay. Nothing special. Nothing to get excited about and its reflecting in the box office returns.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't a large chunk of the 260 million from all the misfires with McG and whatnot? These guys spent millions on set designs and lousy scripts. I think one of the conditions was that Singers movie had to absorb those debts.
As for the movie, I didn't think it was a new classic but it had incredible moments that will get me a DVD copy once it's released. Not to spoil anything but the action sequences were fantastic and I think Routh is this generations Superman.

[zeraze1]

Originally Posted by jedifish

Agreed. If it was a bad movie, I'd be concerned with the numbers. But its got good reviews and I thought it was a very entertaining movie (and so did my wife and she's not bias). I think it'll get some pretty good word of mouth and should have a nice run this summer.

The problem is that good reviews don't always equal strong box office. A poster compared SR to Jackson's King Kong and I think that is a fair analogy.

Kong came in with mostly universal acclaim. (Afro was among the very few newspapers that broke ranks in that regard.) Despite this, Kong didn't dominate the Christmas holiday season because of mixed reviews among moviegoers. So, Narnia went on to be the blockbuster of the season because its word of mouth was much stronger. (Marketing to churches didn't hurt either.)

Similarly, as shown on Newsarama and other comic fan sites, not every moviegoers was blown away by SR. So, while it won't be a flop, it won't be the dominant summer blockbuster either. The money is now on Pirates 2 to earn that spot.

zeraze

[TCJohnson]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Palmiotti

it will make its money back in a heartbeat when it opens worldwide...which it didnt yet,but really, all I care about is that it was a good movie, which there is a shortage of this summer...

I am more concerned about the money because I would like to see sequels.

[WildKard]

Originally Posted by TheArtofComics

If I'm not mistaken, isn't a large chunk of the 260 million from all the misfires with McG and whatnot? These guys spent millions on set designs and lousy scripts. I think one of the conditions was that Singers movie had to absorb those debts.
As for the movie, I didn't think it was a new classic but it had incredible moments that will get me a DVD copy once it's released. Not to spoil anything but the action sequences were fantastic and I think Routh is this generations Superman.

According to Box Office Mojo that 260 million dollar figure includes 40 milion from all the false starts but doesn't include any marketing which had to be in the tens of millions of dollars range.

"If Superman Returns disappointed, it's in relation to cost and hype. When a picture is one of the most expensive of all time, expectations inevitably soar. Superman Returns's budget (excluding prints and advertising) was over $260 million, which reportedly includes $40 million from more than a decade of false starts."

[Kevin T. Brown]

What makes this even more amazing is all the flooding on the east coast is probably keeping many people from going to the theater. With PotC2 opening this weekend, Superman is going to definitely be dropped into the #2 position though.