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SUNDAY AM: While No. 1 The Incredible Hulk and 
No. 3 The Happening had better-than-expected debuts overall, they experienced fall-offs from Friday to Saturday: -15% and -21% respectively. The Green Guy, self-financed by Marvel and distributed by Universal, made $21.7 million Friday and $18.4M Saturday for a $54.5 million weekend (vs $62M for the first Hulk). Though The Incredible Hulk is Marvel’s 2nd best-known character, the reboot is only the 5th biggest pic for a top Marvel character in a non-sequel opening. Exit polling gave The Incredible Hulk a Cinemascore of A- with male making up 60% of the audince and females 40%; 48% under age 25%; 25 yrs and older 52%; an ethnically diverse audience of slightly less than half Caucasian (46%), followed by Hispanic (28%), African American (13%), Asian (7%), and other(6%). But most interesting of all tThe vast majority of the audience (82%) had seen the 2003 movie. M Night Shyamalan’s The Happening from 20th Century Fox started out No. 2 Friday but fell to No. 3 behind DreamWorks Animation / Paramount’s Kung Fu Panda. Yet Shyamalan’s first R-rated horror thriller still managed a substantial $30.5M weekend from 2,986 venues with $13M Friday and $10.2M Saturday. It earned only a Cinemascore of “D”.
For my complete numbers and analysis, see here.
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ckn8, I assume you haven’t seen the movie. They don’t tell the origin story again, instead they pick up exactly where the first left off, with Banner in hiding in South America. Sure, they recast, but with the plot continuing and not repeating anything, that would be a sequel.
Coverage for this weekend has been really odd and schizophrenic. Lots of describing the weekend as “incredible”, although it seems like writers can’t resist using the pun even though it’s not really appropriate.
Normally, a Marvel opening, sequel or not, would have pretty high expectations. But since the first Hulk fared poorly, expectations are low, and it beat low expectations. But there was a big Saturday drop. But…
For a movie that cost $150, and for a sequel and a movie based on a character considerably more well known than Iron Man, I don’t think $54M is all that great. Sure, it could have been much worse considering all the hate for the first Hulk…but beating a low expectation doesn’t make it particularly great.
Everyone expected this one to fail, and people are pleased that the opening was OK instead of terrible…but the real question is why did Marvel make this movie in the first place? Why take on such an uphill battle?
This one seems to have a shot at better legs than the first, with the cinemascore of A minus. But good enough to make enough to cover the $150M production budget with the opening weekend making a third of that? I doubt it. Maybe it will break even, international should help.
And what’s up with Narnia? With the second only making $132 so far with little ahead of it, and costing $200M, is Disney really going to go ahead with the next installment? Or do it but severely cut the budget? It seems like they had some huge potential there but by making a slow, bloated pic when a taught 90 minutes would have filled the bill, it looks like they may have killed a potential golden goose. It still has quite a few countries to open in, but so far the international numbers aren’t spectacular – I guess that may be the deciding factor in Disney’s decision. They may keep make them knowing they won’t break even domestically, but will make some profit overseas.
The Hulk was fine, despite Liv Tyler’s attempts to drag it down.
If you think Big Picture, like Marvel Studios is clearly doing in terms of the brand and franchises, as long as Hulk doesn’t tank (which it won’t) he’s set up for an appearance/membership in The Avengers, of which they still have 3 more film to do before that one: Thor, Cap America and IM2.
So…the Hulk might not carry another film, but he’ll be back no doubt.
When I saw M. Night Shyamalan’s Sixth Sense I thought he was the new Stanley Kubrick, imagine that. Then a good friend of mine showed me Jacob’s Ladder. Fortunately I was not in journalism at the time, just a movie buff.
Later came Unbreakable. Suffice to say it was my last experience with a movie of Mr Shyamalan.
Talking about The Incredible Hulk an anecdote. When my niece was a small kid she saw a poster of the previous version and said to me: “Oh, It’s Shrek”.
whats with going after Caspian, Narnia 2, all of a sudden, when this is a thread about Hulk & Happening??? Cut the crap.
the movie is a great movie and will get sales figures that most movies only dream of.
the fault, which was admitted by Disney was its release date. It should have been released around the holiday season not in the middle of several other new & old blockbuster franchises, all of them competeing for the same market as Narnia. but that doesnt mean it was “bloated” and “slow”. WTrF are people talking about??@!!!!. Screw those comments from people who didnt even see the flick. The movie was great and seemed shorter han most 90 minute movies because of a great plot, with NO FILLER. every scene was key, and very well done.
…all the folks i know who saw it loved it. and yes, it has MAJOR OVERSEAS markets that havent opened yet. Oh and what are those markets btw?? Only the rest of the ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD where these stories are immensely popular were first experienced. I figure when all is said and done we are looking at $400-$500M, maybe even a wee bit higher, but nt much.
..pissed as hell when folks take cheap shots, filled with EXAGGERATIONS & inaccuracies….if nt lies, but i will give the benefit of the doubt that these folks are simply IGNORANT.
be objective folks. I may have not been overly joyed about the new Indy 4 movie but if it breaks the $700-750M mark its in mega-hit turf, and a big congrat Speilberg, Lucas, and Ford. with movies like this that Caspian (as well as every movie) is competing with this summer, Caspian can be very proud for having made $400-500M. This summer will probably have alot more than usual $400-600M movies, but with no one breaking out near $800m-$1B mark. Simply way too much competition between popular flicks. But that doesnt mean any of the movies are shit just because they dont break the $1B mark.
cheers folks and enjoy a great season of fun & adventure.
Comment by lu-ee — June 17, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Welcome back lu-ee. Missed ya! Where have you been? Mars?
Err, let me update you on Caspian. It bombed! Yep! A forgone conclusion the movie is not going to make anywhere close to 800M like the 1st one. Sorry to disappoint you but that’s the fact.
Disney’s excuse of not releasing the movie in Europe cause of the football season is a lame one. You see Ironman, Indi4 and many other movies opening there and scored so many ‘goals’ by collecting millions of dollars. Disney knew that they would be ‘goaless’ thus now scrambling to push for more advertising. Not a wise thing to do cause them in Europe and elsewhere have read about Caspian being a stinker of a movie. (They are not stupid you know, em Europeans and Asians). Maybe Disney will get a big opening weekend overseas but get ready for the drop-off….
Disney planning the 3rd in the series to be release in 2010..haha! That is the biggest joke I have heard. But then again, Disney themselves is a joke nowadays. Riding on the wave of Pixar.
Anyways, back to your beloved Caspian. If they replace the ‘silly-unable to act childrens’ with the cast fron Harry Potter, perhaps then it will be a different story. But you know, I know that is never going to happen so let me bring you fwd to 2010, Another stinker in the theathers in May for ya. Narnia the 3rd.
Ok! Now that you have read my posting, bring it on. All of your Narnia’s silly talking animaniac with British-Scottish accents that pretends to sound intelligent but we all know the truth. They sucks no matter
Now go hug your rats in your cellar
Comment by Thierry Attard — June 17, 2008 @ 10:20 am
‘Talking about The Incredible Hulk an anecdote. When my niece was a small kid she saw a poster of the previous version and said to me: “Oh, It’s Shrek”
That is the funniest thing I have ever heard about Hulk. Well, Marvel could have asked for some help from the folks in Dreamworks for the CGI. At least Shrek was with the real green-color..haha
you asked for attention armpit, and now you have it. enjoy…
name one thing i said that was wrong in my post?
did you even go to see Caspian? why bring it up in a Hulk & Happening thread?
yes armand, i read your hateful post and it is so good to know that you have now shown your true colors as the anti-christian bigoted rat I always knew you were.
why the hate for Caspian? what have i said to harm any precious film you so religiously promote? hmmm my fine feathered & foul bigot?
or do you make all your assumptions if a movie is good or not, based on sale receipts and the word of “professional critics.”
Caspian is far from being over in making $$$. Be careful what you wish for my fine rat & troll.
It seems you are scared Caspian will make more money because it hasnt even opened in those countries it is most popular in. Well get a life and get over it, and stop being a bigot just because you cant get what you want.
It is a kids movie released at the wrong time of the year. anyone with half a brain can see that. but unfortunately you have a 1/16 of a brain, so you are quite ignorant of understanding common sense.
why is it lame to wait past football season in other countries? thats like saying why didnt Ironman, Indy 4, and all the other summer movies open in February? or Sept??? hmm???? all I hear are crickets Armand…??? so what is your answer to why these movies opened in the summer instead of earlier or later in the year? they were ready to or could have planned for a Feb or Sep 08 releases, yet they didnt. well????
I smelled your wonderful anti-Disney bias as well. so you are supposed to be an objective person? dont think so mr. rat. Rats such as yourself have always been jealous of mice for their grace, elegance, and good taste in art.
I dont think I EVER spoke ill of the Potter movies (which I think are great movies as well as books), as they seem to be your favorite film in the kid/young teenager fantasy/adventure film genre.
so whats your beef? why the hate for non-Potter movies, especialy those by Disney? did you get your ass kicked by a mouse in your baby years?
were you jealous that a pro-christian flick like Narnia actually brought in almost $800M? i smell your hate and bad breath even through all the digital traffic & wires, Armand. i think you need more mouth-wash combined with anti-hate medication.
you are a bigot and a disgusting person who doesnt know anything about entertainment at all. all you care about is trying to prevent people from seeing movies you dont like and are prejudiced against. And your reasoning to not go see those movies you hate is based on lies, innuendo, and cynicism. Thats sad and sick.
enjoy being so famous armpit. you’re in such “nice” company.
so now because you want to distract people from the Hulk and the Happening you have to also thro hate and lies at Caspian.
nice life sport, and u can have it. guess your a lonely….well calling you a “person” would be a compliment and I dont want to go there.
cheers chump.
PS Armand, did i leave you with that much of a scar since the last you tried posting your lies & hate, that you wanted to “kiss” me & jumped on my post? awww you darling little boy…..
look on other links mr. troll, and you will see i post quite regularly here.
…or are just trying to cover being a “troll” and waiting for me to comment on Caspian or some other movie you hate?
hmmmm?
After Iron Man was so great, and so realistic. It is hard to watch a huge claymation Hulk and take it seriously. I mean they spent over 200 million dollars and I’ve seen better effects on Sci Fi channel films with barely a million budget. Is it that hard for someone anyone to notice that the Hulk looks like a character from the Rudolph the reindeer x-mas specials from the fifties, A green frosty the snowman who is pissed off.
Pathetic. We will truly miss Stan Winston with the amateurs that replaced him.