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MONDAY PM: Paramount is announcing bigger actual numbers. "More theatres ran midnight shows than we had originally forecast. And a number of Imax locations that aren't in multiplexes and are not in the reporting system did huge grosses," an exec explains. So Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen opened to a 3-day weekend total is $108.9M and 5-day overall is $200M from 4,234 theaters. The breakdown is $32M for Sunday, $40.2M for Saturday, $36.7M Friday, $29M Thursday, and a record smashing $62M Wednesday. Included are 169 IMAX screens which contributed a giant $14.5M to the 5 day total. Internationally, the robot sequel made $166.1M with a cume of $190.3M including the early debuts in Japan and the UK. So that makes for $390.4M worldwide, a nice haul for the 100%-owned Viacom title. (There have been some erroneous reports that Steven Spielberg has a piece of the new pic, but I'm told he has no personal financial interest in it. He received an executive producer credit and commensurate fee, but the movie falls under the original acquisition deal when Paramount acquired DreamWorks SKG.) What's amazing is that Transformers 2 even came as close as it did -- No. 2 -- to challenging the biggest ever 5-day opening record of $203.8M set by Warner Bros' 2008 The Dark Knight since Christopher Nolan's film received great reviews, and the critics hated Michael Bay's popcorn pic. But TF2 proved the definition of a summer movie: loud, mindless, and therefore controversial as a blockbuster. Still, Warner Bros closely watched the DK vs TF2 contest: of all the studios, WB gave the Paramount pic the lowest 5-day numbers.
In terms of records, Transformers 2's Wednesday midnights broke the previous post-midnight Wednesday record set by 2007's Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix: $16M vs $12M. It also smashed the Wednesday opening record set by that Harry Potter 5: $62M vs $44.2M. (DK opened on a Friday.) And TF2 shattered the biggest Wednesday 5-day opener of all time set by 2004's Spider-Man 2: $200M vs $152.4M. And it came in 2nd to Dark Knight for biggest opening day ever: $62M vs $67.1M, and for biggest ever 5-day opening: $200M vs $203.8M.
SATURDAY PM: Sources tell me Paramount's Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen is looking like it took in $39.5 Saturday and $36.7M Friday from 4,234 theaters. The studio is now estimating its 3-day weekend cume is bigger than expected: $115M vs $90M previously anticipated despite lousy reviews. But execs say the robot sequel will "only" get to $200M for the 5-day opening total. Which means the rock'em, sock'em pic isn't expected to gun down the 5-day opening record of $203.8M set by last summer's The Dark Knight.
THURSDAY 10:30 PM: Sources tell me that Paramount's Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen logged a $28.6M Thursday. That's $3M more than the studio expected. The pic has now made $89.3M in two days from 4,234 North American theaters, including 169 Imax locations which earned $2.3M Thursday and $1M Wednesday. Now the robot sequel is on its way to a $185+M five-day total. To beat the record, it would have to equal The Dark Knight's $203.8M. (Impossible?) But Transformers 2 is certain to post the 2nd best ever 5-day domestic total. Internationally, the pic has made just over $80M through Thursday after opening day and date in almost every territory.
THURSDAY AM UPDATE: It's now officially a rock-'em, sock-'em summer! Paramount's Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen shattered the Wednesday opening record set by Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (#5) in 2007: $60.6M vs $44.2M. Even better for the studio, Transformers 2 came in 2nd only to 2008 box office phenomenon The Dark Knight for biggest opening day ever: $60.6M vs $67.1M. So now 2007 Spider-Man 3's $59.8M single day take drops down to #3. The robot sequel grosses from 4,234 North American theaters are $16M more than Paramount expected. That puts the sci-fi actioner on track for a $175M five-day opening despite overwhelmingly lousy reviews. But Paramount boasted how exit polling showed that 91% of the audience said "they liked this movie as much or better than the first". So this Decepticons vs Autobots battle is reviewer-proof.
WEDNESDAY AM: Let's be clear: Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen did not break the overall post-midnight preview record of $18.4 million (from 3,040 theaters) set by The Dark Knight on a Friday last summer, but is now 3rd of all time behind Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith's $16.9M (in 2,915 plays in 2005). But the Paramount sequel playing 12:01 AM shows in 3,000+ venues sure came closer than anyone thought possible. Rival studios had expected only between $10M-$12M in midnight shows. So the $16M for Transformers 2 smashed that and more. It broke the previous post-midnight Wednesday record of $12M set by the most recent Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix in 2007. Naturally, Paramount has a sure-shot to shatter that pic's $44M Wednesday record opening as well as the biggest Wednesday 5-day opener of all time Spider-Man 2's grosses of $152.4M in 2004. The studio's estimated 5-day breakdown for Transformers 2 as it expands into a huge release of 4,226 runs now stands at $45M for Wednesday, $25M for Thursday, and $90M for Friday-Sunday. That's in line with Paramount's estimate of $160M which I reported a month ago. But rival studios are pegging the 5-day estimated total at $165M-$175M. "Reviews have been venomous, and I get that it's review proof. But it won't be the zeitgeist movie that last summer's Dark Knight was," one competitor told me. "It's a big-ass opening movie that will fall precipitously." (*These numbers aren't adjusted for inflation or ticket prices.)
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‘Coming closer than people thought’ is not ‘record smashing.’
TRANSFORMERS RISE OF THE FALLEN WAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT FROM A SUMMER ACTION FLICK IT HAD NON STOP ACTION AND AMAZING SPECIAL EFFECTS! CRITICS ARE JUST WORRIED THAT THIS COULD BE THE FILM THAT COULD COME CLOSE TO THE DARK OVERATED KNIGHT SO THEY HAVE TO GIVE IT TERRIBLE REVIEWS! $400M DOMESTIC IS IN THE BAG FOR THIS SEQUEL!!!!
just looking for a quiet spot to say CONGRATS!!
Critics are so out of touch. This is a big fun movie. Heaven forbid people have a good time in a movie theater. I’m going again on Friday.
I like my robots racist, so I’ll check this out tomorrow.
The Dark Knight was not overrated it was underrated. Had it won the Best Picture Oscar it would have been overrated. And since it wasn’t even nominated, it makes it underrated. The Dark Knight combines the action extravaganza you expect from a summer movie with the dramatically powerful performances and interpretations of the characters. It gives you a compelling story. And it’s really one of the best pieces of American cinema this decade. And the reason the reviews are terrible is because it is terrible. The story is weak, the characters are stupid and the interactions between the humans is nothing. Now, is Transformers 2 good from the summer action movie standpoint? Yes. But is it a piece of art that will transcend time and be like Casablanca? No, it won’t. And that’s what gets critics mad. It’s that films don’t try to be anything anymore except big money makers.
Didn’t like the twin Jar Jar bots, but otherwise it was a fun movie. Though it felt like Bay had an invisible middle finger in the frame for the last 45 mins.
Not coming CLOSE to TDK !! LMFAO!!
Transformers will be the # 1 film for this year. It is an awesome crowd pleaser. Stop quoting Jeff Blake!
Can’t wait to see it
Is this the botanical garden or sth?
It’s not only “the critics” who diss T2, word of mouth is going south with the speed of light as well. IOW: The more people have seen it, the worse WOM gets.
I was bored out of my skull while I watched T2 today. Had trouble staying awake. Not kidding. Extremely unsatisfying experience. I’d cut at least 40 minutes.
Transformers 2 didn’t feel like a movie. Rather like a collage of different parts, some of them very weak, that didn’t work together all that well. If only the filmmakers had cared as much about the human characters and actors as they did about the explosions and fights….
What did Nikki write recently? Something like “Shia should be/will be in every movie?” Try again. When college hottie hit on him, all I could thinks was: she hits on this guy? Why on earth would she, I don’t get it.
I liked Shia so much better in Indiana Jones and Disturbia.
Michael Bay needs a directing partner who directs the humans. Seriously. What he did here is embarrassing.
“Transformers 2″ is a surprising in-depth look into the mind of Michel Bay. Not surprisingly it’s a very scary place.
Hey douchebag… err… “todd” – don’t tell me what I want from a summer action flick. Your simple reptilian mind might not be able to process more than “non stop action and amazing special effects”, but other moviegoers—people who might have a more refined taste and hold their films to a higher standard—want STORY and CHARACTER and EMOTION and editing that won’t elicit an epileptic seizure and dialogue that wasn’t written through a speak-n-spell and female characters that are more than just window-dressing (note to Bay: hot chicks are even hotter if you give them a personality and a character arc) and how about a moment of quiet… one quiet scene PLEASE. It’s called tension. You can’t build said tension if everything is always turned up to 11. The reason I know that more can/should be expected of a summer movie is because of two very recent examples of combining popcorn thrills with interesting/complex characters (that we want to watch more than the FX) and compelling stories: TDK (obviously) and Iron Man. ’nuff said.
Ugh. Why am I wasting my time on Todd… have fun. Go see the movie 10 times. That’s what we need – Michael Bay encouraged to make more of the same.
Anyone want to see The Hurt Locker with me this weekend?
great movie imo and the dark knight is so overrated the critics are idiots this movie so fun love ever min of it
Weirdly, someone identifying himself as Bob Orci posted the following on Harry Knowles’ Ain’t It Cool News:
http://www.aintitcool.com/talkback_display/41512#comment_2738378
“thanks for trying to give me and Alex a pass, but the sequence of events isn’t exactly right. Two weeks before the strike, Alex and Ehren and I generated a 20 page story outline together, and then Michael used it during the strike to prep the action and to develop some of the things he wanted into more of a 60 page scriptment. The twins were born then. I wouldn’t blame Ehren for anything that you wouldn’t blame us for, but thanks anyway.”
In other words, pointing the finger of blame straight at Bay for the racist stereotypes (among other things) in Transformers. Of course, it’s not possible to verify this poster’s identity, and the level of decorum displayed seems inappropriate for someone in Orci’s position.
Captain Kirk says “Bring It, we’re the fanboy film of the summer yo.”
@”I Saw It”
Its not just “The Critics” (who, in this multi-media, blog-driven world are all but irrelevant to a movie’s performance), its the word of mouth (which, in this multi-media, blog-driven world is vital to a movie’s performance). Given just how awful people are saying this movie is, there’s no way it sees the upper-end rival predictions. When even the perennially juvenile Harry “I’ve never met a film I didn’t like as long as I got an all expenses-paid set visit” Knowles hates it, its got to be bad.
My God this thing they call a movie was truly a painful experience to go through. Terrible beyond belief. It defines a new low in blockbuster filmmaking, or if you could even call it that. If someone knows the Email address to the producers involved please post because they really need to know their product is the very definition of garbage.
You guys are crazy I’m a general manager for a local small town theatre in south Florida and I have yet to hear anyone say anything bad about this movie. We have sold out shows all day long and nobody is complaining the only people I hear trash the movie are the people all over the internet and the critics. This is a 400 million+ movie.
TDK overrated? 1 biiiiiilllllliiiiiooooonnnnnn dollars Haters, you’re in the minority!
Just left the theater. I thought it was a fine summer flick. Enjoyed it very much.
Lighten up.
(LOL) It’s so obvious that the only people criticizing this movie are people desperate for it to do bad for whatever personal gripe they have with either the studio, the director, or some other association with the film. The real truth is it is funny, thrilling, exciting, and edge of your seat entertainment at in its most exhilerating form. I know it’s hard to hear and there’s a need to just write as snarky and as nasty of a comment as you can think of in hopes of feeling better about yourselves. But, the reality is it’s a wonderfully entertaining movie. And true word of mouth is spoken by the people exiting the theaters and talking to the neighbors, friends, and co-workers, not internet rants. Please, I saw happy, smiley people exiting the theater this morning and every single comment within earshot was positive. How about that? Bash away if you must. That’s not fooling anyone (LOL). It’s a great film with huge box office appeal. And it’s going to generate alot of positive buzz from ordinary people who saw it and will rave about it to their family and friends today and throughout the week.
A.M. did you watch the movie? oh yeah you did. the hot lady is a robot and they are tracking Shia that’s why she’s after Shia. Watch the movie again so you could understand.
“Try again. When college hottie hit on him, all I could thinks was: she hits on this guy? Why on earth would she, I don’t get it.”
A film where lots of stuff blows up and every single woman is objectified as a package of sex waiting to be unwrapped? $400 mil easily.
The first Transformers let you check your brain at the concession counter and enjoy a mindless, yet somewhat entertaining, film. This one just straight up eats the brain right out of your head while your eyes feast on Megan Fox’s boobs and ass in between explosions. It’s disgusting that parents are taking their kids to see this bile.
That is a lot of suck for your buck!
It was better than the first one at least.
I loved it. The fight in the forest was so awesome. Cant wait to see it again
@ PM – sure, but that “reveal” came on the heels of me thinking how I cannot buy it, which is not a good thing.
@ Schwartzy — exactly! Well put (not the douchebag part, but the rest… especially re: Iron Man)
@ Marc – why would I be desperate for this movie to do badly? I went to the theater hoping to have at least as good a time as I had with Transformers 1. And as for “internet rants” – there was a lot of internet hype for this flick and people were looking forward to it. They bought tickets and many hated it and say so. When Star Trek came out, many people loved it and said so. As I left the theater, two out of three comments re: T2 fell into “not impressed/disappointed” category.
I wouldn’t worry about T2 losing money. It opened super-wide and with pretty much a global release date. It ought to have made its money back within week 1. That’s the only strategy to use when your movie sucks anyway. By the time word gets around, the money’s in the bank. And still, enough people will go to see for themselves. Should be interesting to watch how T2 does USA : worldwide b.o.
That’s when imdb & Co. start showing more realistic numbers in the score – when the numerous plants are finally outnumbered. The people who regret having paid to see this overhyped lame excuse for a “blockbuster” aren’t the ones with an agenda, methinks.
I saw the movie today. I’m not surprised that it’s doing the business it’s doing. But, it is a bad film. There are good moments but i don’t think it’s as good as the first. Megan Fox is a bad actress and it really comes out in this performance, (yeah i get it she’s not there to act, but still). Shia acts ok. The story is just not fluid and feels pieced together.
SPOILER ALERT
To the poster who wrote that Michael Bay was giving a middle finger 45 minutes to the end of the movie got it right. For instance, there is the scene where the John Turturro character says to the SR-71 Blackbird robot something like “yeah get to the plot, concise the plot points” or something like that. They just threw the story together. Just because you can afford CGI and special effects doesn’t mean you have to ignore human emotion and character development. At least there is some humour in there or this would have been intolerable. I’m not an art house snob or anything i like action pics. This was a bad movie. T1 was better IMO!
Wow. Record-breaking opening. And Michael Bay was complaining that the marketing department wasn’t doing their job.
“Despite overwhelmingly lousy reviews” – makes you wonder if and when film critics will be able to tell the difference between art and entertainment. My guess is that they’ll finally have this ‘a-ha’ moment right around the time hell freezes over.
Anyone who likes that junk didn’t just leave their brain at the door, they had no brain going in.
Five of us were planning to go see this movie at the Arclight but have since cancelled our plans based on all the negative reviews. Now, none of us are going.
A friend of mine who saw the first Transformers film SIX TIMES in the theater told us he saw Revenge of the Fallen and it was so terrible that he NEVER wants to see it again.
Hollywood: we are STILL in a recession. People listen to word-of-mouth reviews even for their “popcorn flicks.”
If the “racist” Car-Bots weren’t intentionally racist, at best the humor sounds crude and awfully corny. At worst, they do seem to be racist. I can’t actually judge because I won’t be seeing the film.
What has happened to Spielberg? He used to be my hero. Who ever would have thought racially stereotyped Transformers would be a good idea? That’s the worst idea since someone thought people were longing to see Indiana Jones get married.
The Dark Knight was a success because Nolan and Company understood what audiences want: a “popcorn” movie made with genuine passion that tried to elevate audience expectations instead of insulting them. Those of you making movies now would do well to consider that.
If your excuse for making a bad film is to resort to the “it’s-just-a-popcorn-movie-based-on-a-cartoon-for-kids” defense then it’s obvious you had no passion for your film and were the wrong choice to be involved. My money is hard-earned right now, as is most people’s. I am willing to spend it to have a theatrical experience but I won’t just give it away to someone who takes my ticket for granted.
I also forgot to mention that JJ Abrams “Star Trek” was a very good “popcorn” flick. Watching the story unfold, you knew the director and his producers had passion for the film they were making. That’s a ticket price worth paying.
It doesn’t matter what the critics say, this is a cultural thing, a must see movie. Plus generation X, me included, remember Transformers. The American audience will see what they want to see.
Yep, Transformers is a surefire hit. Critics speak to a small minority of filmgoers. Moviegoers don’t need Howards End or No Country For Old Men everytime, if ever. Watch “Sullivan’s Travels”…Preston Sturges gets it. People want escape. And if the plot aint all there or the characters are thin…so what…it is ESCAPE! I love art flicks…I love popcorn flicks. I know what I am getting when I watch a Bay flick. And for 2′45″, I am entertained. I understand that the arty moments are few and far between but I will be transported to a world where point A is bad robots want to destroy our planet and point B is where good robots will fight to protect us. There isn’t much in the middle. So what…for intellectual stimulation, I will read a book…or re-watch Betty Blue…Napoleon by Abel Gance…Jules et Jim…The Magnificent Ambersons…I am lucky I suppose…I can enjoy a wide variety of flicks and not have my nose stuck up in the air. Sorry, but the magic of movies brings a lot to life from Cocteau’s hand held wall sconces in Beauty and the Beast to yes, Optimus Prime’s glowing eyes. I can appreciate all the people coming out of either theater…smiling and laughing since they left their cares behind for over two hours. Heh, and those that didn’t enjoy themselves…they can lose themselves in “The Hurt Locker” or maybe Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go” which I hear is are pretty decent.
Transformers 2 will definitely be the biggest movie of the year
FUCK all HATERS of this film..
Why don’t you all watch some porn then fuck til you drop your daughters…fuckin haters…bet you can’t even direct a 10mins clip in your backyard..lol (Michael Bay – Kick-ass Director, you did awesome for the movie, nuff said)
This is for all the haters -> FUCK YOU!!!!
Tom,
Critics can tell the difference between art and entertainment: Star Trek and Up are two examples of that. Both are meant to be big-ticket entertainment and both were loved as much as by critics as they were by average folks.
Plain and simple, a bad film is a bad film, be it a $200 million cinematic rape (like Transformers 2) or a $98 Hungarian art film about goat herders. I enjoyed the first Transformers as fun garbage, but this movie is just plain garbage. As for Car Car Binks (I got that from a review, not mine unfortunately), all that missing was black exhaust blown on their faces so they could do a minstrel show during the end credits.
I think this opening will be known in history as the day the screenplay died.
I saw the movie today. I’m not surprised that it’s doing the business it’s doing. But, it is a bad film. There are good moments but i don’t think it’s as good as the first. Megan Fox is a bad actress and it really comes out in this performance, (yeah i get it she’s not there to act, but still). Shia acts ok. The story is just not fluid and feels pieced together.
It is not UP or Slumdog Millionare so lets not compare Transformers movies with the likes shall we
Its a summer movie so it delivers just what fans wanted.
Having said that, I reckon it will collect approx 170M this week alone and end with 350M.
But wait till Harry Potter comes around..you guys are in for a surprise…
Does this mean it will now be one of the ten films nominated for Best Picture?
I saw TF2 yesterday and had a blast. It always makes me chuckle when people ripped the 1st movie for having no plot and it seems people are just cutting and pasting what they said two years ago. It also seems people want be critical of the movie to prove Michael Bay is a d-bag. Who cares if he is or isn’t. Memo to those people: IT’S A MOVIE BASED ON A CARTOON THAT WAS CREATED TO SELL TOYS! If this movie had a serious plot or character development then it would be a failure. It’s about giant robots wrecking stop. It was 100% brain rotting eye candy and it was a freaking blast! (Both of them).
You can’t rightly compare TDK or Ironman stories to TF because the source is different. There are a couple decades worth of character driven story on these two heroes. If you ignore that source and try and make a Transformers style movie out them, then you fail. (See Arnold as Mr Freeze or the 1st Hulk)
All three of these franchises are good because they are true to where they born. Transformers has never been about more than Good robots Vs Evil Robots breaking stuff.
Nikki why are you sounding celebratory for this flick?
If Jeff Zucker is deserving of your endless, daily scorn then Michael Bay oughta be the anti-Christ in your view.
Bay and his movies –and the studio-plants who try troll the internet trying to make it sound like anyone actually wants to see this crap– are like the TinMan, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion of filmmaking: his movies have no heart, no brains and no balls.
And tell me Nikki, if Zucker –or one of your other sanctioned targets– had made a movie with blatantly racist characters in it, trying to peddle them as harmless “fun” would you be totally ignoring it, as you’ve done for Bay, or would you be condemning it?
Coming summer 2012:
Transformers 3: The Rise of Stepin Fetchit
Featuring all the CGI robot fired chicken and watermelon Michael Bay can afford.
I like the quote from the competitor — it’s only review-proof the first weekend. After that, even on popcorn movies, the movie’s staying power is DIRECTLY related to the reviews. The negative reaction to this one will also hurt Transformers 3. Mass audiences have a bigger shit detector than they’re given credit for.
Ben-
You’re an idiot. Reviewers are retarded and those who change plans because a reviewer pans a film are equally retarded. Bay made a film for the masses. NOT for the simple, pompous, pseudo-intellectual schmucks like you. He’ll laugh your pathetic ass all the way to the bank.
Love or hate this film is not the point. The point is that this what people want. So give them what they want. They didn’t want Terminator. And the numbers proved it. The numbers will prove other things this year as well. They’ll prove that NOW is the time for reviewers to be cut loose one by one. It’s over for them because with the exception of retards like you, no ONE is listening.
“Anyone who likes that junk didn’t just leave their brain at the door, they had no brain going in.”
Well said snicker. Well said.
Why not let people enjoy it if they want to? This seems like the definition of a dumb popcorn summer flick. Personally I found Batman’s growling, spitting read of every line not just annoying but unintentionally funny. I don’t hate people for liking it though.
And thanks above for spoiling the reveal or as you condescendingly call it, the ‘reveal’. How about letting people decide for themselves what’s worth finding out on their own? Very douchebaggy of you to decide nobody else needs even a small surprise when they see the movie.
Ben Ben Ben- you can rant all you want, but you WILL see the film. The film is amazing. Brilliant. Real people (not internet wankers) love the film. I hope you feel better soon.
Transformer 2 will break all kinds of summer movie number for a few reason. It’s a good movie with a hot girl in it and the racial side line story
Way to go Michael! Long live the brindled mullet!
Seriously, I heard this rube interviewed several years ago by Leo Quinones on the now-deceased 97.1 FM Talk station in Los Angeles, and he came across as personable as a cold fish, maybe a mullet. Maybe he’s got some form of Asperger’s Syndrome and can’t read emotions, but he’s one hell of a skilled noise maker.
Saw it last night and I think your moviegoing experience can be summed up as follows: if you are the type of viewer who simply wants to be immersed in special effects for 2 1/2 hours and watch pretty people you will enjoy this movie.
If you are the type of viewer who would like a coherent story and plot to accompany the visual experience along with character development to help you feel emotionally invested in what you are watching, you will likely not enjoy this movie. (I did not. At all.)
Also let me say this: I have not directed a single movie. Michael Bay has. His movies have grossed a crapload of money. I have never done that (nor attempted to). Having said that, this movie EASILY could have been trimmed by a good 40 minutes without losing anything narratively and the film would probably have been better for it. Dozens of scenes served no narrative purpose whatsoever and detracted from the overall moviegoing experience. Sadly, the movie will make a killing, Bay will think that the box office is a reflection of his brilliance and no one will have the clout to ask him to trim his next movie’s running time.
Personally, I thought the best part of my experience was the teaser trailer for next summer’s “The Last Airbender.”
Let’s see: The Dark Knight was a great story with great characters played by terrific actors. Let’s summarize:
Batman – Bale
Rachael – Holmes/Gyllenhall
Joker – Ledger
Alfred – Caine
Fox – Freeman
Gordon – Oldman
Dent – Eckhart
Now let’s look at Transformers 2:
What are the name of the characters played by LeBouef and Fox? I can’t recall, and I saw the movie last night! And what was the story about? I can’t recall, and I saw it last night! All I know is I saw a lot of fighting between robots over something or other and a lot of explosions, and some 1930’s-style racial slapstick.
There is no comparison between TDK and TF2. Of course, there are dopes who think TF2 was as good as TDK, which is why Michael Bay keeps getting work. Remember the reaction of the guys in Entoruage when they heard that Michael Bay would be doing Aquaman 2? That’s about how I feel when I hear he is involved in a movie.
I’m looking forward to watching Bay blow stuff the phuck up!!!! My son and I are planning on going to see this flick.
With all the problems – jobs, illness, oh and the world too – I need a BIG distraction. I think Transformers may be just enough.
Female 40-54 demographic and I wanna forget my troubles for a few hours…
It may have a great weekend, but does it really have any legs? Everyone I’ve talked says its terrible, and wouldn’t recommend it… so how is that gonna drive non-teenager dudes to the multi-plex. The reason Dark Knight made so much money was it had amazing action AND an incredible story. Meaning LEGS. MEANING EVERYONE wants to see it. I’d love to see Harry Potter 6 KICK Transformers BUTT Money Wise…
I can’t believe someone just compared “Transformers” to “Sullivan’s Travels”. WOW. “Sullivan’s Travels” was made back when people CARED about quality of the films they were ingesting. Back then they got the amazing thing that a film can be both a spectacle AND tell a good story.
Look, I haven’t seen the film so take what you want from this admission.
But still I’m going to interject – the populist-style arguments I’m seeing on this thread are terrible arguments.
‘Real people like Transformers’ -> ‘it’s fine’. The majority of the country also voted for a second Bush Cheney term, effectively endorsing extraordinary rendition, torture, civilian bombing, dispossession of American and Iraqi national wealth, the en masse hiring of mercenaries, etc….but since we have this idea that common people were into it I guess that means this sort of thing is permissible.
This is an awful argument, and I’m venturing most people who are making are really just excited about some clean-burning infotainment IP mopping up huge weekend grosses – this is exciting in its own pointless way, and I think this is what folks are responding to, not some populist impulse (e.g. yea the people / boo the elite reviewers)
….and this would be more or less fine with me (although I’m not sure why anyone should be excited about some ridiculous film making Paramount suits, Michael Bay, and maybe later on some investors boatloads of offensive money), if I didn’t think that the film was incredibly violent, war-mongering, sexist, jingoistic (this much is clear from the advertising materials) and evidently somewhat racist, too. This isn’t just fluff, nothing ever is, especially if it’s basically 2.5 hrs of violence and especially if millions and millions of people are waiting in line and handing over there money to soak in it.
“If your excuse for making a bad film is to resort to the “it’s-just-a-popcorn-movie-based-on-a-cartoon-for-kids” defense then it’s obvious you had no passion for your film and were the wrong choice to be involved. My money is hard-earned right now, as is most people’s. I am willing to spend it to have a theatrical experience but I won’t just give it away to someone who takes my ticket for granted.”
_Thank_ you, Ben. It’s really heartening to know that there are moviegoers who won’t fall for the usual “it’s just a summer movie” slippery-slope crap. And, trust me, given the stuff writers have to put up with to get good stuff on-screen, it’s nice to know it’s worth continuing to fight the good fight.
One of the worst theater going experiences ever. Audiences will be thrilled by explosions; parents thinking this is based on a toy, bringing younger boys will be horrified by the R-rated dialog, gruesome scenery and racist attitudes. This is NOT the toy Hasbro is marketing to 8-14 year olds.
And what the hell is up with robots humping Megan Fox.. she’s hot, but she’s the wrong species.. how goofball is that. And while she is super attractive, the movie would have been significantly improved if she hadn’t tried to act but just stood there as a prop. It might have had more depth, too.
I’m sure it will make a ton of money, but I can’t imagine this thing getting any sort of positive word of mouth.
What is all this uproar about race again?
Are you all kidding?
I am a 40+ black woman who saw the film last night with kids and while it’s not my first choice of cinema favorites, I can’t imagine what all the fuss is about the “twin” robots. Do we really want to go into what passes for black folks in movies, acted by REAL HUMAN BEINGS? REALLY?
Some folks have very selective, short memories, I tell you!
The movie is fine for kids and those who like giant robots. The kids I was with LOVED IT, and to me, that’s all that mattered. I could care less, but it certainly has not been the worst movie I have been dragged to this year (that honor goes to “The Watchmen” and “Wolverine”).
I have witnessed plenty of good race baiting in my life, but that these “twin” car/robots seem to be a talking point for anyone is beyond me. Black as I am EVERYDAY, I cannot see what has anyone in such an uproar. Those “robots” speak as I hear any number of young men, black and white, speak daily as I am going to and from work.
Let’s not get it twisted-correct one, correct them all, people….or perhaps some folks just don’t have enough to do, sitting around just looking for something to bitch about???
Peace.
Has anybody else noticed how the posters on this thread who like “Transformers 2″ have lower spelling and punctuation skills, less coherence and tolerance, and worse Internet manners than the people who don’t like the movie? Shaw called it “a great gulf fix’d” and today it seems wider than ever.
Saw a midnight show w/ my 14 year old nephew in American Fork, UT. Here’s a town that falls asleep at 8:00 pm every night of the year without fail. Seriously, even the 24 hour I-Hop shuts down at ten. Even on Friday. So was I amazed when we were just barely able to get tickets for the last of four screenings on a Wed. morning at 12:00 am. This was an EVENT! And, as indicated by the numbers, was probably playing out like this in small communities all over America. The teens were taking it to the streets.
The verdict: well my ears and eyes are still bleeding, and while my knees didn’t knock afterwards (as they inevitably do after watching great films), my teeth definitely did. But lemme tell you, it was one hell of ride. Plot? Who cares? Characters? Ditto. Couldn’t hear the dialogue through all the metal racket (robots and soundtrack alike)? Not important. This was film making as rollercoaster ride, attention spans not required. My nephew said it was the best movie he’s ever seen — and this is no reflection of his IQ but, dare I say, his adolescent yearning for more Megan Fox in a tank top and his gamer/texting/Twitter-induced consciousness. And while I can’t extol the moral or aesthetic virtues of this film, I can applaud Michael Bey for having his fingers precisely on this pulse.
To Jeff Drake and FactsStraight:
I guarantee you I will not see this movie in the theater. Neither will my five friends.
I am laid-off and living on unemployment so I am forced by circumstance to listen to reviews and word-of-mouth. Most of my 5 friends are in a similar circumstance. Ask yourself how many people you know who are jobless and/or struggling right now?
I don’t mind spending some of my limited income on a cool movie — I’m a movie fanatic who will find a way to go see something good. But I won’t shell out money for something that reeks of Spider-Man 3. Sorry. Just won’t sacrifice food money on something stupid. I don’t understand how that makes me an idiot. “The Hangover” and “Star Trek” had good word-of-mouth and I saw both and was very pleased.
It seems to me that you guys are the ones who are the pompous assholes — telling someone on a limited income they should go anyway to see a movie almost every geek/critic on the Internet hates because it has a story that’s supposed to be stupid and the filmmakers intended it to be that way and you’re “pompous” if you ignore what EVERYONE who isn’t a Paramount flack says. Fuck you guys. I’ll just re-watch the first movie at home for free.
RE: Male30-35
Sometimes I am the type of viewer who would like a coherent story and plot to accompany the visual experience along with character development to help you feel emotionally invested in what you are watching. I love RFAD, NCFOM, TWBB, etc. But… sometimes I also am the type of viewer who simply wants to be immersed in special effects for 2 1/2 hours and watch pretty people. I knew this movie was going to be for the latter. I enjoyed it. A lot.
Robot anything will do mad money in Japan.
Just saw ans it was just as good as the first. The story was a little convoluted and I agree you could trim off a bit of the film. But I agree with those that are saying this is a fun SUMMER MOVIE. People want fun. We don’t want to go to a movie and get depressed which is what most of the snobs on this site like. Name your favorite films and I bet most would make you even more depressed once its over. I want to escape the depressing day to day life, news, economy or whatever. I don’t care about Woody Allen’s latest depression motif that he perpetually puts out as a form of self therapy. I don’t want to watch a movie about someone’s miserable life and eventual death.
I’m on unemployment and what do you know, I went and seen it with my fiancee last night. Great movie, even bought the Regal’s #1 combo. Damn that unemployment. Hey Ben, you’re an idiot. Go see the movie and stop being a tight ass.
@jnw: Heh, was not comparing “Sullivan’s Travels” to Transformers at all. Was stating that the premise of “Sullivan’s Travels” is applicable to the Transformer attendance. That premise being that in times of deep trouble, people want to laugh…be entertained…escape. The movie may not be good in many’s eyes but it is viewed as an escape. It is a summer event pic that will draw the masses in.
That was the point of what I wrote.
Let’s be clear: Fridays and Wednesdays opening days at 2 very different things altogether.
sounds like you and your friends should concentrate more on getting a job than what the reviews are for transformers 2. I’m just saying.
Would I nominate it for an Oscar? Nope. But it was a thrill ride and nothing more. Bay will work a lot more than all of you posting here unless you happen to be Cameron or Speilberg.
Plenty of decently smart people went to see this movie. I reached behind my Mensa card to grab my Visa to pay for the ticket.
Also… get over the whole twin robot thing. I’m black. They were robots for crying out loud. Worry about the economy.
After attending the “Public Enemies” press screening this evening, Transformers won’t have any competition from it – although it’s not as if any would have been seriously expected.
Public Enemies is an odd movie. Everything is well done. Solid acting for the most part. Technical execution is top notch.
It’s impact is just oddly disconnected. It’s a case of the whole being less than the sum of its parts.
The most telling thing about the Dark Knight comparison is that Transformers still did record business. It’s highly likely that it would’ve surpassed $67 million if it had opened on a Friday as well, and not a (historically lower) Wednesday.
So despite all the hoopla we saw for Dark Knight’s opening weekend, less than a year later, a (polar opposite) movie manages the same heights.
It just underscores how meaningless box office records have become during this decade. Whereas such numbers used to go unbroken for years- or even decades- now they seem to fall every summer.
@Schwartzy, I’ll got see The Hurt Locker with you.
That movie is leaps and bounds better that Transformers2 for sure!
I notice that pre-buyout, you had interesting, original news, but post buyout, it’s press releases, rah rah for Paramount and nothing original. I hope this isn’t what is to come.
The movie was great for the most part saw it at Regal Cinema theatre here in Florida Wednesday 7pm showing, and I have to say my jaw hit the floor where it came to the twins it was like a WHAT THE HELL type moment, my childhood rememberances were of the G1 twins Sunstreaker and Sideswipe though Sideswipe was in it but not the twin terrors that they were known as, so could have done without them.
On to the good now, all that matters is that my 13yr daughter and 2 best friends loved it, both over 12yrs old. The movie for itself I thought had a good follow up for how the Decepticons came to be and how Megatron was corrupted. Little weepy halfway thru, still undecided about Megan.I think I will be buying this when it comes out on dvd.
What do you expect?! With the budget of a summer blockbuster like this I’d hope to hell it pulls 150+ in the first week.
All according to plan for Spielberg and my boy Michael Bay.
Like other said only critics and too many multiple accounts popping up on the internet are bashing and ranting and whining and writing negatives against Transformers2. And.. 90% of them always repeats “I liked/loved the first one but this one disappoints/sucks”. And they are all then writing the same exact things. How is that possible? Different people from different part of the world all writing the same negative things and whining the same way like they were a programmed horde of clones? Well, it’s pretty easy to understand, the competition wants to influence people will and decision to bring down the Transformers franchise and promote their own products. Two studios have supposed to be blockbuster movies that are going to be released in a few days and they are so worried of Transformers2 stealing the show now… And so what did they do? They got the critics as their puppets, that is easy.. critics are like bankers, there is nothing professional about them and if you check back in 2007 these same critics were bashing and whining and telling lies against the first Transformers movie as well.
And then they have a call-center style series of employees paid to create multiple accounts on forums, write negative comments there, insulting people and so on “to act like normal guys” they think at least.. to fool everyone better they hope and to prevent people from watching Transformers2 by spreading lies. That is the bad word of mouth the competition is talking about! They are generating as much negative noise as possible, more than what they were doing back in 2007, in a hope to destroy the Transformers franchise and stop the movie success. The marketing dept guys working for competitors studios are using this scam like tactic to fool us, you the audience and potential viewers with negative thoughts and put you in the mood to dislike the movie as they are ordering you to.
This always so amusing yet it’s done every year. Why aren’t number of tickets sold counted instead of these grosses that aren’t adjusted for inflation? If you look hard enough you can find tickets at IMAX venues in the $15-$25 range. $25!!!!!
Never mind you don’t have to answer the question.
Wow. I expected this film to do well, but not this well. Jeez. The trailer looks like a combination of Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and of course the first Transformers. Again, I think Michael Bay’s perfect for the film.
I have talked to almost no one who’s said it was any good. Even people who “LOVED” the first one said they wanted their money back. Sure it’s making a killing its first couple days, but it’ll be interesting to see when it starts slipping. And oh yeah, who’s gonna buy it on DVD? The studios are a bunch of “First-Weekend” Junkies. With movies like this, it’s merely a fix. Think of the amount of money they could have made if it were actually a GOOD movie. Perhaps it actually WOULD dethrone “Dark Knight” and “Titanic”.
Shwartzy. You rule buddy. Bay is bottom of the barrel in Directors.
Hey folks — I just don’t understand the attacks on my opinion that Transformers 2 isn’t worth my money. It just seems crazy to me. The people I know who have seen it told me it isn’t worth sitting through. All the movie news websites I visit everyday say the same thing. Telling me to “get over it” and go anyway is a pretty strange stance to take. I’m sorry if it offends you guys but I just don’t want to go. And I commented on it here so the studio understands why in the hopes that they extend an effort to make better movies in the future instead of just throwing something together because people will go see whatever crap they promote.
We’re getting closer and closer to Idiocracy’s prediction that the most popular entertainment in the future will be a show called “Ow! My Balls!”
It’s depressing that in order to be entertained, that the simpletons here defending Bay’s oevre are also demanding that their intelligence be LOUDLY insulted by Mr. Bay as well.
@TINA and @Pete: It baffles me that people just accept that “hey, my teenager liked it,” all the sudden makes it OK. It’s a clear example of how out-of-hand parents in todays world cow-toe to their own children, instead of influencing them. So now, all the 13 year-olds are told that its Fine and Dandy to like utter garbage, because it’s loud, pretty, shiny, and makes my hormones rage even harder. And that its NOT okay for them to see stuff that will actually shape them into being respectable, intelligent, decent human beings.
People complain about “the youth today” and then say “it’s okay because THEY like it.” Just remember, these same teenagers are going to inherit what we give them… they’re going to be in-charge someday. And with their influence primarily coming from Summer movies, it’s scary to me to think that our world will one day be in there hands. If adults actually cared about the quality of the films their kids saw, actually cared about their kids reading books, and going to museums, and experiencing the world in authentic ways, our future wouldn’t seem so scary.
The good news this season is that (and contrary to some of the knuckleheads who’ve commented saying “all people want is escape”) “Up” is doing everything people are complaining about with “Transformers”. It’s a movie that not only is fun, escape, and a spectacle, but EVERYONE loves it and it’s already made over 300 million dollars. If only every studio was like Pixar in their approach. If Only…
After seeing Revenge of the fallen last night, I immediately returned to the theater today to see both UP and The Hangover. Those two movies helped clean me up after I felt soiled by Michael Bay’s latest opus.
As someone here said “he made it for the masses” – that’s for sure – the mindless, ADD, lowest common denominator masses. hey – no one says there’s nothing wrong with a fun, popcorn movie – but just because you string along some “awesome” special effects scenes and explosions doesn’t mean it is a GOOD popcorn movie – nor a well made movie. This is so simple – A to B and that is it. Bay is a glossy hack. For those of you who like his films, good for you. I have some coloring books you might enjoy as well.
For the last time: Great Summer Tentpole Entertainment and Well Made Film are not mutually exclusive.
Remember Raiders of the Lost Ark? Remember Die Hard? Hell, remember Titanic even?
To all the defenders: Yes, you can shut your brain down because you “don’t care” about story, etc, and you will then be stimulated by shiny pictures and loud noises. Magic of Cinema, hooray! But you could be getting more than that. By settling for the Shiny Object — and then defending your settling — you encourage the powers that be to only aim that high (low).
Obviously, nobody sets out to make a bad movie, and our business is filled with talented artists that give their best every single day. But there is a choice being made right now at studios to focus on films that can open big — period — no matter what the long-term shelf life may be.
Something that can open big in its first weekend is quality-proof; people will go see the mass event and profit can be made before audiences realize the film in question isn’t worth $12.50 (see the real reason behind the Wolverine leak panic). Aiming for this option makes shareholders happier on a short-term basis. It’s a no brainer. But it’s a business decision, nothing else. It needn’t be justified on a creative or audience level.
Using a crap movie’s big opening weekend as some sort of proof that it doesn’t suck is like saying you’re attractive because a stripper asks to give you for a lapdance. You’re getting gamed, and as long as you buy the lie they’re selling you, you’ll keep on getting gamed.
Ugh. Remind me why I work in this business again?
People who don’t go see a movie based on reviews are Sheep, that means your followers. If the movie looks good by previews, then go see it. Don’t judge a movie based on reviews, because like assholes everyone has an opinion.
*shakes head*
I plan on waiting for DVD because I don’t go to the movies anymore, but I still want to see it. It just looks fun, and I like fun movies.
I went to an early showing for $2 so it was worth the money to me. Had I paid full price, then not so much. The first was better. The Dark Knight still the only sequel that surpassed original.
Now I’m really going to watch this movie, out of spite to the movie watching elite and the critics. I hope it does better then the over rated DARK KNIGHT, only reason why that movie was praised is because of the death of Heath Ledger. Shame on you critics.
Star Trek was over rated!!!!!!
Batman begins sucked ass, Dark knight sucked ass boring
This just goes to show you one thing.,everyone is
entitled to their own opinion like beauty is in the eye
of the beholder. Movies are the same way. Not everyone
will like the movie end of story. For the same 10
people that praised TDK i can find you 20 that hated
it including myself. I went to see TDK and i literally
i repeat literally went to sleep for last 35 to 40 mins
of that movie. T2 gave me exactly what i was looking
for in a summer blockbuster movie and as someone who
grew up on transformers to see Optimus prime flip
Starscream over his back, hang him upside down, and
put is steel metallic autobot garganturant foot
through starscream’s jaw with superior state of the
art visual effects CGI and revelutionary 3-D technology
is just fine with me. Oh by the way T2 has shatttered
some records to a tune of 60mil weds. opening day so
the people have spoken all you haters and you guys if
you havnt all ready realized it are in the minority.
Comment by Ben — June 26, 2009 @ 11:17 am
Ben..if u don’t like the movie, keep it to yourself. No need to tell the world. We didn’t asked u what’s yr opinion about the movie nor do we care:-)
No offence..but just saying. If u talk, we talk too..
All this bizarre arguing over movies makes me wanna write a new screenplay, “A Rose by Any Other Name is Still an Explosion Waiting to be Filmed by Michael Bay!”
There are some flaws with the movie caused by the fact that they cut scenes that are on the novel version for no real reason. I mean.. the movie is way better than the first BUT if only they didn’t change some key scenes from the novel version it could have been absolutely perfect. Why did they change those? Also the Showest footage sneak peak scene … they cut pieces of that scene and no cut was needed, really. If they left that scene alone it would have helped the movie characters development a lot.
The CGI is the best you can get, no other movie features such a CGI. It’s never enough. But why the changes from the novel? Why? They damaged themselves for no reason. By changing those little bits that are on the novel they introduced some flaws that hurt the overall flowing and perception of the movie.
I really hope that they filmed those scenes and that there will be an extended cut Blu-Ray version, not just with the added 2-minutes IMAX scenes.
Generation R (retard) strikes again!
Star Trek = Transformers 2. Both had good parts, silly parts and downright stupid parts . I hated the whole Spoke returns from the future section of Star Trek.
I do think Megan Fox needs to take some acting lessons or she will be the next Pam Anderson. Also Shia needs to find a good serious script so he can have a variety of acting in his portfolio. Because right now there is no distinction between how he acted in Eagle Eye, Indiana and Transformers movies.