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SUNDAY AM UPDATE: Paramount’s delay of Shutter Island‘s domestic release from 2009 to 2010, once widely questioned, now looks shrewdly strategic. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone), the psychological and supernatural thriller made $14.1 million Friday and $17M Saturday from 2,991 theaters and $40.2M for its debut on a weekend it has all to itself. That’s a big number for an R-rated film, that cost $100+M with large gross participations (but only $75 million net of the Massachusetts rebate). Explained one studio exec to me, “The delay only helped the movie with more time for the trailer to play and the ability to use the Super Bowl and Olympics to finish the campaign.” Indeed, a MovieTickets poll named the Shutter Island traileras the big football game’s 3rd most memorable.
This 4th film collaboration between Marty Scorsese and Leo DiCaprio is their highest grossing debut ever, bigger than 2002′s Gangs Of New York, 2004′s The Aviator, and 2006′s The Departed (which posted their previous biggest opening ever of $26.8M). That pic was also Scorsese’s best debut, now beaten by Shutter Island which will also be DiCaprio’s biggest, besting the $30M of 2002′s Steven Spielberg-directed Catch Me If You Can. But Shutter Island was the target of bad buzz following Paramount’s abrupt decision to push the widely touted 2009 awards contender from October 2nd out of competition entirely to 2010. The pic was already on people’s Oscar list. (Paramount Moves ’Shutter Island’) At the time, Paramount chief Brad Grey said he was delaying to give the pic ”every possible chance to succeed both creatively and financially”. Also, Leo wasn’t going to be available to promote the pic internationally. So the studio settled on the release date of February 19th because “that’s when Silence Of The Lambs came out” back in 1991. But Hollywood chattered that this pic must have been god-awful for the studio to do something that drastic. Actually, this American gothic tale is old-fashioned and older adults-oriented. The reviews this weekend were mixed, but 61% positive among top critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Overseas, Shutter Island opened in 9 countries with $9M.
The other movies all had huge drops coming off the double-holiday weekend: Warner Bros’ Valentine’s Day fell -61% from its opening last Friday and -70% from last weekend, Fox’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief -58%, and Universal’s The Wolfman -70% from last Friday and last weekend, cementing that movie’s complete disintegration. A bitter legacy of fired Universal Pictures chief Marc Shmuger for the studio, the film cost a giant $200M (but with tax credits the net budget came down to about $175M). Not only did the pic drop huge at the domestic box office its 2nd weekend, but it also fell apart overseas where it hadn’t opened particularly well anyway. As one of my financial sources says, ”This is a huge, huge writeoff.”
Roman Polanski’s latest, The Ghost Writer, was a pickup by Summit Entertainment. Platforming in 4 theaters, it opened to $49K Friday and $70K Saturday for a per screen average of $44,750 — the weekend’s biggest — and should have made $179K by end of Sunday. Polanski was given the Berlin Film Festival’s Silver Lion Award for Best Director for the pic, which will expand into 10 additional markets as well as adding theaters in LA and NY. Meanwhile, Fox Searchlight’s My Name Is Khan ushered in its 2nd week with $720K from 125 theatres for a cume of $3.2M after opening to the highest weekend number for a Bollywood film in North America.
Here’s the Top 10 as of Friday (numbers will be refined in the AM):
1. Shutter Island (Paramount) NEW [2,991 Theaters]
Friday $14.1M, Saturday $16.3M, Est Sunday $9.8, $40.2M Weekend
2. Valentine’s Day (Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,665 Theaters]
Friday $5.6M, Saturday $7.1M, Weekend $17.1M, Cume $87.4M
3. Avatar (Fox) Week 10 [2,582 Theaters]
Friday $3.9M, Saturday $7.3M, Weekend $16.1M, Cume $687.8M
4. Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Fox) Week 2 [3,396 Theaters]
Friday $4.0M, Saturday $6.7M, Weekend $15.3M, Cume $58.7M
5. The Wolfman (Universal) Week 2 [3,223 Theaters]
Friday $2.8M, Saturday $4.3M, Weekend $9.8M, Cume $50.3M
6. Dear John (Relativity/Sony) Week 3 [3,062 Theaters]
Friday $2.3M, Saturday $3.1M, Weekend $7.3M, Cume $65.9M
7. Tooth Fairy (Fox) Week 5 [2,523 Theaters]
Friday $1M, Saturday $2.0M, Weekend $4.5M, Cume $49.8M
8. Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight) Week 10 [1,089 Theaters]
Friday $765K, Saturday $1.4M,Weekend $3.0M, Cume $21.5M
9. From Paris With Love (Lionsgate ) Week [2,311 Theaters]
Friday $725K, Saturday $1.1M, Weekend $2.5M, Cume $21.2M
10. Edge of Darkness (GK Films/Warner Bros) Week 4 [2,118 Theaters]
Friday $625K, Saturday $1.0M,Weekend $2.2M, Cume $40.3M
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Adapting the Dennis Lehane novel amounted to not screwing it up. While that takes talent (to avoid stupidity) it is not an original story. Black at least can create something from scratch, which is more impressive than adapting a best-selling novel.
Given that AVATAR had some of the most ill-developed, cliched characters since Waterworld and Dances With Wolves, AVATAR is not a recommendation.
“Ill-developed, cliched characters” one poster said, regarding both “Dances with Wolves” and “Avatar.” Right–so poorly done both pictures will sweep the Oscars. They are surpassing works of art. To suggest Kevin Costner’s Dunbar is not a terrific character creation leads me to hope the poster’s political bias rather than his/her creative ignornace spawned such a comment.
Could not have said it better
For all the “impressive” opening Weekend, bear in mind that “the Grudge” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, did about $40 million its opening weekend.
So, based on name alone, Scorsese and Di Caprio don’t put butts in seats. Less in fact than the gal who played Buffy on TV.
61% drop isn’t horrendous when you consider the tremendous Monday it had. 17 for this weekend isn’t shabby either. It will beat ‘He’s Just Not…’ in the BO, but holds no flame, if only because of the huge cast that ignited grand expectations. Bravo NL/WB.
It was predictable as all hell. Whoever said this screenwriter is going to be great…well…we shall see…the scripts thru line was the biggest problem…great actors…great environment, great potential…BUT…predictable…I predicted it from the trailer I saw months ago…I said to my friend “Leo SPOILER SPOILER”…and I was right. Sad. Such a letdown…great line at the end though.
Laeta Kalogridis sounds like a really cool screenwriter/movie exec. It would be nice to meet her one day, as she sounds like a person who appreciates good writing and story.
Here is a cool interview she did with the Writers Guild of America online publication that shows how hard it can be to be an “overnight” success — especially as a woman — in Hollywood.
Best of luck to you Laeta.
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3972
I saw it yesterday and enjoyed it.
*SPOILER*
It had the same effect as ‘A Beautiful Mind’ — mixing reality and madness so thoroughly that you really feel the confusion of the character. Well done!
This was the only movie I have ever been to where people actually booed at the end. I was shocked. I, personally enjoyed it…for the most part. Not as good as The Departed.
With Hugo Cabaret (and Silence?) already lined up, it’s too bad Scorsese can’t translate this box office into his pick of projects.
Or can he? Very happy for Scorsese, even if the final product has turned mediocre in its gestation (haven’t seen it yet).
How does somebody come out with Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Casino, The Departed then come out with this? Awful. I think the individual who said a 50% drop off was being kind. This thing will be a 70% drop off by next weekend. Love Scorsese, this was his worst. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Leo becoming predictable? Kind of like Tom Cruise? Save your money. Two thumbs down.
Sometimes I don’t get how someone as shrewd as Nikki misses the boat completely.
What was so shrewd about moving this film into February in the first place? The movie is terrible, frankly, considering its pedigree. They pushed into February because it’s not that good, there’s nothing else out there and with Scorsese and DiCaprio’s names attached it could draw big audiences regardless. And that’s exactly what happened.
This film never had a shot at Oscars to begin with. Nikki’s complaining that the film wouldn’t qualify for Oscar consideration being pushed to February was ridiculous — she should’ve known that, just maybe, this movie was never “Oscar quality” to begin with.
And the twist…I figured it out months ago after watching the trailers. Unbelievably predictable.
Scorsese is like Streep. All they have to do is sneeze and Hollywood & Europe nominate them for awards.
Who would have guessed that the biggest benefit to moving “Shutter Island” was that it avoided “Zombieland” and the “Paranormal Activity” buzz? Opening now, it got to have the weekend by itself but the future looks very much the same as the one it was facing last October; Week 2 has “Cop Out” whereas it would have had “Couples Retreat” and then it runs up into “Alice in Wonderland” instead of “Where the Wild Things Are”. Still, having the weekend to itself might have been worth an extra 10 -12 million bucks.
But while the move worked in the box office, it doomed the film’s awards chances. The studio didn’t think it could afford an Oscar campaign for the film but the abysmal 2009 was probably its best chance at getting a Best Pic or Best Actor nom. I could have seen Leo get in over Morgan Freeman and I the Hollywood Elite might have pushed District 9 or The Blind Side aside in favor of Marty. I don’t think it will have a shot this year, or at least I hope not because if there aren’t 10 better films than this, it’s going to be a long year for Hollywood.
I will never get those three hours back. A TERRIBLE movie.
Amen
I am a fan of the book I even re-read parts of it after I finished it. It was interesting to see the movie with the book in mind. I was really engrossed in studying the characters reactions and mannerisms. I thought Scorsese and cast did a great job. Ben Kingsley was fantastic. The casting was very inspired -Ted Levine as the warden. Leo is somewhat middling but he does alright. I agree, Mark Ruffalo did a good job.
Two people got up & walked out about an hour into the showing of Shutter Island I attended. I can’t say I blame them. It was a pretty terrible film & I wish Scorsese had dialed down the relentless heavyhandedness of his direction. It’s like somebody screaming into your face for over two hours. Very tiring & not in a pleasant way.
I spent the last two hours and thirty minutes struggling with myself emotionally “is it me? is this movie as bad as I think it is. I really want to walk out. OK if things don’t pick up, I’m walking out. But the movie just started. Man, is anyone else thinking about walking out?…”
Man, I wish I had had the balls to just walk out…
Never thought I’d see Lesher, Leo, Weston, Moore, Goodman & Grey all post in one thread.
What? Is Marty mad?
The Shining was spooky and fun, two qualities that Shutter Island sorely lacked. The Shining also had a great deal of ambiguity, whereas Shutter Island apparently thought its target audience was so stupid that they had to be walked through the belabored denouement step by somnambulent, spoon-fed step.
The Eyes Wide Shut comparison to Shutter is truly apt for me because in my estimation, both films represent monolithic American directors resting on their laurels and thus draining the vitality out of projects that are in desperate search of a pulse. I honestly wish that Stanley and Marty had opted to not work and enjoy their golden years at the career points in which these particular films were made; it would’ve been a much more preferable alternative than seeing either phone it in with the hope that their past accomplishments would cause the same level of praise or acceptance to be received.
I don’t care how many Oscars The Departed won, it was ultimately very silly, inconsequential and unmemorable – little more than a glorified career consolation prize that contained subtle signs of Marty being headed down a dreaded path of complacent laziness. In Shutter, he sadly reached this destination.
The Cape Fear comparison is invalid to me, because even though Shutter alleges to be in its same genre, Cape knew for certain what it was about and it contained actual, suspenseful storytelling momentum. Cape isn’t as “important” as the cream of the Marty crop, but it was still as engrossing and character-driven as anything he’d done.
Shutter was just very confused; it couldn’t ratchet up any tension or mystery because it was obvious, virtually from the opening scene, what the climax was more or less going to incorporate, and a feeling of frustration settled in with the mounting awareness that everything leading up to it was going to be misdirection and misinformation merely for their own sake. The flashbacks and hallucinations the DiCaprio character experiences are beautifully filmed and surreal, but servicing a fundamentally inert story deprives them of their power to haunt.
When all is said and done, I think Shutter will be categorized alongside Bringing Out the Dead in the Marty history books under the heading: “Projects which looked can’t-miss on paper, and had great advertising, that nevertheless went astray.”
“Cape isn’t as “important” as the cream of the Marty crop, but it was still as engrossing and character-driven as anything he’d done.”
Are you serious?? Cape Fear is iconic. Heck its got DiNiro AND Juliette Lewis, what else needs to be said?
Other than that, you are spot on regarding Shutter…
Saw it Friday night , worst movie I ever sat through. SUX! Savew your mmoney
Okay, so, I am seeing a lot of mixed reviews. Now, if you guessed the twist; congratulations. What an accomplishment name one movie in the last decade where you didn’t, hell in the last 20 years. (i admit backdraft had me) you get the idea though. Cinema is a predictable media. It seems to me that the fun is, like one poster said, in the ride. If you didn’t like this movie you are over thinking it or it wasn’t your milieu to begin with. I hope you detractors can find a movie you will like, one day you might. Happy viewing.
“Mixed Reviews”
You’re being kind.
“Shutter Island” is a scam–promoted by previews as a horror/thriller, it is neither, but a rather stilted and way over looooooong ’50s rehash of the “psychiatry drama.” Since you can guess most of the ending about 45 mins. into the film, the script and production surely lack any finesse or artistry.
“Island” did have a big audience yesterday when I saw it, but the movie will not have “legs,” because no one will recommend seeing it to any one else.
I enjoyed the movie. Had me interested all the way through. DiCaprio and Ruffalo were both good. Also Jackie Earle Haley had a nice role. And I loved seeing Michelle Williams. Nice photography, too.
you know what i thought? it seemed like he was trying to do hitchcock but was over his head. like a student having a go at a genre. marty is great, but it just made me feel like he needs to practice with a couple more psychological thrillers before he can nail one. it just didn’t feel like it had hitch’s psychological depth. that’s how it made me feel, not necessarily how it is.
Saw Shutter Island yesterday with my husband and daughter. Very, very disappointing. None of us liked it. Not worth the price of rental, much less a ticket. I predict it will fall fast.
One word sums up Scorsese:OVERRATED! It takes two words to sum up DiCaprio: HO HUM
I fell asleep. I can’t believe this got 4 stars. Deserves 2 maybe. Some good acting, but overly processed. The suspence fell flat, and you could see the obvious manipulations. The ending had a clever ironic twist, but there so many silly twists and turns that I would not have been surprised if Yoda did it.
So what if the film is predictable, big freaking deal. I went to see Shutter Island for the acting as well as the story. Titanic and Romeo and Juliet and countless of other films are predictable so what? Just enjoy the film for what it is,its a good film period. Whats up with all the negativity? Sheeeeeeesh. All the actors were great especially Leonardo. Good job Marty.