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SATURDAY PM/SUNDAY AM UPDATE: Friday, Saturday, and weekend numbers for North America’s Top 5 movie grosses:
1. What an impressive start for the Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures mind-bending scifi thriller from 3,792 theaters, with Friday’s $21.6 million (including $3M midnight shows in 1,600 locations) and Saturday’s $21.5 million. The studio pegged the weekend opening at $60.4M, solid for a 2D film, against a $150M budget. Audiences rated it an overall ”B+” Cinemascore, with the under-25 crowd giving it an “A”. Then again, this is Summer 2010′s most anticipated film because of Chris Nolan’s incredible track record for critically acclaimed big box office actioners (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) as well as smaller psychological dramas (Memento and Insomnia) films — and Inception represents both genres. (By the way, have you seen Inception’s comic book preview? This rather innovative marketing gimmick is here.) This gives star Leonardo DiCaprio his biggest debut ever, out-grossing the mid-February opening of his Shutter Island with Marty Scorsese. Also, the IMAX screenings of Inception accounted for 12% of the weekend gross with an amazing $7 million in 197 locations: the best ever for an IMAX 2D title.
But I’ve rarely seen Hollywood all over the map when it came to a movie’s expected 3-day weekend grosses like this time. That’s because this was an original film not easily explained in a 30-second spot. Rival studios gave me predictions ranging from a low of $40sM to a high of $60M — and everything inbetween. Especially because, surprisingly, tracking didn’t jump quite as much from last Monday to now. Comps include Shutter Island with a bump for summer, or Batman Begins plus inflation. But no one is certain what to add for ”The Nolan Factor”. (This was a movie Chris wanted to make for 10 years.) Yet everyone agrees that the pic will have considerable legs if audiences don’t find it too dark or too hyped or — god forbid! — too smart. Though one reviewer complained, Nolan’s visionary film has ”no soul, no sex, and almost no joy”.
Inception generated an estimated $15.6M internationally with nearly 2.7M admissions from 1,753 screens in 7 markets. The studio plans a 3-week overseas roll-out for Chris Nolan’s pic. This weekend, the UK delivered an outstanding £5.6M ($8.6M) from 451 situations nationwide, marking the biggest opening ever for a Leonardo Di Caprio film in that country. Inception dominated the weekend at #1 with a commanding 40% of the Top 5 market share. The pic also launched in these Asian markets — Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and Thailand — and is estimated to top the charts throughout the region with an estimated $6.4M on 978 screens. Next weekend Inception opens in 29 additional countries, including: France, Russia, Australia, Korea, Japan, and Mexico. Then, from July 28th to August 1st, another 13 markets come on line, including Germany.
2. Despicable Me (3D) (Universal) Week 2 [3,501 Theaters]
Friday $10.1M, Saturday $12.9M, Weekend $32.7M (-43%), Cume $118.3M
Superb hold of -43% after big last week for this Illumination toon, even up against 3 other family films in the marketplace. It crossed the $100 million mark in just 9 days of release — good news for hit-starved Universal.
3. What a huge disappointment for Disney. Jerry Bruckheimer’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice tanked by making only $5.4M Friday and $6.9M Saturday from 3,504 U.S. and Canadian theaters for what should be a paltry $17.3M for the 3-day weekend. The studio even moved up its opening to Wednesday to garner extra attention but added only $3.7M Wednesday from 3,385 locations, and $3.2M Thursday. So the pic’s cume is now $24.4M. Little wonder that Hollywood thinks this may well be the last film at Disney where megaproducer Bruckheimer just phones it in. The pic’s 5-day projection kept going down, from $35M to $30M to $25M for the costly Nic Cage starrer. But I’d been following the pic’s tracking, which at no point hinted at a blockbuster. At 2 1/2 weeks out, Sorcerer’s Apprentice was tracking worse than Bruckheimer’s U.S. underperformer Prince Of Persia did.
Though exhibitor screenings had gone well, Disney was concerned. A week later, numbers for Sorcerer’s Apprentice showed gains. But then, Sorcerer’s Apprentice stalled at 8% first choice, which is unusual. “You’d like to see that weekend before opening show some real growth. But the pic is not showing a heck of a lot of strength with family audiences,” a source told me at the time. Then again, Prince Of Persia was a North American disappointment when it opened to $30M. But it has made 72% of its money internationally. That is the only hope for Sorcerer’s Apprentice now.
4. Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Week 3) [4,001 Theaters]
Friday $4.5M, Saturday $5.1M, Weekend $13.5M, Cume $264.9M
5. Toy Story 3 (3D) (Disney) Week 5 [3,177 Theaters]
Friday $3.4M, Saturday $4.8M, Weekend $11.8M, Cume $362.7M
6. Grown Ups (Sony) Week 4 [3,074 Theaters]
Friday $3.1M, Saturday $4M, Weekend $10M, Cume $129.2M
7. Last Airbender (3D) (Paramount) Week 3 [2,805 Theaters]
Friday $2.2M, Saturday $3M, Weekend $7.4M, Cume $114.8M
8. Predators (Fox) Week 2 [2,669 Theaters]
Friday $2.1M, Saturday $2.7M, Weekend $6.7M (-73%), Cume $40M
Boy, that’s a big week-to-week drop.
9. Knight & Day (Fox) Week 4 [1,925 Theaters]
Friday $1.1M, Saturday $1.4M, Weekend $3.5M, Cume $69M
10. Karate Kid (Sony) Week 6 [1,532 Theaters]
Friday $635K, Saturday $935K, Weekend $2.2M, Cume $169.2M
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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that is not a BIG DAY for 200 mill costing movie. expect significant drops and reality to kick in very soon for nolan, warners and company. those predicting 70 plus weekends were dreaming (pun intended). yet another indicator that critics and audiences could not be further in their taste. this could be a big disappointment for warners as it will never even get close to 200 mill domestically.
MJ
“Inception”‘s budget was $160 mil, not $200 million.
And it will EASILY break even, I’d say in two weeks or a little more – I’d say the film will finish around $180 or more domestically, and that’s not even counting over seas.
To “break even”, the movie has to make at least twice its production budget. Even if you are right about the movie costing $160 million, that would mean that it has to make around $320 million (the studio usually gets about 50% of all box office returns – Sometimes a little more).
And that’s not even counting marketing. Even if marketing is only $65 million ($225 total according to your numbers), that means the movie has to make between $400 – $450 million to break even.
So, it won’t break even as “EASILY” as you say. Will it break even? Yes, but not easily. It will probably make north of $500 million worldwide and then make more money back on DVD.
You should check out the story on this site that shows how Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix made over $900 million worldwide and still lost money. That will give you a better picture of how most movies don’t break even.
Get your facts straight before you talk about how “easily” the movie will break even.
And with the Cinemascore of only a B+, the word of mouth is not going to drive this movie to have great legs like some on here seem to think.
Charl, if you didn’t grasp the point of the Harry Potter story — that “creative” number crunching allows studio accountant to make ANYTHING look like it’s not making money — then there’s really no hope for you on an industry website such as this one.
Your basic points regarding what Inception needs to break even are correct, I wanted to point out that the story about Harry Potter Order of The Phoenix not making a profit was misleading. Order has not made a profit based on the definitions in the net profit agreement, but this does not mean the film did not make a profit for the studio. Built into that agreement were distribution fees, a mark up on the marketing costs as well as interest on the investment which added up to at least 300 million dollars (if memory serves) which the studio took in over and above what they paid out in producing, marketing and distributing the film. This is what is normally meant by profit and this is what a studio is in the business of making.
Charl,
The Harry Potter statement was meant to be shown to profit participants, not actual investors. These sheets are bogus accounting at its best (no sane company pays 18% interest on funds that it borrows, yet somehow Warners did). The studios want these movies to look like loss makers for as long as possible, so they don’t have to pay net points that they throw into contracts to make various players happy. Check out Buchwald v. Paramount for more information on how ridiculous these statements are.
Given the studios rely on tentpoles to bring in the cash now, if none of the tentpoles made any money, how is it the studios still exist? Why haven’t they vanished off the face of the earth and gone the way of every other uneconomical industry? And if they’re losing money, why haven’t there been mass firings and shareholder revolts against management? Could it be because they are still making money?
Nah, that’s just too easy isn’t it?
I wouldn’t even call it bogus accounting, it is accounting based on the definitions in the net points agreement. This includes a 30-40% distribution fee on all revenue, a 10% mark-up on advertising expenditures, and the interest — which is not the interest the studio pays, it is the interest the studio charges for the use of their money (which they are borrowing at a much lower rate, if they are borrowing it at all).
So,many things wrong with this. Declaring victory before even the Opening Day numbers are posted? Wow. Your like the Old Spice man, on a horse. 20M opening day for an original film is amazing. Considering Avatar opened to 26M and oh yeah, it went on to the biggest film of all time. The story is not written on how Inception is going to do, but word of mouth is off the charts.
Um, critics did not go crazy for this movie. Rotten Tomatoes has it 76% among top critics, which is good but not great. Hard to draw any conclusions from that. And critics don’t have anything to do with box office predictions, that’s a studio exercise. Anyway it’s audiences who want to see this movie, because a sizable portion of the movie-going population thinks Nolan can do no wrong. It could have gotten 10% and people still would have turned out. Not having seen it yet, I suspect it’s going to be like all his films: look great, ton of style, clunky plot, super-clunky dialogue, won’t make a ton of sense, but entertaining in the end. Which I suppose is about a 76.
I thought it was easily one of the better films of the summer (which when compared to crap like The Last Airbender, isn’t that hard). Nolan continues to craft what I consider to be some of the best stories around in recent memory, and I really like the casting choices in his films. Ken Watanabe is one of my personal favorites, and seeing him get a bigger role here than he did in Batman Begins pleased me greatly. Big props to Tom Hardy as well.
It’s an absolutely FANTASTIC movie – but if something like this can “go over people’s heads”, then we’re basically on the brink of “Idiocracy” territory. Try getting through the original version of “Solaris” or having a modern day teen age audience watch “8 1/2″ – this is an action film – more intelligent than average and better written than average – but it’s an action film. I realize that most people in this country can barely hold two opposing ideas in their heads at the same time anymore, but come on…we can’t be THAT far down the road into oblivion that something like this stumps the masses.
Great film, cinema I was in today about 60% full at mid-afternoon. Hardy, Murphy, & Cotillard were perfectly cast.
83% positive on Rotten tomatoes (Despicable Me has 78%). I’d wait
for the second weekend before I made any bold projections about word of mouth making this a serious blockbuster. Inception had a solid, but unspectacular first day.
Just saw it, absolutely incredible. The last seconds made the audience gasp and then break out in applause like I’ve never seen before. Great movie!
You can’t really judge it until you see it at least 2 times because there’s so much info being thrown at you in a dizzying pace. But for what I saw I was indeed impressed. In Nolan we trust.
I’d almost say it bombed.
Very disappointing follow-up to The Dark Knight. Inception will not even finish with half of Nolan’s last.
Um. What? “The Dark Knight” was a SEQUEL to a FRANCHISE that’s been around for over 60 years.
This is an original film – and an opening weekend of $55 million for an original film these days is staggering.
If Inception does half of what The Dark Knight does, that will still be impressive. Regardless of whatever Christopher Nolan did to follow The Dark Knight (even Batman 3), it likely would not have gotten to $500 million dollars (most movies, excluding Avatar and Titanic, don’t get anywhere near that), so it seems silly to say that this film is a disappointment because it probably won’t beat The Dark Knight in box office. It will still bring in a nice chunk of change.
Word of mouth has been very good.
It’s official! This is the worst year at the movies ever! I put all my hopes on Inception and it failed just like every other piece of crap movie, from Shutter Island, to Clash Of The Titans, to Iron Man 2, to Shrek 4, to The A-Team, to Toy Story 3.
Please tell me someone out there isn’t in love with Inception like all these people on here!
Churl,
Toy Story 3 a piece of crap? Do better yourself – douche!
Paul
TS3…a movie about a 17 year old conflicted about getting rid of his toys…maybe it hit close to home for you
Waiting for the collapse,
Toy Story 3 isn’t told from the perspective of Andy, it is told from Woody’s perspective. You would know that if you went to see the film instead of watching only the trailer.
To lump Toy Story 3 in with A-Team and Clash of the Titans, calling it a piece of trash makes you a douche. To defend someone who says something so stupid without actually seeing the film makes you an even bigger douche.
A great number of really smart and talented people (much smarter than you and Churl) spent the last four years of their lives making Toy Story 3. They worked late at night and often on weekends. They made a great film. I think they and their families deserve better than nasty comments from toads like you and Churl.
By the by. I have lots and lots of toys. I fill my house and garage full of them. I am often conflicted about getting rid of them; so I just buy more of them. If you were a smarter or more talented person, maybe you could buy lots of toys too.
Paul
Uhh, no.
TS3 was a movie about “moving on”. From the toys point of view, and the kid, to the toy villains. It’s a MUCH deeper movie than you give it credit for.
Uh…”Shutter Island” didn’t come out this summer.
And if you were “putting all your hopes” into stuff like “Clash of the Titans”, “Shrek 4″ and “The A-Team”, then I doubt you’re really “Inception”‘s key audience.
AGREED. The third act was an outright bore. The snow scenes with killers on snowmobiles was unwatchable drivel.. you had no idea who was who…. the movie desperately needed an editor to cut about 20 minutes… everyone is loves this movie is simply patting themselves on the back for understanding a “complex” movie… by the way, leo lacked charisma and ellen page was out of place…
I’m with you on that. This movie is pretentious crap. I’m no fan of Nolan’s anyway – not having been impressed by his Batman films at all.
Momento is OK, but its characterisation leaves you cold. This film has no interesting characterisation whatsoever. It’s clear he’s looked at the metaphysical attributes of movies such as Jacob’s Ladder and the Matrix. But clearly he’s never read P K Dick, or he would have had more success in putting his story together. Then he’s mixed in a splash of Bourne. The urban action sequences (in domestic and exotic locations) absolutely reek of the Bourne films. And there’s certainly a splash of classic Bond, in the snow dream. I agree with the person who said David Lynch would have done a better job with the subject matter. Mullholland Drive does what C Nolan dreamed Inception would do, only he woke up.
$18-$20 million on the first day for a movie that isn’t a sequel of some kind? That’s very good. Keep on “expecting” those significant drops MJ, you’ll be very disappointed when you look around and see just about everyone praising this to the high heavens. Word of mouth is going to help this movie sore well past $200 million. Probably reach near $300 million if things go really, really well.
Word of mouth is already working! I was on the fence about Inception. Not anymore! I am going to see this film tonight.
Maybe this film will do better if they stop yapping about how it will go over the AVERAGE movie goer’s heard. It is a turn off. Just shut up and let people enjoy it.
I agree with sassenach…this movie was not “too complex” and “did not go over my head” in the least and I’m not some sort of cerebral type. I think everyone spouting that may be suffering from low self-esteem and they’re trying to prop themselves up by making those comments. The movie was very good, don’t be scared away by those type of comments.
considering the theme, i’d imagine this film could be compared (boxoffice wise) to the matrix (the first one not the crappy sequels). the original film cost 63M to make and made 26M its opening weekend. but then only dropped between low 20%s and high 20s% for a next few weeks, and then 30% or so for the weeks after which got it up to 171M domestically.
i think avatar had a similar run.– the first week’s boxoffice numbers weren’t amazing. but for inception the first day number (20M) is great, but if it sustains this it makes for only a 60M weekend (at best). but i’m sure warners was looking for more from this 200M film. tack on marketing and we’re looking at what upwards of 350 – 300m.
even if it’s a brilliant film. it’s basically a chris nolan vanity project bestowed upon him by warner brothers to lure him back to make the next batman movie.
I think your catatrophizing mind is a bit overinflated. movie cost 160. P & A: 76. It’ll be fine. Just watch.
A “vanity project”? “Bestowed upon him”? That’s absurd. Nolan’s been trying to make this film for 10 years. He’s a successful director, this is a commercial project, and he can make anything he wants. According to your logic, any movie that a director actually wants to make or writes himself is a “vanity project”. Please.
Why do you think “Nolan’s been trying to make this film for 10 years.” If the idea for the movie was that great, then he could’ve made it ten years ago.
Studios didn’t want to take a chance on the movie because they knew it was a tough sell. Dudette is absolutely right in saying that this movie was greenlit because they want to keep Nolan happy so that he can do the next Batman.
Charl wrote: “You should check out the story on this site that shows how Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix made over $900 million worldwide and still lost money. That will give you a better picture of how most movies don’t break even.”
The point of that article is that studios are applying dirty accounting to show that even profitable movies are “losing money” on paper, in order to screw over profit participants. Not to suggest that the big blockbusters are actually losing money. Rest assured, if they were actually losing money, the studios wouldn’t still be making movies.
How can people say this film is “too smart”? Everything is explained in detail from the very beginning. And to ensure the audience understands, Ellen Page’s character is pretty much the audience’s surrogate. She asks all the questions a movie goer would ask if they needed clarification.
The movie was good. Best ever? No. Nolan geta credit for the zero gravity hallway fight, but the rest of his action is a bit choppy. Also “Inception” is like “Memento” in where after unraveling the mystery, there is really no need to revisit the film more than once.
All of the explanation would become boring after you already know about the world Nolan created here. But the last half of the film is engaging, right up until that cop out ending.
When the end happened, the theater I was in collectively sucked their teeth.
Again, good movie, but to say it’s too smart for audiences is insulting.
Hope this doesn’t shock too many, and my personal track record has been perfect for the las 10 years, but apply the
modern “Titanic” thinking to the equation and you at most likely arguing over the next Best Picture winnner. Inception is easily the most original, thought provoking, entertaining piece of filmmaking this year. Like it or not it soar miles high above the other releases of 2010. Other than The Kids Are Alright and Toy Story 3, name three more representatives of this years moviemaking excellence…
Winter’s Bone
How to Train Your Dragon… yeah, that’s all I got
I hope you are correct. Nolan deserves his Best Picture and Best Directing Oscar after being snubbed last year for ‘The Dark Knight’.
I’d add “Shutter Island” to Toy Story 3 and Inception as a contender. It’s sure gonna be Leo’s year. Potentially, Adjustment Bureau and Social Network could also be contenders. Personally, I also really liked Green Zone but very few others did. Cyrus and Greenberg might be dark horses?
I had seen and read precious little about the film when I decided to see it. I knew Leo was in it, and I like him. I think I saw one trailer, but couldn’t tell what it was about. Then I saw “Nolan” trending in Twitter and saw for the first time that it was his film. I decided to go right then, and I’m glad I did. I loved watching things unfold, though probably the opening scenes the best because you were immediately immersed in a world you didn’t understand. After that, they explained everything to death.
Still, loved loved the hotel level and all the zero gravity stuff. And really loved the iceberg setting for just how different it was than anything else. Keeping track of the levels was brilliant fun.
Anyone know why the shifting positions only affected people from level one to two, but not through the rest? A rule, I’m sure.
Quick question. “Watchmen” (A movie I disliked) opened to 55.6 million (on a 130 million budget) and that was considered a flop on this site.
“Inception” is projected to make nearly the same amount of money (on a 160 million dollar budget) and this film is NOT considered a flop here?
“Inception” is by far the better film that is also better reviewed by critics. But come on, fair is fair.
Loved InceptionWatchmen (which was R rated, and opened in early March) is one of the 10 best movies ever shot.
Well said, I was thinking the same thing. Let’s not forget “Watchmen” was also rated R.
Watchmen’s Fri-Sat-Sun was 24-18-12. That’s why it was considered a flop out of the gate. A small, dedicated, rabid fanbase inflated their opening number way out of proportion. When your box office falls 50% in the opening two days, it’s not good. Compare a predicted Fri-Sat-Sun for inception, 21-18-16 for 55 million. That’s a very different set of numbers, especially when you consider the property has no built in following, however small.
Moreover, Watchmen had a more tepid critical response. While a sizable minority of critics disliked Inception, a large percentage said it was one of the best films of the year. So there are reasons to think that the film with have legs, and be around for Awards season, and therefore outperform Watchmen pretty handily.
For the record, Watchmen is a flawed gem. Inception is a triumph.
“Watchmen” was also based on a franchise, which was supposed to make it an easier sell.
“Inception” is scoring on the base of its merits and the credits of the team.
The movie was alright. I saw it last night. It wasn’t anything special. The positive things about it were that the action was absolutely fantastic and the plot was fairly sound. The problem was you never really know if what you’re seeing is what is really going on and that answer is never given. If someone doesn’t mind that then they should really enjoy the movie. If someone wants a happy ending, or a definite ending then they shouldn’t see this movie.
In other words, you only thought it was “alright” because it didn’t tie things up in a nice, neat little package and you were forced to use your brain. Poor baby.
An IMPRESSIVE start? When Cameron’s “Avatar” started better in December — 50% better — and was being written off by hysterical media as a disaster?
When the last “Shrek” opened to $70 and was a disappointment?
It doesn’t matter if it’s an original non-sequel or a derivative follow-up — the marketing spend is the same. “Inception” was never going to be the massive opener you wanted it to be, Nikki. Jay Fernandez and Flixster called this weekend perfectly. It’s curiously muted.
And “Inception,” for all of the many hundreds of millions spent on it, is just … so-so.
U just stated on three very different movies…..James Cameron’s first movie in 12 years, and the last Shrek movie, and an orginal film by Chris Nolan….
And Avatar made only 77 million opening weekend…how is that 50% better?.. Learn ur math kid…
Avatar had alot more to lose than Inception also… it was made and marketed for almost twice as much as Inception…( 237 + 150 promo vs. 160+ 76 promo) so it had a lot more to lose.
Shrek was a disappointment cuz it as a sequel….and in 3d.
I think WOM will make this even…I’m not seeing it til next week so….
Well so much for a Hollywood resurgence of the works of Goethe.
Want a mind warp? Try to imagine this movie (pitch, development) making it through the studio system without the kind of clout Nolan deservedly wields now.
Great cinema. Forgot how it feels almost.
Careful, pull on that thread too long, and our whole world will unravel.
I have a little game for you.
You could make two lists and on one of them, write down all of the studio movies made since 2000 with someone who has the clout of a Chris Nolan. On list number 2, write down all the studio movies made during the same period without such a person.
With virtually no exceptions, you will be able be able to make the following statements. On one list, many of the movies are awful, most of them are bad, a few are good, virtually none are great. On the other list, many of the movies are bad, a few are good, a very few are great and a very few are awful.
Go ahead, read that again. Now tell me which list is which.
See where this is going?
What is the fundamental difference between the two lists? In one list, the studio development is at full effect, and on the other, studio development is mitigated by a powerful, singular vision.
Go ahead, tell me which list had more great movies. Why, it’s almost as if, looking at this list, the only definite thing you could say about the development process as a whole is that it guarantees the movies are worse. But I would never say such a thing.
Unfortunately, the real comparison is not some subjective “greatness” but BO, at least as far as the system is concerned. And the aforementioned list does not correlate with BO in any way. Worse, the true comparison, is the BO of developed movies versus the BO of indies that had no “devo” process. And that news is so well known I wont waste time with it here.
It’s not about “great movies” per se. It’s about movies at all.
Why does it take a Nolan to make a movie (forget if it’s good or bad it’s at least a movie).
I’m talking about a “process” that by and large exists to turn scripts and ideas into commercials for soft drinks and cell phones. It shouldn’t take a Director with Billions in BO sales to get a studio to want to make a movie but it does. The public seems hungry for them based on the weekend no?
Instead of encouraging original pictures, everyone comes on here and bashes it so they can get lukewarm remakes and movies of toys. Way to go armchair dumbass patrol!
the most intelligent comment yet. thank you.
You win the thread. Admittedly I am a huge Chris Nolan fan, but does everyone really want another summer (and really year) of 2010? Yes, there may have been some genre conventions present but it was an action movie after all. The overall story was original, execution was very good (it is one you have to pay attention to, but I think critics are taking an elitist view saying general audiences won’t get it), and personally I thought the cinematography was great.
I would much rather have an original film like this that may bring in some typical genre conventions because it fits within that genre, than a Magic 8 Ball movie (oh wait…) or a movie that completely bastardizes an animated classic (looking at you ‘Sorcerer’s Apprentice’).
Bashing films like this are just going to lead to more and more dreck like this year has been full of. This movie and ‘Toy Story 3′ are the only two truly great movies of the summer (on a mass commercial level, have yet to see ‘Cyrus’ or ‘The Kids Are All Right’), and arguably the year thus far. More movies like those are what the general public wants, not force-fed half-assed remakes and sequels.
I’m convinced many of the complainers on here aren’t happy with anything. They complain all summer about remakes and non-original source material, and some of them are probably the same people complaining on here now about Inception. Then again, some of them are just bitter and out of work, or wannabe filmmakers who sat through the movie wanting to hate it, telling themselves they could do so much better if they’d just get their chance.
Two hours into this movie I looked down at my phone only to realize that I was actually only one hour into the movie.
That’s how slow and boring the first hour of the movie is. I thought maybe I was in a dream within another dream and that’s why time was going by so slowly.
But I wanted to stay and keep watching. Maybe this was all necessary details that would lead to a big payoff in the end.
But no, this movie about dreams turns out to be a nightmare to sit through.
And don’t worry if you’re planning on seeing this movie. It’s very easy to follow. Some people talk about it going over people’s heads, but its really not that difficult to understand.
I think that’s where the problem lies in this movie. Nolan himself thought that it would be hard to understand, so he feels he has to explain everything that has happened or will happen throughout the movie. He doesn’t want to lose the viewer by having them be confused. But, the funny thing is, the movie is pretty simple.
Cut out some of those long boring scenes where they’re trying to explain the story as they go along, and this movie could’ve come in somewhere around the 100 minute running time, and it could’ve been a much better movie.
As it is, it’s a bore.
You’re exaggerating Charl…
“A nightmare to sit through.” I don’t think so… and that’s a real shitty attempt at a pun by the way.
I’ve never walked out of a movie, but I was seriously considering it this time around. Really, the movie is that boring! And with every detail being explained to us the movie just drags and drags! Give the moviegoer some credit.
I stayed because I was hoping that there was something amazing about to happen and everything was necessary. But there was nothing amazing, not even anything good. Just a nicely wrapped little ending that makes you wonder why you didn’t walk out after an hour when you realized this movie was just a hollow piece of filmmaking.
Also, I’ve been a huge Nolan fan since Memento, so I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, so that’s another reason I stayed. But he disappointed me in a big way, and I have the right to say that. The movie is a nightmare to sit through! It truly is!
When I looked at my phone to see that only an hour went by when I thought it was already two hours, I couldn’t believe it! And then I couldn’t stop checking my phone. I looked at the other people in the audience. I looked around at the theater to see how it was set up. I thought about how Leo is always so intense in his roles and he should do a comedy. I thought back to how great Ellen Page was in Juno. And by that time, only another half hour of the movie had gone by. There was still another hour left! I did check back in with the movie every now and then, but still nothing was going on.
Seriously, this movie would’ve been a lot better if at least 45 minutes had been edited out.
Charl’s comments are a “bore.” Inception is great filmmaking.
I wouldn’t be surprised if studio execs made him put all the overlong exposition in there. It’s just so clunky as compared with everything else.
I’m with you, Charl. It’s hard to believe that a movie with such great visuals could be boring, but it is. It would have been better with about a half hour of unnecessary talking cut out.
hello People
Thinking maybe we should not expect a movie to fullfill us completely. Movies are for entertaining;it’s about the experience of moviegoing. It’s ten bucks at most so sit back and relax. Everyone deserves cudos for a job well done. We all obviously know all too well how the system works. Everyone is tearing this apart as if it was intended to be a documentary and that we’ll all be Freud contenders afterwards. Hey the dialogue was a bit much but almost like Terrantino in that it gets you more invested. I say Horraah…
Ten bucks at most? I don’t think I’ve spent less than $10 to go to the movies since 2005.
last 3 weekends of grwnups … 19, 15.8, 10 (approx..this weeknd)
the small drops are pretty impressive… he is critic proof
I found the beginning slow as well, but once it got going it really hooked you. I was more interested in the visceral, vocal response from the entire theater audience during the climax. And afterward, everyone around the San Diego megaplex I watched it at seemed to be shouting at each other about how crazy it was…I’d throw my hat in the long legs camp.