Box-Office Analysts: Zac Efron Poised to Defeat Spider-Man

[medv4380]

Just looked them up on Box office Mojo

Well if you'd bother to watch the showdown [http://boxofficemojo.com/showdowns/chart/?view=daily&id=superhero2014.htm] on bom, or learn how to read the numbers you'd understand why it's failing.

TWS had 3938 theaters and made 24,130 each
ASM2 had 4324 theaters and made 21,186 each

TWS had 9% fewers theaters but made 12% more for each theater.

Understanding all that goes into estimating a box office weekend is complicated, but part of what makes that opening box office what it is happens to be theater count. Sony got more theaters expecting to be able to make more money because of more interest in spider-man. Not being able to beat Cap when you have a 386 theater count lead is a big deal when measuring a movies success. TWS is also not considered actually in the Summer Movie Season, and ASM2 is considered to be the first actual film to start Summer. Part of this is Summer Movie Creep, but Summer is supposed to be the driving factor in the Box Office when targeting kids that are typically in school in April. Opening on final exam week was also probably not a smart move on Sony's part, but that's why summer creep is bad.

The Monday after is also a big indicator for the remaining success. The weekend percentage deltas are normal for each franchise, but the First monday for TWS was a 73.5% drop where for ASM2 the drop is 77.8%. Now compare that to AMS 57.7%, or the first Spider-man film of 65.3%.

Cap isn't designed to be anything other than a 150 to 200 million dollar franchise, and as such it's meet expectations and exceeding them in many cases. The concern with Cap has always been that a character that wears the countries flag isn't going to go over well with the General Audience. Digging down all the way to the Ukraine just to find countries that Spider-man beat Cap isn't a good point in your favor because of that very issue.

Spider-man is supposed to be a 300+ million domestic franchise. He's had 4 plus titles running each month, and had been the top selling character of Marvel for decades though currently that's been wavering. If ASM2 only barely breaks 200M domestic it will be a disappointment, and that's exactly where it is headed.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Disappointing perhaps, but I doubt Sony will let go just yet. I am a fanboy. I want Spider-man in the Avengers dammit.

 

[shighhopes]

snip

For what it's worth Bob, it appears TASM2 is the movie that broke Film Critic Hulk as well. He just wrote an essay comprising of 237 burning questions about the most 'insidious, horrible storytelling ever.'

I... just might watch this movie.

Thank God, someone has finally pinpointed what irks me so much about the scripts of Kurtzman/Orci... their heroes are practically infallible and Always Right, not by the virtue of certain moral principles, competence or wisdom, but simply by them being the "most important, most talented, most interesting and most extraordinary person in the Universe" (thx Lego Movie) because Destiny and stuff. Neither Kirk or TASM Spidey (or Sam Witwicky for that matter) is ever directly responsible for anything bad that happens to them or others, there are always oh-so-conventient loopholes present to shield them from being in the wrong for any reason or making any meaningful compromise or sacrifice. Their "destiny" is not that of Luke Skywalker or Neo, but that of some spoiled, privileged only child to whom nobody ever dared to say "no" without eventually giving in to their tantrums.

I don't know their exact role in creating the awesomeness that was Transformers Prime, but given their track record I would be very surprised if it had been anything but negligible.

 

[Ashley Blalock]

If Spidey got beat at the box office this weekend and the studios walked away with a lesson that you need a good movie not just a popular name that would be something nice. Sadly I don't think the studios would catch onto the idea that they need to make their superhero movies better if they want more people to show up to buy tickets.

I know it's too much to hope for but maybe people are starting to get a little more picky about films. If people not going out to see the most advertised film can bring a change to film making then hey whatever it takes to get better films over films just wanting to set up hallow endless franchises.

 

[Trishbot]

I cannot comment on the movie itself, some reviewers say it's good, Bob hates it because it strays too far from the golden age gawky nerd version that Toby portrayed so very well. This disregards the latest incarnation of Parker, who when not possessed by Doc Ock, looks like this:

Notice any similarities?

Oh yeah, definitely.

Looks just like Tobey Maguire to me.

I'm not sure if that was your intent, because even though I LIKE Andrew Garfield in the role, he doesn't look much like the comic version you posted:

 

[martyrdrebel27]

..."beating" a Marvel superhero with an R-rated comedy is the box-office equipment of taking down an elephant with a pellet gun: Difficult, but not impossible...

equivalent, not equipment.

 

[God of Path]

It feels like a shame that ASM2 will make it's money on worldwide gross. It seems like the new Modus Operandi for these films is to just throw money into the effects budget and count on making it back in China and Europe, eschewing pillars of solid film-making (especially for some of the more recent superhero movies). It's super disappointing to see characters changed so drastically to the point where it becomes obvious studios are just using comics as a hook to sell the movie. What hurts is that these characters often bare little to no resemblance to their namesakes. (I'm still salty about Man of Steel)

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

snip

I think he's referring to the comics, not the film version of Peter Parker, with the reference to being possessed by Doc Ock and all.

OT: Okay, that's it! Not one more word about the new Spider-Man movies! We get it already! You hate them. You've provided ample explanation why you hate them. It's enough. We understand. Focus your attention on something else now. Like the upcoming X-Men movie. Maybe tell us a bit about the original comic it's based on? Because judging by what I know of it so far, it sounds incredibly stupid.

captcha: better next time. Maybe not, considering how Bob's taken these Spiderman movies so far.

 

[lee1287]

Seen Both, Prefer Bad Neighbors. TASM2 Was good, but just not very good. Bad Neighbors was Much, much better. Plus who doesn't love Shirtless Zac Efron more than Garfield?!

 

[daibakuha]

What's wrong, did this movie have too much meaningful story with subtle emotion and not enough of the obvious silly gags that the Marvel Cinematic Universe relies on?

P.S. Thanks

P.P.S. Seriously, I haven't seen this one yet, but that's the only guess I have; Marvel fans seem to like one specific type of writing, one that Disney has figured out how to produce consistently, and even if this movie turns out not to be great, it's at least nice to see something that doesn't feel like more of the same.

What you don't seem to understand is that fans of Marvel's approach to movies like good writing and characters whose actions make sense in a narrative that also makes sense.

TASM2 has none of this. It's another Orci/Kurtzman disaster.

 

[Covarr]

What's wrong, did this movie have too much meaningful story with subtle emotion and not enough of the obvious silly gags that the Marvel Cinematic Universe relies on?

P.S. Thanks

P.P.S. Seriously, I haven't seen this one yet, but that's the only guess I have; Marvel fans seem to like one specific type of writing, one that Disney has figured out how to produce consistently, and even if this movie turns out not to be great, it's at least nice to see something that doesn't feel like more of the same.

What you don't seem to understand is that fans of Marvel's approach to movies like good writing and characters whose actions make sense in a narrative that also makes sense.

Marvel fans liked Iron Man 2, which had no good writing or sensible action, and even the "better" Marvel movies beat you over the head with poorly-explained plots (wtf did Loki do in The Avengers? Nothing) and stupid jokes. Iron Man 3, which was easily the best Marvel movie in terms of meaningful character development and character behavior that made sense, was considered by the fanbase to be the worst one, I assume because it had too much talking and not enough mindless action.

TASM2 has none of this. It's another Orci/Kurtzman disaster

Ugh, I didn't realize these two were behind it. I don't instantly assume their stuff is crap?after all, MI3 and Fringe were both quite good?but I'm definitely cautious going into anything they do. Enders Game, Transformers, and Star Trek proved that they're quite capable of writing utter rubbish. Quite frankly now I wanna see it more just to see what they've done to it, because these guys really are wildcards.

P.S. Thanks

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I'll just say, in the battle between Neighbors and TASM2...

... Go see The Winter Soldier instead. Or see it twice/three times.

Win right here. All of the win.

I'm sorry Sony, but you never had a chance of out performing The Winter Soldier. Marvel has been at this too long, they have built up too much a fanbase, and they are making too good of movies for you to come in and dethrone them just like that. Lower the expectations just a bit next time.
Although, if this article turns out to be true, you um...might want to lower them even more.

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

I cannot comment on the movie itself, some reviewers say it's good, Bob hates it because it strays too far from the golden age gawky nerd version that Toby portrayed so very well. This disregards the latest incarnation of Parker, who when not possessed by Doc Ock, looks like this:

Notice any similarities?

Oh yeah, definitely.

Looks just like Tobey Maguire to me.

I'm not sure if that was your intent, because even though I LIKE Andrew Garfield in the role, he doesn't look much like the comic version you posted:

If it makes everyone feel better, as far as I'm concerned, both pictures are interchangeable when it comes to Peter Parker in the comics. I'll concede that McGuire's face fits a little better to the picture given, but really that's only because both faces are looking up an nearly the same angle while Garfield is looking downward. Either way, the point Remus tried to make is that Bob is still in the mindset that this Peter Parker...

... is still a version that modern high school students will identify with. You know, the idea that kids become outcasted because they like the science and the maths and not because of the social anxieties and disorders caused by educational pressure and a lack of people skills in an age of digital social networking.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I watched "Bad Neighbours" this past weekend and was as surprised as my friend when I found I enjoyed it. I'm not normally a fan of Seth Rogen, having like only "Green Hornet" from his other films but Bad Neighbours was a fun, funny and enjoyable film.

I have no intention of paying to watch ASM2.

 

[daibakuha]

Marvel fans liked Iron Man 2, which had no good writing or sensible action, and even the "better" Marvel movies beat you over the head with poorly-explained plots (wtf did Loki do in The Avengers? Nothing) and stupid jokes. Iron Man 3, which was easily the best Marvel movie in terms of meaningful character development and character behavior that made sense, was considered by the fanbase to be the worst one, I assume because it had too much talking and not enough mindless action.

Iron Man 2 is frequently ranked one of the worst films, if not the worst film in the entire franchise to date. It's a mess of a movie.

I also wouldn't call the plots "poorly explained" it's more like, they don't feel the need to blatantly explain every single minute detail of the film to you.

 

[Dragonblade146]

.. Okay, call me the odd egg out. But I loved TASM2. Not because it was Spider-Man or anything like that. But its a good super-hero movie. Not every good super-hero movie has to be on par with the "Avengers" (which frankly I felt was very good but was not as good as TASM2). I mean look at The Punisher from 2004. It didn't do that well in the box office. But god damn if that isn't one fine piece of movie right there.
All these complaints that come from TASM2 that I hear, I just can't really get behind. I enjoyed it. I liked the characters. I liked the way they moved along from the first movie and kept their arc going.
Secondly. As per the story and not everyone "getting it". Its from the Ultimate line of Spider-Man comics? The story does play out differently in a sense. Yeah it has some nabs from the more classic Spider-Man but the ultimate comes first.

I'm just confused on why everyone thinks this movie "bombed". It made its money back, and its only been one week. Who cares? It had a good story, nice action, and great effects.
The same could be said fr Cap 2. Decent story, good action, and pretty effects.
But I still think TASM2 was better. I think it was better then most of the Marvel movies out there.
-Shrugs.-
But that's just my opinion.
Now bring me the hate and telling my opinion is wrong. I know at some point I'm going to get it.

 

[daibakuha]

Now bring me the hate and telling my opinion is wrong. I know at some point I'm going to get it.

Your opinion is wrong and you should probably educate yourself as to what constitutes a good movie before saying anything.

 

[Dendio]

I think the amazing spider man 2 was the best spiderman ever made. I also think its doing great at the box office. Its a huge success, not a bomb in any aspect

 

[Alex Matias]

I don't think I've seen a Spiderman movie in, like, 10 years or so; the movies have all looked a bit on the boring side to me and I honestly don't remember ever seeing Andrew Garfield in anything, let alone anything I've enjoyed, so I just chose not to go see Spiderman.

I'll probably go see Neighbors though because I like Zac Efron, and the movie looks funny and it's May and neither How to Train Your Dragon nor Planet of the Apes ist out yet, so I'll take what I get.