Support NeoGAF

[SonicMegaDrive]

Surprised Ghostbusters is even that high. Opening night had like 8 pre reserved seats in my town lol

Independence Day did better business on Saturday than Ghostbusters did at my location. Not a good sign.

 

[TGO]

No surprised by Ghostbusters, I've seen tweets from people who went to see it and the cinema was empty
40 for the first week is bad, it's only gonna drop now.

Found it

Oh look Boogies Cinema was empty too

 

[excelsiorlef]

Yes. GB is a major franchise and for the first new film in over 20 years to bomb like this with a huge bankable star like McCarthy, you better believe you won't be seeing a sequel anytime soon.

Y8u realize this is the highest grossing opening weekend of McCarthy's careee right.

 

[alfredofroylan]

August 12 AFAIK.

A few days before school, when pretty much everybody is spending money on school supplies... what the heck Sony?

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Y8u realize this is the highest grossing opening weekend of McCarthy's careee right.

What he's trying to say is that the star power of McCarthy plus the license of Ghostbusters should have been able to do better than this

 

[AlteredBeast]

Here's an idea: let's make an action/comedy/sci-fi movie with all women and give it a 144 million dollar budget...

Bravo to Sony for trying, but that was about the dumbest business move ever...

 

[TGO]

Y8u realize this is the highest grossing opening weekend of McCarthy's careee right.

Which says a lot about her career.

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Here's an idea: let's make an action/comedy/sci-fi movie with all women and give it a 144 million dollar budget...

Bravo to Sony for trying, but that was about the dumbest business move ever...

Do you genuinely think that the only reason the movie didn't do well was the female cast?

 

[Father_Brain]

Y8u realize this is the highest grossing opening weekend of McCarthy's careee right.

Right, which is why this more a case of demographic mismatch (with questionable marketing to boot) than an outright bomb.

You don't hire McCarthy and Wiig as the most recognizable members of an all-female cast and expect to draw young male viewers in droves.

 

[broncobuster]

Ghostbusters and ID4-2 both have the Hemsworth connection. Coincidence?

 

[Goodstyle]

GB only made 19 million overseas in UK and Australia.

Wish this film got to open in more places.

 

[Imperial Bishop]

Yikes. GB isn't doing too hot overseas and has no China to lift the boat.
Ghostbusters didn't stand a ghost of a chance.

 

[aBarreras]

To me, Ghostbusters had a stellar opening weekend - let's see how wow plays out domestically; however, overseas it's not playing too well at all so any chance of a sequel is kaput at this point.

Tarzan keeps delivering, praise jesus.

NYSM2 run overseas is quite impressive $203M + 63.5M domestically, should have no problem reaching it's predecessors gross of $350M

i dont know the rest of the word but the fucking movie gets here on mexico on august 12, so fuck that, i want to watch it now!

 

[NomarTyme]

ID4 bombing.

Damn look at those bad Social media PR for Ghostbusters. Next week is going to be grim.

 

[Goodstyle]

Ghostbusters and ID4-2 both have the Hemsworth connection. Coincidence?

Chris Hemsworth is also in the Star Trek reboot and the Vacation reboot.

 

[Culex]

Yikes. GB isn't doing too hot overseas and has no China to lift the boat.
Ghostbusters didn't stand a ghost of a chance.

Yea Sony is going to lose double digit millions on the film...yikes!

 

[Jarmel]

GB only made 19 million overseas in UK and Australia.

Wish this film got to open in more places.

That seems really bad.

 

[Omega Kirby]

Still have to get videogame metacritics out my head, but in movies a score of 60 indicative of a good movie?

 

[Wafflecakes]

I remember once upon a time when Shrek was #3 on the all time US box office list.

I wonder if an animated flick will ever get near that again.

 

[What did he mean by this?]

The mismatch between the spectacle/budget of the Ghostbusters climax versus the choreography/what the characters actually did during it/its necessity for the plot was so egregious. Sony, no!

 

[TGO]

Right, which is why this more a case of demographic mismatch (with questionable marketing to boot) than an outright bomb.

You don't hire McCarthy and Wiig as the most recognizable members of an all-female cast and expect to draw young male viewers in droves.

Have you seen it?
The film is surprising....I don't wanna say sexist but every male character is dumb and lets not forget

Spoiler

how they defeat the stupid bad guy at the end by shooting him in the nuts

.
Its definitely a female film.

I hope Sony considers green lighting the Russo Brothers pitch for Ghostbusters now or just leave it be.

 

[Dash_Riprock]

That seems really bad.

And both of these are English-speaking countries, so the language barrier that plagues most comedies' international grosses doesn't apply

 

[AlteredBeast]

Do you genuinely think that the only reason the movie didn't do well was the female cast?

Not the only reason, no, but a large part of it. Men see the most action/comedies and a lot of men don't find women funny. It is admirable that they decided to go all women, but unless you get a runaway hit like Bridesmaids, it is more likely to do middling numbers, which, coupled with a 250mm all-in cost, is a huge blunder.

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Still have to get videogame metacritics out my head, but in movies a score of 60 indicative of a good movie?

Movie metacritics are way more divisive than games

 

[bananafactory]

Do you genuinely think that the only reason the movie didn't do well was the female cast?

Seriously. The cast/sexism topic is fun, but again I doubt it played much part in the box office take.

It's the fact that it's not a sequel to the GB people love, and doesn't have the actors/characters they love. People don't really wanna go see ghosts get busted, they want to see Venkman busting those ghosts. Whether it was Melissa McCarthy or Chris Pine doing that makes little difference, in this case.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Which says a lot about her career.

Lol what?

 

[TGO]

Lol what?

The type of success they wanted was never gonna happen with her or Paul Feig.

 

[sangreal]

Universal has apparently figured out to make animated successes. Is it too early to call them the new Dreamworks? Or is that a disparaging comparison at this point?

Well, they do own Dreamworks now...

 

[Bizazedo]

Leslie Jones and McCarthy should've been opposite characters. Anecdotally (I know, I know), friends of mine were fine with the all-female cast, but the parts of the trailer with the yelling Patti turned them off.

Ticks me off, too, because Leslie Jones was awesome in Top Five.

It doesn't matter if that's what she's like in real life, btw. Cutting off that argument now.

 

[excelsiorlef]

The type of success they wanted was never gonna happen with her or Paul Feig.

Or probaly anyone including the originals

But that doesn't speak ill of McCarthy's career

 

[Sulik2]

With its budget and no China GB needed probably what 70 - 80 million to do enough domestic to make money?

Dory still making bank despite pets cutting into its legs.

 

[vinnygambini]

While TMNT 2 is an upgrade over it's predecessor, it was always going to be a hard sell to all those people who got burned by that godawful first film.

I'm also not sure how much the film appealed to kids. I took my little nephew to the original one and he told me he didn't like the film because the Turtles were too scary. Despite being a fan of the Nickelodeon cartoon, he did not want to go see the new one.

It was better than it's predecessor for sure, though I believe the release date didn't give any breathing room for the film to be successful in the marketplace.

There's less competition in August and I think I would have fared better as a result, though like you mentioned, it was an uphill battle following the lackluster reception of the first film.

 

[Lothar]

The reviews for Ghostbusters are not too great. Many of the RT reviews marked fresh just say it's ok or give it a 5 out of 10. The consensus at RT says it pales in comparison to the original. I couldn't imagine paying money to see a worst version of a movie I already saw. Maybe I'll check it out if it's on TV one day. Reviewers that I trust and those that seem apart from the controversy like Richard Roeper and Double Toasted ripped it to pieces.

Also every second of the trailer looked like complete garbage.

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Not the only reason, no, but a large part of it. Men see the most action/comedies and a lot of men don't find women funny. It is admirable that they decided to go all women, but unless you get a runaway hit like Bridesmaids, it is more likely to do middling numbers, which, coupled with a 250mm all-in cost, is a huge blunder.

Awful marketing (including piss poor marketing deals with shit like Papa John's, BCLC, Progressive, extremely difficult to get ecto cooler, etc) and being out of touch with their audience caused this. Not female Ghostbusters. This movie would have flopped with 4 new male Ghostbusters.

Seriously. The cast/sexism topic is fun, but again I doubt it played much part in the box office take.

It's the fact that it's not a sequel to the GB people love, and doesn't have the actors/characters they love. People don't really wanna go see ghosts get busted, they want to see Venkman busting those ghosts. Whether it was Melissa McCarthy or Chris Pine doing that makes little difference, in this case.

Yep. Ghostbusters movie plans should have died with Harold Ramis. McCarthy and co are fine actors, and I'm sure the movie itself it good, but the actual marketing and ideas behind this were incredibly off target.

Or probaly anyone including the originals

But that doesn't speak ill of McCarthy's career

No one said anything bad about her career, just that the financial expectations for a movie revolving around her were too high.

 

[AlteredBeast]

How many successful action comedies featuring all or leading women casts have done over 100mm domestic? I would wager fewer than 5, although I haven't action done any research.

You can say the sexism/casg angle os played out, but I think it is definitely valid.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

So many Facebook comments to the tune of "Ghostbusters couldnt even beat a 2-week old pets animated movie. Bomb!"

Why are people being so asinine over this film? Even toys and the soundtrack have one-star reviews saying how this new film is ruining the franchise and raping their childhood. I dont recall the much worse recent TMNT films getting this much backlash.

 

[Christopher]

Maybe people just don't want to see it?

 

[Calm Killer]

Yes. GB is a major franchise and for the first new film in over 20 years to bomb like this with a huge bankable star like McCarthy, you better believe you won't be seeing a sequel anytime soon.

McCarthy is the main reason I won't be seeing it. I don't find her funny. I wouldn't consider her a bankable star. I haven't liked a movie she has been in since bridesmaids. I think alot of other people feel the same.

 

[vinnygambini]

McCarthy is the main reason I won't be seeing it. I don't fine her funny. I wouldn't consider her a bankable star. I haven't liked a movie she has been in since bridesmaids. I think alot of other people feel the same.

Her box-office multiples and domestic successes would suggest otherwise - though I understand if it's not your cup of tea, she's one of the few bankable stars in the US at the moment. SONY can be thankful she starred in the pic as the result would have been much worse without her at the forefront.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Her box-office multiples and domestic successes would suggest otherwise - though I understand if it's not your cup of tea, she's one of the few bankable stars in the US at the moment.

On average, her films make more than Kevin Hart, and nobody doubts his credentials

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

Have you seen it?
The film is surprising....I don't wanna say sexist but every male character is dumb and lets not forget

Spoiler

how they defeat the stupid bad guy at the end by shooting him in the nuts

.
Its definitely a female film.

I hope Sony considers green lighting the Russo Brothers pitch for Ghostbusters now or just leave it be.

Kevin is dumb. That's about it. Saying "Every male character is dumb" is completely false. Is the mayor dumb? How about Ed Mulgrave? Agent Hawkins and Rourke? Officer Stevenson? Rowan North himself? I can name off more characters from the film if you like. Your bias is showing.

Also the "stupid bad guy" was defeated by

Spoiler

the ghost portal being reversed. The "nut shot" (do big burlap sack ghosts has nuts?) was to loosen his grip on the buildings.

Now I'm wondering if you've seen it.

 

[The Beard]

Depends on the legs. Anything more than a 30% drop next week will be a pretty terrible blow to it's life span in the theaters. And next week it will have to contend with the already released Pets, Tarzan, Dory, and the new releases Ice Age 5 and Star Trek.

Sony sent that movie out to get killed.

Edit: And a new Bourne movie the week after! Sweet jesus Sony, what were you thinking?

How do you figure? Does anybody give a shit about Ice Age anymore? Wasn't the last Star Trek a flop?

Edit: just looked it up. The last Star Trek wasn't a flop, but it wasn't very successful considering its good reviews and its $190mil budget.

 

[Calm Killer]

Her box-office multiples and domestic successes would suggest otherwise - though I understand if it's not your cup of tea, she's one of the few bankable stars in the US at the moment.

I guess I just have different taste then. I think the rest of the casting is good, but she ruined it for me.

To me its like Chris Farley. I enjoyed him, but after so many movies, it was just the same thing over again.

 

[bengraven]

Those Ghostbusters user ratings make me sick.

 

[vinnygambini]

On average, her films make more than Kevin Hart, and nobody doubts his credentials

Yup. I mean, look at Tammy. Terrible, terrible film by all counts, and yet almost a multiple of 4 - that's pretty fantastic.

I guess I just have different taste then. I think the rest of the casting is good, but she ruined it for me.

To me its like Chris Farley. I enjoyed him, but after so many movies, it was just the same thing over again.

I understand.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

I'd personally like to see Ghostbusters at least one more time while its in theaters.

I made the mistake of paying for IMAX 3D the first time though.

Not that it was bad or anything but now I'm spoiled...and those tickets are goddamn expensive.

 

[Calm Killer]

It's not honest of me, if this was the only reason I dont want to see though. I do feel like this was a movie that was not needed. I wanted a true sequel. To me not recognizing the original in the timeline turned me off as well.

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

I'd personally like to see Ghostbusters at least one more time while its in theaters.

I made the mistake of paying for IMAX 3D the first time though.

Not that it was bad or anything but now I'm spoiled...and those tickets are goddamn expensive.

Well, at the very least, you'll have all the leg room you could ever want.

 

[Harmen]

I think the people here saying Ghostbusters budget is way too high are absolutely right. Now it has to be extremely succesful for Sony for the film to even be worthwhile. And in addition to that, starting a cinematic universe before even delivering an popular/great film doesn't seem like a good strategy as well. Even if a film is just solid or even good, chances that it is enough to kickstart something like MCU are slim. Especially in the genre of Ghostbusters.

Still, I think Ghostbusters could've been more succesful than the way it is headed to be honest. The trailers were plain bad to many and the word of mouth over here is not all that hot to be honest. It did fairly well with the critics and on gaf there are quite some people digging it, so I am interested in seeing it one day, but Sony did an extremely poor job at marketing the film in my opinion. And in regards to the whole sexism thing, sure, there is a group of males bashing the film because it has female leads, but in the end I doubt those idiots make up a significant part of it's potential audience. That whole sexism discussion in general didn't do the film any favour I feel. Basically every review I have seen or read starts out with a big chunk debating sexism, including mainstream outlets like the newspapers over here. That is not what you want when marketing a feelgood blockbuster comedy to be honest.

And in regards to it's legs, the other films that are coming the next week(s) make me believe GB won't do well in that regard.

 

[TGO]

Kevin is dumb. That's about it. Saying "Every male character is dumb" is completely false. Is the mayor dumb? How about Ed Mulgrave? Agent Hawkins and Rourke? Officer Stevenson? Rowan North himself? I can name off more characters from the film if you like. Your bias is showing.

Also the "stupid bad guy" was defeated by

Spoiler

the ghost portal being reversed. The "nut shot" (do big burlap sack ghosts has nuts?) was to loosen his grip on the buildings.

Now I'm wondering if you've seen it.

You forgot the delivery guy