Salty Catfish
Member
I can see it hitting $50 mil. opening weekend and then word of mouth being a huge factor from there. With good buzz + overseas $$, it could be a moderate hit.
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Forbes - 'Ghostbusters' Box Office: Is A $50 Million Weekend A Big Enough Debut?
- Thread starter bananafactory
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It is a soft reboot the previous entries don't exist in that universe, bill murray and ackroyd appear in different roles as cameos.
So yay incorrect snide comment?
franknbeans
Member
At least he's not lonely?
alfredofroylan
Member
What?... How?... Why?
Mortimer Brewster
Member
Hit the nail on the head. What made Ghostbusters not only work but become the mega hit was the 4 headed creative hydra that was Murray,Aykroyd, Ramis and Reitman. All four of them were at the height of their comedic peak when the first came out. Plus them all being friends and frequent collaborators through Second City,SNL, National Lampoons, films etc they all had a creative comic synergy that caught lightning in a bottle. And it was the original talents creative of them that resonated with audiences not the concept.
her?
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Looks hilarious.
Mushroomer25
Member
I am so onboard for this shitty, shitty idea.
Especially if Channing Tatum gets his proposed Ghostbusters spinoff movie with Chris Pratt made. So you'd have a Ghostbuster squad of Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, and two Channing Tatums.
lightskintwin
Banned
Man, i gotta agree, because no way this movie looks like it needs such an excessive budget. I honestly thought at most it was 70 to 80 million.
Dark Ninja
Member
150 Million!! Hahaha
Well now.
They were regularly spending $80M on Adam Sandler comedies not too long ago.
andythinkpad
Member
That's a huge budget for comedy. It shouldn't be 30% more than Pixels
MHWilliams
Member
So I wrote this whole thing on mobile and Safari ate it, so, here we go again.
We've discussed this before. The issue is Ghostbusters is an special effects heavy action -comedy. When you actually look at the numbers, the original Ghostbusters and Men in Black are special. They are not even matched by their sequels.
From Box Office Mojo (Budget, Opening weekend, Domestic Total, Worldwide Total)
Ghostbusters: $30 million budget | $13,578,151 OP | $242,212,467 Domestic | $295,212,467 WW
Ghostbusters II: $37 million budget | $29,472,894 OP | $112,494,738 Domestic | $215,394,738 WW
Men in Black: $90 million budget | $51,068,455 OP | $250,690,539 Domestic | $589,390,539 WW
Men in Black II: $140 million budget | $52,148,751 OP | $190,418,803 Domestic | $441,818,803 WW
MIB 3: $225 million budget | $54,592,779 OP | $179,020,854 Domestic | $624,026,776 WW
GB2 had less than half its predecessor's domestic take. MIB3 only beat MIB because of a growing international market.
The truth is the comedy film game is hard as hell above a certain budget. Comedies don't make money like that on the regular. Let's take a look at the lists.
Action - Buddy Comedy: The strongest list, led by MIB and Rush Hour 2. But number #6 is The Heat, starring McCarthy and directed by Feig, at only $159 million domestic. Sci Fi Comedy if all three MIB films and then Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Horror Comedy is Ghostbusters followed by Scary Movie, with $157 million domestic. Seriously, look at the drop offs.
Comedy films are usually predicated on making money because they have rather low budgets. Once you add special effects into the list, things start to go awry.
A great shot for the Geboot would $40-50 million and $200 million domestic, which would put it in 22 Jump Street and Men in Black II territory. Sony should be damned happy with that. The problem is the budget $140 million (same problem MIB2 had, by the by). 22 Jump Street made roughly $144 million in profit, since it had a worldwide take of $331 million and a production budget of $58 million. Throw another $90 million on that production budget and a ton of marketing and I think GB 2016 needs around $400+ million, which again, is hard for a comedy.
Even if it's amazing, the film has an uphill battle to profitability and if it hits it, you'll hear Sony shouting it from the rooftops and greenlighting that second GB film and a sequel immediately.
And no, the budget really isn't out there.
We've discussed this before. The issue is Ghostbusters is an special effects heavy action -comedy. When you actually look at the numbers, the original Ghostbusters and Men in Black are special. They are not even matched by their sequels.
From Box Office Mojo (Budget, Opening weekend, Domestic Total, Worldwide Total)
Ghostbusters: $30 million budget | $13,578,151 OP | $242,212,467 Domestic | $295,212,467 WW
Ghostbusters II: $37 million budget | $29,472,894 OP | $112,494,738 Domestic | $215,394,738 WW
Men in Black: $90 million budget | $51,068,455 OP | $250,690,539 Domestic | $589,390,539 WW
Men in Black II: $140 million budget | $52,148,751 OP | $190,418,803 Domestic | $441,818,803 WW
MIB 3: $225 million budget | $54,592,779 OP | $179,020,854 Domestic | $624,026,776 WW
GB2 had less than half its predecessor's domestic take. MIB3 only beat MIB because of a growing international market.
The truth is the comedy film game is hard as hell above a certain budget. Comedies don't make money like that on the regular. Let's take a look at the lists.
Action - Buddy Comedy: The strongest list, led by MIB and Rush Hour 2. But number #6 is The Heat, starring McCarthy and directed by Feig, at only $159 million domestic. Sci Fi Comedy if all three MIB films and then Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Horror Comedy is Ghostbusters followed by Scary Movie, with $157 million domestic. Seriously, look at the drop offs.
Comedy films are usually predicated on making money because they have rather low budgets. Once you add special effects into the list, things start to go awry.
A great shot for the Geboot would $40-50 million and $200 million domestic, which would put it in 22 Jump Street and Men in Black II territory. Sony should be damned happy with that. The problem is the budget $140 million (same problem MIB2 had, by the by). 22 Jump Street made roughly $144 million in profit, since it had a worldwide take of $331 million and a production budget of $58 million. Throw another $90 million on that production budget and a ton of marketing and I think GB 2016 needs around $400+ million, which again, is hard for a comedy.
Even if it's amazing, the film has an uphill battle to profitability and if it hits it, you'll hear Sony shouting it from the rooftops and greenlighting that second GB film and a sequel immediately.
And no, the budget really isn't out there.
A Link to the Past
Banned
EDIT: It should also be noted that profit-wise, even with MIB3 beating MIB in terms of revenue, the overall box office earnings minus the budget has MIB well ahead of 3.
I don't agree with this notion. While they were the draw for the film, do you think that we had Ghostbusters toys because kids thought Dan Akyroyd was the coolest? There are tons of people who love GB for the concept more than they do the actors, because they are people who didn't even grow up with the actors.
I don't agree with this notion. While they were the draw for the film, do you think that we had Ghostbusters toys because kids thought Dan Akyroyd was the coolest? There are tons of people who love GB for the concept more than they do the actors, because they are people who didn't even grow up with the actors.
Oh my
BreezyLimbo
Banned
NO YOU SEE
SLIMER NEEDS A FEMALE COMPANION. AND SHE NEEDS A WIG, KINDA LIKE MS. PACMAN. AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING A CAR. THIS IS GRAND THEFT SLIMER. HAHAHAHAHA.
Boy I kinda wanna see this movie just so I could get my yearly cringe out of the way
MagnaderAlpha
Member
I remember when that one guy said he saw an early screening and basically talked about everything that was eventually seen in all the trailers(before mostly all of the trailers were released). Female Slimer was one of them. Sigh.... so that means....
Rowan went to high school with a few of the Ghostbusters(I think with Abby and Erin), was teased considerably and is now using his powers to get even.... ON THE WORLD.
bananafactory
Banned
I had the toys. But I'm still not convinced we loved the actual concept of Ghostbusting, or the world in which it took place. We liked the toys because well, kids like toys in general. And these ones happened to function on both the 'fun' level AND remind us of a movie we really liked. A movie that worked largely and I would argue MOSTLY because of its cast and incredible mix of comedy/slapstick/offbeat zaniness.
I'm not trying to speak for everyone - of course there are people out there who do care about this stuff.
But there's a reason there isn't an expanded Ghostbusters universe, or tons of fan fiction or novels further or much of any media beyond the brief Saturday morning cartoons - that is, because no one really cares.
Great post. Thanks man
A Link to the Past
Banned
But there's a Ghostbusters comics, and a lot of the cartoons don't have the main cast. GB's done pretty well for itself beyond the star power of the original.
ChaosZeroX
Banned
If its good I can see it making much more, but I don't think it will be from the trailers.
Looks terrible, but I do see it at least making 35-45 mil
Looks terrible, but I do see it at least making 35-45 mil
bananafactory
Banned
Again, i'm not saying that audience doesn't exist. Sure they are there.
But we are talking about the potential box office numbers in the hundreds of millions and there simply aren't enough people who care about the actual premise of this to boost it more than maybe like, 5-10 million total. Of course, I'm just pulling numbers out of my ass but you get my drift.
My argument is directed at the idea that the film should get some massive, significant jump because of how popular the franchise is, but I think those people are grossly overestimating that effect. Thats all I'm trying to argue
Please no. I've defended this film and insisted on giving it the benefit of the doubt. Oy vey.
A $50m opening weekend would be solid for Ghostbusters. The real test will be the second weekend, can it hold well with audiences?
We've seen how ID2 collapsed something like 70% in its second weekend. If this new Ghostbusters film were to perform similarly it doesn't really matter how well it opened. It shows that there just isn't an audience for a Ghostbusters film in this day and age let alone a whole cinematic universe as Sony was proposing.
We've seen how ID2 collapsed something like 70% in its second weekend. If this new Ghostbusters film were to perform similarly it doesn't really matter how well it opened. It shows that there just isn't an audience for a Ghostbusters film in this day and age let alone a whole cinematic universe as Sony was proposing.
n00bsauce87
Member
If they don't make half of that, it'll be a failure.
Overall if it breaks even,it fails.
But due to China and other major overseas markets, it'll be an international success.
SlipperyFishes
Banned
It's worrying because unless I missed them there are no pre release reviews for this film and usually you'd see promos wth box quotes. Haven't seen a single one.
The embargo for reviews isn't up yet. I believe the movie will be out this weekend in the UK so we should have reviews soon.
IIRC the UK gets Tarzan and The Secret Life Of Pets this Friday and then Ghostbusters is released on Monday the 11th.
The Elite
BOSS
The Den of Geek interview yesterday suggests reviewers have seen it so hopefully we will get something soon. You usually don't see a quote commercial until the opening weekend. "It's out and here is what critics are saying about it."
Will this film have any respectable rivals for the Best Picture nomination at the Oscars this year?
The Elite
BOSS
Yeah, that's what we need. More talking animal movies having success so we can get more talking animal movies.
Hopefully Ghostbusters puts it down.
Mortimer Brewster
Member
It was the 80's everything I mean everything had toys and cartoons. The fucking Toxic Avenger had crossover merch and a cartoon.
Having Toys in that day and age isn't enough proof that the concept was what was important.
They done that before in the cartoon, haven't they? Slimer getting a girlfriend (if that is what I'm seeing) sounds like an idea that would have been used eventually even in the 90s.
As for the box office, I reckon this will be successful enough to get a sequel.
Funny enough McCarthy is one of the few 'bankable' (within her niche at least) stars out there at the moment. You can put her in any $30-$50m budgeted comedy and make a sizable profit, the problem here is that $150m is outside of her niche.
Why is Ghostbusters more deserving than 'Pets' of financial success? Let's remember that Ghostbusters is a tired IP that's being brought back by a studio that's trying to crowbar it into a cinematic universe. It's like it ticks off everything on the list of reasons why people get tired of big studio films.
D
Deleted member 74300
Unconfirmed Member
BronsonLee
Member
What if Scarlett Johansson was a Ghostbusters
The Elite
BOSS
Simply because we get a talking animal movie about once a month these days. Ghostbusters is hardly a tired IP. It's been dormant in the film space since Ghostbusters 2 was released in 1989. Sure, it's not original but it's a fresh attempt at an old idea.
You talk about the list of reasons why people get tired of big studio films yet ignore the fact that talking animal films are regurgitated over and over again by said studios because the public eats them up.
One less talking animal franchise being launched is a victory IMO.
Oh yeah? Well I hope it shits all over Ghostbusters.
As big of a Ghostbusters fan that I am, and as much as I am looking towards the new movie, to be honest, Secret Life of Pets looks a lot funnier to me. I'm excited to see that movie...
D
Deleted member 74300
Unconfirmed Member
A Ghostbusters with the Avengers cast would be the greatest thing ever. I could definitely imagine Robert Downey Jr. as Peter Venkman.
lightskintwin
Banned
Instant Lucy numbers.
But if people go and see them then who are you to say that they shouldn't be made?! You may be tired of talking animal films but clearly there's an audience who are not.
There's a really important point that you haven't considered. It is showbiz. It is show business.
The market will determine what the studios should make. If talking animal films make money it would be madness to not produce one and cash in.
Just as the market will dictate if the Ghostbusters film is not only a hit but worthy of sequels.
The Elite
BOSS
I don't see how what you highlighted is me not considering the business of film. I am addressing the problem directly.
I never denied the business of making these films. You're the one who brought up the list of reasons why people get tired of big studio films and I am suggesting one of those reasons is originality. I don't see originality in dragging out another talking animal film every single month. I know the audience eats up and I know why studios continue to bank roll more, but personally, I'm tired of it.
Suggesting that Ghostbusters is a tired IP when it hasn't been used in film for 25 years and then wanting it to be steamrolled by the talking animal film of the month is hypocrisy. Ghostbusters may not be original but it looks a hell of a lot more interesting to me than Secret lives of Pets.
Sho_Nuff82
Member
They had a co-marketing deal with the NBA, it was impossible to miss if you watched the basketball playoffs (one of the highest-rated ones of all time iirc).
BronsonLee
Member
God he'd be such a little shit if he was Venkman
I still don't understand how that movie blew up the way it did
The only thing I would argue against is that ticket prices in 1989 were like $4 (according to Google). The average ticket price is easily double that now, which makes GB2 closer to a roughly $430 million take in today's world. If GB2016 opens at $50m, it will probably have a hard time even matching GB2 performance after adjusting for inflation in ticket prices. Ghostbusters 2 was still a top 10 movie in 1989, even if it was particularly well received.
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