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[kyliethicc]

"With over $100M in box office worldwide in just one weekend, and a 90% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Uncharted is a new hit movie franchise for the company."

- Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures CEO

Sony Chief Tom Rothman Celebrates “New Hit Movie Franchise” As ‘Uncharted’ Hits Box Office Milestone

Sony Boss Tom Rothman sends email to staff celebrating global success of Tom Holland-Mark Wahlberg movie 'Uncharted'.

deadline.com

EXCLUSIVE: Sony’s $106.4M global box office weekend for Uncharted was another reminder to a streaming-obsessed entertainment industry that the tried-and-true business model of theatrical features still works — and that there’s an audience for them.

Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman underscored this in a companywide email Monday following the success of director Ruben Fleischer’s Tom Holland-Mark Wahlberg movie this past weekend and extolled staffers for delivering a blockbuster hit.

Rather than sell the $120M production off out of financial desperation during the pandemic, Sony believed in the event movie, protected it and waited for the proper time to release it.
The box office results from such actions? Uncharted was supposed to do $30M over four days at the domestic box office; it wound up doing $51M, sending its current worldwide take to $139M. Key words in Rothman’s note below, is that he’s already declared Uncharted “a new hit movie franchise.” When we spoke to Fleischer, he was hopeful about a sequel.

‘Uncharted’ Review: Tom Holland And Mark Wahlberg Team Up In Video Game Adaptation That Is All Too Familiar

While other studios have been going day-and-date with their movies or shaving down the theatrical window, Sony continues to protect the 45-day window on big event films such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Ghostbusters: Afterlife Uncharted and has grossed a huge $3 billion-plus at the global box office since theaters reopened last year from Covid.

Uncharted, as Rothman explains here, was the first major production shut down entirely by Covid. Fleischer told us on Deadline’s Hero Nation podcast that Uncharted, from pre-production to post, took two years.

Sony also had more bragging rights at the Presidents Day weekend box office as Spider-Man: No Way Home ranked third in its tenth weekend of release, making $9M and raising its running stateside gross to close to $772M. Industry estimates believe that Spider-Man: No Way Home has a good shot at getting to a final domestic of $800M.

Here’s Rothman’s memo:

Dear Colleagues,

It is Presidents Day in America, but we are open in most places around the world today and we have another global triumph to celebrate.

With over $100M in box office worldwide in just one weekend, and a 90% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Uncharted is a new hit movie franchise for the company.

This marks a great victory for every single division of the company, as the film was our first major production entirely shut down by the advent of Covid, yet we persevered to complete a picture the audience loves and marketed and distributed it with strategic verve worldwide, despite the pandemic.

The ensuing impact is proof once again of the unmatched cultural power of real movies. On the heels of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Uncharted is yet another blow to the theatrical naysayers and further proof of the efficacy of our model.

I want to thank all of the filmmakers, the wonderful cast and crew, and especially our friends at PlayStation Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment for their support. And of course, I want to thank each and every one of you for your creativity, dedication and belief.

Excelsior!

Tom

 

[Kuranghi]

I don't want to be hyperbolic but the human race is doomed.

 

[RafterXL]

What's the reverse of review bombing and when do we get the articles about how fans are inflating the user score of a shitty movie?

 

[mansoor1980]

sony are onto tom holland

 

[tmlDan]

What's the reverse of review bombing and when do we get the articles about how fans are inflating the user score of a shitty movie?

not everything needs to be oscar bait, i could argue that the marvel films are worse....its all CGI, no substance as well.

Sometimes it's fun to turn off your brain and enjoy a decent flick.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Sony doesn't give a fuck about critics...they have been doing feel-good movies for a while now and they apparently know what audiences want.

Stuff like the latest Jumanji (and its sequel), Venom (and its sequel), the latest Ghostbusters movie and now Uncharted are all hits even if they don't hit fresh (or barely in case of Ghostbusters) on rotten tomatoes.

 

[Zok310]

If anything can make a $100 million in less than a week i would call it a success even if the shit sucks.

 

[Tschumi]

Well, if audience approval works for MEU it can work for UEU

 

[Neolombax]

I'm actually quite looking forward to watch this movie. I heard its not bad. Can't say I agree with the casting but seems like the movie is a fun time overall.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Can’t not wait for Tom Holland to play Aloy in the big screen adaptation!!

 

[YukiOnna]

Can we move on from Tom Holland then?

Only thing this gives me hope for is Uncharted 5...

 

[kyliethicc]

Can’t not wait for Tom Holland to play Aloy in the big screen adaptation!!

lol nah that'll be Zendaya

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

If anything can make a $100 million in less than a week i would call it a success even if the shit sucks.

The thing is, it did over 100M in a weekend so not even a full week...and besides Batman there's nothing huge opening soon. The movie might actually have some legs, even if Batman will kill some of the momentum. 2nd week will tell us more.

Say what you want about Sony but they were that studio that always refused to panic and turn to streaming services to release their stuff during the pandemic and even included the "exclusive to theatres" in every poster.

 

[DryvBy]

Can’t not wait for Tom Holland to play Aloy in the big screen adaptation!!

Tom Holland isn't even the biggest issue for me. It's Marky Mark just being himself. He didn't even need to show up for makeup because it's just Marky Mark playing an old man who doesn't act his age.

 

[dorkimoe]

I cant see those actors coming back for more

 

[Amiga]

I'm salty because of the out of place casting. but I can see how casuals would love the movie. even watered down the original material is amazing.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Seems like a fun movie

Glad it's enjoying some success.

I don't get the Marky Mark haters

 

[Excess]

 

[pqueue]

why not wait until we see actual final box office numbers, sony.

It will need to make about $450-500 MM worldwide to break even.

 

[pqueue]

Seems like a fun movie

Glad it's enjoying some success.

I don't get the Marky Mark haters

he just does not give Good Vibrations.

 

[kyliethicc]

why not wait until we see actual final box office numbers, sony.

It will need to make about $450-500 MM worldwide to break even.

Nah reported budget is 120 mil

 

[InverseAgonist]

I don't get the Marky Mark haters

People are just jealous:

 

[Yoboman]

What's the reverse of review bombing and when do we get the articles about how fans are inflating the user score of a shitty movie?

Why would fans do that?

Fans of Uncharted have been very vocal about the casting and if it was a trash movie the fans would certainly make it known. If audience scores are good its because people enjoyed the movie

 

[DeepEnigma]

Tom Holland isn't even the biggest issue for me. It's Marky Mark just being himself. He didn't even need to show up for makeup because it's just Marky Mark playing an old man who doesn't act his age.

If we’re lucky, he’ll be Rost. If we’re unlucky, there will be a lot of flashback scenes from young Aloy and Rost. About 66% of the film.

 

[postaboy]

Nah reported budget is 120 mil

$120 million budget doesn't include marketing costs and other interests. I read somewhere on reddit box office thread that a movie needs to make around 3x budget costs to break even.

 

[Yoboman]

I cant see those actors coming back for more

They will. Why wouldn't they?

I hope they upgrade on the writing and directing talent though

 

[Bo_Hazem]

I liked it, it's 8/10 to me.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I liked it, it's 8/10 to me.

Got the free ticket thing, so why the heck not. I’ll check it out soon.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Got the free ticket thing, so why the heck not. I’ll check it out soon.

I paid for Lord Sony.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

why not wait until we see actual final box office numbers, sony.

It will need to make about $450-500 MM worldwide to break even.

Oh the goal post has now moved up to half a billion for this $120M production to break even? Damn

 

[Yoboman]

I paid for Lord Sony.

I bought 5 tickets when I went by myself

 

[Huevos de Oro]

Well considering the feedback I've read about it, it's a bit surprising to see this movie getting such a strong opening weekend. Then again I'm old so what do I know.

 

[Neolombax]

Seems like a fun movie

Glad it's enjoying some success.

I don't get the Marky Mark haters

I think Marky Mark always plays these intense angry characters on screen, its just so different than Sully's persona in the games. But I like his performances. He was really good in Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day.

 

[yurinka]

Tom Holland confirmed to star future Uncharted, God of War (as Kratos, not as Atreus), Gran Turismo, Destiny, Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, Wipeout, Parappa, The Last of Us (as Abby), Horizon (as Aloy) and Knack movies.

Now seriously, nice to see they are happy with it, but let's hope they choose a casting that looks like more similar to the original characters.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Well considering the feedback I've read about it, it's a bit surprising to see this movie getting such a strong opening weekend. Then again I'm old so what do I know.

Casting sells. And people enjoy their theme park popcorn flicks, especially an entertaining 2 hour escape/distraction of the past 2 years and probably beyond.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

 

[Lognor]

Seems like a fun movie

Glad it's enjoying some success.

I don't get the Marky Mark haters

He's a racist piece of shit. Not that hard to understand

 

[KingGhidorah]

Does Universal still own the movie right to Sony's God of War? ....or did Sony buy it back from them?

 

[blacktout]

Oh the goal post has now moved up to half a billion for this $120M production to break even? Damn

This is actually a rare instance on GAF where it's not just rhetorical goal post shifting. It's common knowledge that for major would-be international blockbusters, marketing costs far exceed production costs.

I don't think there's any reason to believe it won't ultimately end up being profitable unless it really flops overseas or has a massive second week decline, but it's not there yet.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

He's a racist piece of shit. Not that hard to understand

Did some dumb shit when he was 17 or thereabouts. We all did dumb shit in our teens.

 

[DeepEnigma]

He's a racist piece of shit. Not that hard to understand

 

[pqueue]

Oh the goal post has now moved up to half a billion for this $120M production to break even? Damn

movie have to make 2-2.5 multiplier to break even due to marketing costs and the fact that the studios do not receive all of the theater revenues (typically 40-50% the first few weeks, then less each successive week. And if the movie plays in China, they never get more than 25% of the to total take there.

maybe educate yourself on what you are trying to discuss before broadcasting that you are an idiot.

 

[Huevos de Oro]

Casting sells. And people enjoy their theme park popcorn flicks, especially an entertaining 2 hour escape/distraction of the past 2 years and probably beyond.

Yeah. Even as someone who likes the games, I'm not really put off by the cast in this movie. And I think the potential demographic and reach of a blockbuster movie like this one goes way beyond the known fanbase of the videogames.

So if it's entertaining enough, and comes at the right time, the majority of people will overlook or won't mind at all casting choices that for a franchise purist would be puzzling or downright wrong.

I'll watch it. When it comes to Disney+ or whatever.

 

[01011001]

I don't want to be hyperbolic but the human race is doomed.

fitting. popcorn entertainment with zero depth and enough explosions and falling down trains and crashing cars to keep the masses engaged.

the movie perfectly encapsulates the games

 

[FunkMiller]

Oh the goal post has now moved up to half a billion for this $120M production to break even? Damn

Rule of thumb is generally:

Film’s production budget + same again for marketing budget. Studio takes half profits.

So Uncharted is 120 to film, 120 to promote, needs 240 to break even, so needs to make total of 480 million at box office.

 

[Lognor]

Did some dumb shit when he was 17 or thereabouts. We all did dumb shit in our teens.

At 17 did you almost kill a man because of the color of his skin? No? Gtfo

 

[pqueue]

Nah reported budget is 120 mil

and marketing is anywhere between$50-75million, if not more.. so with a 2.5 multiplier that would be around $450MM to break even

 

[Lognor]

Here we go indeed

 

[Hobbygaming]

Sony doesn't give a fuck about critics...they have been doing feel-good movies for a while now and they apparently know what audiences want.

Stuff like the latest Jumanji (and its sequel), Venom (and its sequel), the latest Ghostbusters movie and now Uncharted are all hits even if they don't hit fresh (or barely in case of Ghostbusters) on rotten tomatoes.

I really enjoyed the Venom sequel

 

[tmlDan]

He's a racist piece of shit. Not that hard to understand

he was 15/17 when that happened and he apologized publicly and served a prison sentence of 45 days...what's your deal....

If you say people don't change then you're an idiot, they def do especially from that age.