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'Blade Runner 2049' Is A Box Office Disaster With Poor $13M Friday

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derder

Member
18 theaters tomorrow
12 theaters on Thursday
4 Theaters on Friday
2 Theaters next Monday.

This film is being ripped out of theaters.
 

captive

Joe Six-Pack: posting for the common man
I dont understand, why would anyone be expecting a big box office like haul for this movie?

The original is classic cinema, but its appeal is limited. The first time i ever saw it was in college in an English class of all places. Like half the class was asleep about half way through.

I can't wait to go see it with my buddy. I have in-laws in town, can't wait for them to leave so i can go to the movies.
 

n0razi

Member
I dont go to the theaters often but I did for this one... love it but I still think I prefer my 65" OLED TV at home
 

Dr Bass

Member
You really should watch the movie, because your concern and skepticism is something the narrative is very aware of.

Yeah but the only problem is he is right to feel that way. The movie is completely unnecessary for the reasons he mentioned. There really is nothing left to tell of Deckard and Rachel because of the way the movie asks the questions.

2049 looked nice but will be quickly forgotten, while the original will remain a classic.
 
It's playing in 60% of theaters at each mall I visit here in Thailand. I expect similar drop off. Audience was super quiet leaving the theater - no excitement whatsoever.
 

Freshmaker

I am Korean.
God I hate people who can only take things to extremes. If this is a disaster then what was Valerian which had a bigger budget and only had a $17 million weekend total?

Given the only time I heard about Valerian was in a Looper video discussing why it failed that they posted *the day Valerian released* Blade Runner's doing better than that at least.
 

Qwyjibo

Member
It's a rated R sci-fi movie that's almost 3 hours long. Box office success was a longshot.

I absolutely loved it though. More than the original. I loved how it was a true continuation of the overall story and not just a nostalgia-fest. It would've been great even without Deckard and yet it put him in the movie for just the right amount. At times I was amazed by just the overall look and sound of it. The UHD blu-ray version will be a definite buy for me.
 
D

Deleted member 80556

Unconfirmed Member
Well, I guess I gotta be happy that this happened at all. It's a shame really. I hope this doesn't mean Dune won't happen or that Dennis's career is done or something.
 

kubev

Member
I watched the original for the first time the day prior to going to see 2049. Honestly, I think 2049 is better than the original, because the story is so much more interesting. 2049 does an excellent job of emulating the tone of the original in spots, although I do think that the desert scenes come off as bland in tone as a result. The original is definitely more consistent in tone (for the better). Also, none of the characters in 2049 have anything on the best characters from the original. I say that as someone who didn't care much for Harrison Ford's character in the original and absolutely loved Rutger Hauer's character, though. Not sure if that's the general consensus or if my opinion is just off. In either case, 2049 is the better movie in my eyes, but they're both very interesting.
 
It's a rated R sci-fi movie that's almost 3 hours long. Box office success was a longshot.

I absolutely loved it though. More than the original. I loved how it was a true continuation of the overall story and not just a nostalgia-fest. It would've been great even without Deckard and yet it put him in the movie for just the right amount. At times I was amazed by just the overall look and sound of it. The UHD blu-ray version will be a definite buy for me.

A movie can be long and have lots of grounds to cover making it long.

BR2049 is long because its slow and no, it doesn’t tell an epic story. Or a deep long internal one.

Reading some of the posts about the length, there’s scope to make cuts in this. And of course the comments that imply that cutting it = worse film. It could be, or it could not. As is, the length + Pacing of the feature is a deteriment.
 

RDreamer

Member
Just got out of the theater. Absolutely loved it. The couple in front of us walking out though:

“That was awful.”
“The plot made no sense.”
“Such terrible writing.”
“I couldn’t believe how bad that was.”

I’ve never seen someone come out of a movie so disappointed since I saw Dreamcatcher back in the day lol.
 

Adaren

Member
This is flabbergasting.

+ Great reviews
+ Sexy title with name recognition
+ Ryan Gosling
+ Cool setting (SciFi dystopia)

I could understand if this movie wasn't lighting up the charts, but I can't understand it bombing. Are audiences just lukewarm on movies in general this summer or something??

Sure, I get if people walk out of it and think it's a not as exciting as they were hoping a movie called "Bladerunner" would be, but that shouldn't stop people from going to see it in the first place, should it? Especially with the review scores it's getting?

Maybe I'm just not familiar with people's perceptions of the first Bladerunner since I only saw it for the first time last year. Is the first movie really so poorly regarded by general audiences?
 
I'm dumbfounded how this movie isn't doing well. I saw it tonight, it is easily the best film(sci-fi or otherwise) to come out in quite some time.
 

jett

D-Member
I've suddenly remembered that Children of Men also bombed. Another bleak sci-fi film set in the near future that received critical acclaim.

I think people just don't want this depressing sci-fi dystopian shit.

Unless it has fun kung fu shit like The Matrix.
 
Maybe I'm just not familiar with people's perceptions of the first Bladerunner since I only saw it for the first time last year. Is the first movie really so poorly regarded by general audiences?

Most people haven't seen it or heard of it. I never knew it existed until I had to watch it for a film class in college.
 
This is flabbergasting.

+ Great reviews
+ Sexy title with name recognition
+ Ryan Gosling
+ Cool setting (SciFi dystopia)

I could understand if this movie wasn't lighting up the charts, but I can't understand it bombing. Are audiences just lukewarm on movies in general this summer or something??

Sure, I get if people walk out of it and think it's a not as exciting as they were hoping a movie called "Bladerunner" would be, but that shouldn't stop people from going to see it in the first place, should it? Especially with the review scores it's getting?

Maybe I'm just not familiar with people's perceptions of the first Bladerunner since I only saw it for the first time last year. Is the first movie really so poorly regarded by general audiences?

I'm dumbfounded how this movie isn't doing well. I saw it tonight, it is easily the best film(sci-fi or otherwise) to come out in quite some time.

It didn't bomb in the sense that NO ONE saw it, it bombed in the sense that more money was put into it than people were willing to pay to see.

Saw the movie, liked the movie, cannot at blame more audiences for not being interested. Was interested in this so I went back to see the first one, fell asleep while watching, went into the sequel knowing it was even longer, still managed to fall asleep in Dolby Cinema with my freaking seat vibrating the whole time.

It's a late sequel to a cult hit, studios greatly overestimated the amount of interest. This should not have been a surprise to anyone.

Compare this to the last critically acclaimed sci-fi movie, Arrival. This opened better than Arrival, they just didn't spend a ridiculous amount of money to make Arrival.
 

duckroll

Member
I could understand if this movie wasn't lighting up the charts, but I can't understand it bombing. Are audiences just lukewarm on movies in general this summer or something??

It's not lighting up the charts. That's literally the current status. It made 32 million domestic in the first weekend, and is somewhere like 89 million worldwide or something. But that's very bad because the movie cost like 180 million.
 

Xe4

Banned
18 theaters tomorrow
12 theaters on Thursday
4 Theaters on Friday
2 Theaters next Monday.

This film is being ripped out of theaters.

Well fuck, now I doubt I'll be able to see it at the end of October.
Hopefully it'll still be in at least a few theaters, but damn.

Edit: Although, yes, movie theaters don't usually put out movies very far in advance usually. I suppose I'll wait and see.
 

Adaren

Member
Most people haven't seen it or heard of it. I never knew it existed until I had to watch it for a film class in college.

Weird. I've always been aware of it as "That well-regarded SciFi movie with Harrison Ford.", even though I didn't know anything about it. Before I watched it, I assumed it was an action-heavy movie (like Robocop or something). I was totally caught off-guard by how philosophical and poignant it was.
 
How has the marketing push been for Blade Runner 2049?

A decent amount of trailers, all of them super vague about the plot and emphasizing the action. Ads on sites like RottenTomatoes. YouTube ads. Though to be honest I did go see this more as a fan of Denis than a fan of Blade Runner, can't honestly say the ads convinced me.

They were appealing to film and sci fi geeks, and that's who went to see it.
 
I've suddenly remembered that Children of Men also bombed. Another bleak sci-fi film set in the near future that received critical acclaim.

I think people just don't want this depressing sci-fi dystopian shit.

Unless it has fun kung fu shit like The Matrix.
On that note, has any bleak depressing dystopian movie been successful? They're kind of few and far between

Snowpiercer made around $86 million on a $40 million budget. Brazil bombed. Children of Men only did around $70 million. The original Blade Runner was a box office dud. If we expand it to bleak sci-fi in general, The Road and Blindness did poorly as well.

18 theaters tomorrow
12 theaters on Thursday
4 Theaters on Friday
2 Theaters next Monday.

This film is being ripped out of theaters.
A bit misleading, theaters don't tend to have all their showtimes up this far in advance
 
Holy fucking shit. I have ~18 theaters playing it near me tomorrow...

If I search for Friday's times... I have 4 theaters.

I've never seen a movie get pulled so fast in my life.

They most likely haven't filled in Friday's times yet.

18 theaters tomorrow
12 theaters on Thursday
4 Theaters on Friday
2 Theaters next Monday.

This film is being ripped out of theaters.

As others have said, this is not how movie theatres work.
 
On that note, has any bleak depressing dystopian movie been successful? They're kind of few and far between

Snowpiercer made around $86 million on a $40 million budget. Brazil bombed. Children of Men only did around $70 million. The original Blade Runner was a box office dud. If we expand it to bleak sci-fi in general, The Road and Blindness did poorly as well.


A bit misleading, theaters don't tend to have all their showtimes up this far in advance

Sure it's billed more as YA than hard sci-fi, but I think the Hunger Games movies count. I'm still baffled that the first one opened as high as it did.
 
Just got out of the theater. Absolutely loved it. The couple in front of us walking out though:

“That was awful.”
“The plot made no sense.”
“Such terrible writing.”
“I couldn’t believe how bad that was.”

I’ve never seen someone come out of a movie so disappointed since I saw Dreamcatcher back in the day lol.

Not that the film adaptation was great or anything, but I remember after watching The Watchmen in the theater people like literally walking out angry and disgusted because they thought it was going to be your typical brain dead super hero movie. I think what's happening is that people are realizing the film via word of mouth is not some sci-fi balls to the wall action movie. I personally loved every second of the film and like it much more than the original, but I guess movies that make you think are too much for a mass audience. God people are so fucking dense. I'm hoping to see it again before it's pulled from theaters. Loved it.
 
I'll be honest having had a look at the figures I think people are really running with a non story here.

Go here: -

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bladerunnersequel.htm

Ok at the time of writing: -

Domestic (meaning US) $32,753,122 39.9%

Foreign markets $49,233,908 60.1%

See now that in itself sounds calamitous, But then actually click on the foreign tab: -

It doesn't have that many countries listed and there are some big markets there not presently listed. UK, German and French returns aren't even in there for starters and Japan and China haven't been featured yet either.

This idea that the US market alone is the be all and end all is a mistake. Whenever some journalist is spinning a narrative, check the source.

Worldwide box office receipts have become extremely important to Hollywood, especially China - hence more and more movies having scenes shot in China, Chinese actors having small or major parts, etc.

However, from a financial standpoint the US is still the juggernaut. Hollywood will take 65-75% of box office receipts from US movies. In foreign countries that number is closer to 25% as foreign distributors, theaters, partner companies, etc take more of the cut. The post release multiplier - US streaming, video on demand, blu rays, etc - is widely viewed as 1.5 - 2.5x domestic box office for USA and 0-0.5 for foreign markets.

It cuts both ways, for things like Fast and Furious or Warcraft the foreign market can actually be far more profitable than domestic market, even after all the numbers jiggle out, but in those cases the foreign take tends to be 5-10x the domestic take. Its unlikely that kind of thing will happen for Blade Runner 2049, while I'm sure it will do ok in China and Japan I don't see it being the kind of movie that will generate $200m+ in those markets. End of the day, years from now, the movie may end up being vaguely profitable but not in the next year or two.
 

Thaedolus

Gold Member
Well the theater I saw it in tonight was full, but it was one of those dine-in theaters with a few dozen seats. It was a fantastic movie. I'll get it on whatever ultra HD direct into my veins format it come out on. Maybe even see it again in IMAX if it's still around.
 

HariKari

Member
Just got out of the theater. Absolutely loved it. The couple in front of us walking out though:

“That was awful.”
“The plot made no sense.”
“Such terrible writing.”
“I couldn’t believe how bad that was.”

I’ve never seen someone come out of a movie so disappointed since I saw Dreamcatcher back in the day lol.

The movie is beyond the average viewer of today. It does not bother to explicitly state things, the bad guys often talk in metaphors or biblical language, and it's cut so you can soak in all the visuals. It's actually a masterclass in writing if you consider what it is adapting and how faithful it is to that material.

People are welcome to dislike it, but some of the stated reasons are a bit silly.
 

jimmypython

Member
Such a stunning depiction of the so called "neo noir" world. Visually better than "Dark City" which I loved.

Like A Ghost Story, the masterful depiction of characters and story through slow pacing may be under-appreciated by viewers with low patience level. Such arrangement is perfect for people to fully experience the visual and sink in that world.
 

Aselith

Member
On that note, has any bleak depressing dystopian movie been successful? They're kind of few and far between

Snowpiercer made around $86 million on a $40 million budget. Brazil bombed. Children of Men only did around $70 million. The original Blade Runner was a box office dud. If we expand it to bleak sci-fi in general, The Road and Blindness did poorly as well.


A bit misleading, theaters don't tend to have all their showtimes up this far in advance

12 Monkeys
 

kitzkozan

Member
A conversation is happening behind me now, a girl is saying

"It was pretty, but it was just bland. It had no substance to it at all. I also hated the hologram being this subservient woman. It looked great, but it was just dull and shallow.

I was expecting something rather more substantial.

It has no wit, if someone like Tarantino had written it it would actually have some spunk to it".

A piece of art simply cannot please everyone, and this film was made for fans of a film that didn't do well the first time it was released. I think a lot of the themes won't penetrate this, so it will seem shallow to them.

Villeneuve played to what the film needed to remain true to that, giving him 150 million to do that was a wonderfully terrible idea.

You can't blame the audiences for ignoring the vast majority of the greatest movies ever made. If there's no perceived entertainment, the average fan won't give a fuck and won't show up as the word of mouth won't be good (dull, boring, shallow, pretentious, etc). Where's the payoff if you only want to be entertained? It's too much effort for too little perceived payoff / reward when they are more interesting things to do than enjoying artful / subtle movies.

People should look at lists of the greatest movies ever made from independent sources and most of them were flop at the time of release or would be 100% bomb today. 2001 would be an epic flop in 2017 as the modern audience couldn't survive the intro with the apes.
 
It was very well made.

Definitely not for everyone though.

Yep. Just how it is. They made a movie for us: Those of us who love this kind of dark, cyberpunk, noir, thinking man's sci-fi. Shit that offers more than typical comic book movie popcorn fluff we get fed like toddlers today. There might have been more character depth, complexity, and cinematographic excellence in the first 15 minutes of BR2049 than there has been in the entirety of the 10+ year run of the Marvel cinematic universe. But hey...not everyone feels like unpacking such things. For those of us who do, we got a movie we will remember fondly 20 years from now. Let us be grateful and make plans to continue to support the film on home video.
 

JimmyRustler

Gold Member
Saw it yesterday evening and it's the first time in a long time where I can freely admit that what I saw is a great movie but it just wasn't for me. But I may have to watch it one more time when I'm not as tired.

That said, I'm not really surprised that it bombs at the box office as it has next to no entertainment value. It's a piece of art and I'm baffled that Villeneuve actually got 150 Million bucks to make this flick. Big props to Sony for fronting this. But I do wonder how stupid the execs were if they actually thought this movie would make the money back. For that they should have spiced up the plot with a bit more action. They should have taken notes from Nolan as he is pretty good with this.
 

mortal

Gold Member
A decent amount of trailers, all of them super vague about the plot and emphasizing the action. Ads on sites like RottenTomatoes. YouTube ads. Though to be honest I did go see this more as a fan of Denis than a fan of Blade Runner, can't honestly say the ads convinced me.

They were appealing to film and sci fi geeks, and that's who went to see it.

I figured as much, thanks.
 
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