The Hot Blog

HANCOCK is going to OWN YOUR ASS.

Always bet on Berg.

WANTED looks awesome. LOVE GURU will tank. MUMMY 3 better have the COHEN SHEEN and not look all dust-coated like the first two.

The Lex Most Want to See 5:
HANCOCK
HELLBOY II
THE HAPPENING
WANTED
INDY

The top five grossers.

Indy IV, Wall-E, Hancock, The Dark Knight, Love Guru (unfortunately) Tied for Sixth: Get Smart, Kung Fu Panda.

The Bombs:
Sex and the City: the Movie, The Pineapple Express, Prince Caspian, Iron Man.

When people ask about Iron Man the first question is: What's that? Which is a bad sign.

I hope I'm wrong on Pineapple Express. But something tells me that this won't quite be a funny comedy, won't quite be an action movie. Instead something in-between that no one is happy with. And I'm one of the few people that don't like the trailer so maybe I'm just crazy, but, again, I hope I'm wrong.

Prince Caspian will pull an audience just nothing near its budget. Sex and the City will have some fans, but everyone else will steer clear.

I do expect (barring Star War prequel level of hatred) that Indy IV will be the top dog.

kung fu panda, indy iv, dark knight, love guru , and hancock will win.

I'm quite alone on this, but I've been contending for some time that The Dark Knight will outgross Indy. We'll see.

Hop; IT'S IRON-MAN! Please do not be shocked when Tony Stark drops a load on you the first week of May. While Prince Caspian shoves a proverbial blade in your gut around the end of May. Seriously: those two films are bank. They are solid bank. You might want to get out of your ivory tower, and visit a Target. The kids know... TONY IS ON HIS WAY!

That aside: I am going with this Summer being an even-kiel Summer. There will be some solid hits, a few interstellar hits, and everything else will be nicely bankable. Of course this all depends on ads and what not, but the Summer should be a good grosser. It will not be last year, but it should be solid nonetheless.

The wild-card remains Indy, however, because it's been almost 20 years since Indy has graced screens. Will the kids even want to see Indy? Does it really matter? TUNE IN THIS MAY TO FIND OUT!

Indy is not a wild-card. Every one of those kids is going to go with their parents, because the parents want to see it too.

Indy is not an outdated franchise. Any kid that's been to Disneyland knows who Indy is, as well as there's been a spate of videogames and now Lego.

I don't know if Indy is going to take the summer, or if it will outgross Dark Knight, but it will be a huge profitable success for all involved.

As for them hoping that Shia can carry the franchise, or spin off into his own, um, I don't think so....

The three times I have seen a trailer for THE LOVE GURU, it has induced groans more than anything closing in on laughter. I'm seeing a respectable opening, then a giant plummet into flop territory. The five banks would appear to be INDY, HANCOCK, IRON-MAN, BATMAN and WALL-E. As far as great, I can only say I have hopes for PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, WALL-E, SPEED RACER and BATMAN. Crushing disappointments and/or outright turds: THE HAPPENING, LOVE GURU, THE MUMMY, GET SMART and WANTED.

Musts for me: Indy, WALL*E, Batman.

Maybes: Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, Iron Man

Unlikely: Hancock, Speed Racer, The Happening, X-Files, Hellboy 2, Wanted

Not on your life: Incredible Hulk, Love Guru, Prince Caspian, Kung-Fu Panda

Biggest hits will be Indy IV, WALL*E, and Prince Caspian (regardless of how good it is). Batman will be a close 4th. Tropic Thunder will be the best-performing comedy. Biggest disappointments will be Incredible Hulk and X-Files (regardless of how good it is).

Iron Man, Wanted, The Happening, and Speed Racer will underperform, considering expectations for them. Speed Racer will be a big video hit and spawn several cheap, family DTV movies.

Hancock opens thanks to Will Smith, but ultimately it will leave audiences scratching their heads. Tops out around $150 million.

Tracking shows Indy IV as a monster. Expect 200 million within 10 days, 300 by July 4. But WALL*E has the marks of something special. It will play into fall.

Musts for me: Indy, WALL*E, Batman.

Maybes: Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, Iron Man

Unlikely: Hancock, Speed Racer, The Happening, X-Files, Hellboy 2, Wanted

Eh: Get Smart

Not on your life: Incredible Hulk, Love Guru, Prince Caspian, Kung-Fu Panda

Biggest hits will be Indy IV, WALL*E, and Prince Caspian (regardless of how good it is). Batman will be a close 4th. Tropic Thunder will be the best-performing comedy. The Happening will be in the top 10. Biggest disappointments will be Incredible Hulk and X-Files (regardless of how good it is).

Iron Man, Get Smart, and Speed Racer will underperform, considering expectations for them. Speed Racer will be a big video hit and spawn several cheap, family DTV movies.

Hancock opens thanks to Will Smith, but ultimately it will leave audiences scratching their heads. Tops out around $150 million.

Tracking shows Indy IV as a monster. Expect 200 million within 10 days, 300 by July 4. But WALL*E has the marks of something special. It will play into fall.

I shop at Target, sir/miss. I don't live in an ivory tower, unless you call my shoebox of a 1-bedroom apartment a tower.

I also saw Golden Compass ads EVERYWHERE before it launched and BIONG, it didn't do huge business.

I've noticed no one has mentioned the Incredible Hulk yet, or even Tropic Thunder...interesting.

The Happening is a real wild card. M. Night's last two movies have been real disappointments (creatively, I mean) so I'm curious if it'll be a return to form or just a hodge-podge of his previous hits. I've tried to sit through Lady in the Water several times. I didn't think The Village was that bad, but nothing special.

Most disturbing trend - not one weekend from May to July 4th has more than 2 major studio movies opening at same time. Whatever happened to counter-programming cheaper movies against the blockbusters? It's like they spend so much on the budgets of the pre-supposed hits that they can't be bothered to offer any alternatives? Could it be the studios are colluding together to prevent competition? Really shitty for moviegoers who want some viewing alternatives.

TOP 5 will be: Indy 4, Wall-E, Dark Knight, Narnia 2, Kung-Fu Panda.

BIGGEST UNDER-PERFORMERS: Iron Man, Speed Racer, Love Guru.

Dave,
Can we quantify nice and early what numbers are good enough for what pictures? I think Iron Man can produce X-men 2 and 3's 200 million dollar number. Is 250 enough for Indy? Or does he need 300-400? Is another 200 million domestic haul for Batman good enough? Nobody thinks he has 300 in him do they? Can Wanted do 150 without a legit male lead? Does M Knight expect a 100 million Happening? Does he know that Mark Wahlberg is not Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson? Hellboy 2 will be DOA, nobody cares. It will struggle to match the first one's underwhelming 59 million. The Hulk is in trouble, are Fantastic Four numbers good enough for the Hulk? If not, Uh-oh. I finally saw the trailer for the Pineapple Express, it reminded me of Adam Sandler's Bulletproof. That's not good for anybody.

TOP 5 GROSSERS
1- Indy 4
2- Wall-E
3- Hancock
4- Kung Fu Panda
5- Iron Man

FIVE BEST
1- Pineapple Express
2- The Dark Knight
3- The Happening
4- Indy 4
5- Hellboy II

FIVE CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENTS
Speed Racer? Sex and the City? The Incredible Hulk? You Don't Mess with the Zohan? The Love Guru?

I have to say that Iron Man has had a very effective campaign - if it tanks, really hard to blame Paramount, just Downey Jr., unfortunately.

Top Five Grossers:
1. Indiana Jones
2. Wall-E
3. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
4. The Dark Knight
5. Hancock

Top Five I Most Want to See
1. The Dark Knight
2. Indiana Jones
3. Pineapple Express
4. Iron Man
5. X Files sequel (so what of it?)

Five Crushing Disappointments
1. The Love Guru (wow, that trailer...)
2. Where in the World is Osama....(and I really like Morgan Spurlock, too)
3. Speed Racer
4. The Happening (sorry, but M. Knight's losing streak will continue)
5. Step Brothers (bad box office timing for a Ferrell/Reilly team up)

I really do think the summer looks quite strong from a quality and box office standpoint. But when you think about it, if every big film lives up to expectations and opens at the level expected (Iron Man $70, Speed Racer $45, Prince Caspian $85, Indy $100), the year-to-year comparisons are STILL going to be brutal and start "slump" talk - there is just no way around it. I think Iron Man and Speed Racer both would have benefitted from a couple of weeks of space between them.

That said, I think what will really help the summer take off is a pure mix of demographics and genres, not just tent-pole sequels - big action comedies from Eddie and Will Smith, big movies targeting women (Sex, Mama Mia), big comedies with Steve Carell and Adam Sandler - it's a genuine mix and I think that will help the audience expand.

I know people will be gunning for Sex and the City and god knows I have no desire to see it, but really there is no reason that film cannot do $150 million - Sarah Jessica Parker comedies with no brand name have easily broken $60 to $80 million, so really why not?

TOP MONEY MAKERS
1. Indiana Jones
2. Wall-E
3. Prince Caspian
4. Get Smart
5. Kung-Fu Panda

Get Smart is my wild card. The trailers a killer so why not?

MY FIVE MOST ANTICIPATED
1. Wall-E
2. Speed Racer
3. S&TC:TM
4. Get Smart
5. Mamma Mia

And I'm really intrigued to see how Shyamalan handles The Happening, I really am.

Do people know something about Kung Fu Panda that I don't? How come so many are predicting top five? Does any one really believe this is going to crack $200 million, which is probably what it would take? I guess after Alvin and the Chipmunks, who knows?

If something like Surf's Up can do $140 (and it being third penguin movie after March and Happy Feet) then at least Kung-Fu Panda looks funnier and may hit $170. It also has family audience to itself for 3 weeks until Wall-E hits.

I'd like to give Warners and Paramount a bonehead award for scheduling 2 comedies - Get Smart and Love Guru on same weekend, thereby ensuring one will fail or at least diminished returns for both.

D'oh! Was thinking of Over The Hedge not Surf's Up b.o. which was only $60M. How the hell it beat out The Simpsons Movie for an Oscar nomination is beyond me.

I believe in Speed and Racer X and Pops and Trixie. If this movie can capture the geeks who loved the Matrix and get the family dollar, look out. I cannot wait for Indy, but that's as much about nostalgia as it is anything else. Speed Racer looks like a barrier-breaker if it works...definitely my #1 to-see.

Pixar is money in the bank. Will Smith could read the phone book for 90 minutes on the can and go 250 domestic.

I hope M. Night can turn out a great film...but it's gonna take massive word of mouth and killer reviews to get most into the theatre after his last two turds.

I want Iron Man to succeed. Can Favreau put it together? He would seem to be the weakest link in the above the line. I thought Zathura was gonna clean up based on its trailer...oops.

Should be a fun summer though...

top 5 grossers:
1. Indy IV
2. Wall*E
3. Prince Caspian
4. Hancock
5. The Dark Knight

My most anticipated:
1. Sex and the City
2. The Happening
3. The Strangers
4. Trick r' treat (damn it where is it!!)
5. Wanted

Biggest Underperformers
1. You Don't Mess with the Zohan
2. The Love Guru
3. Get Smart
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Speed Racer

Meet Dave is getting a ton of laughter when I go to the movies. I tried not to laugh myself but laughed in spite of it and Eddie's silly talk and kicking the cat, and I like cats! Could be a sleeper.

If you think Sex and the City will bomb, you are just crazy. This year's "Prada."

The Strangers is the scariest preview since the remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, IMO. I have seen it in several times in the theater and it freaks me out. People always scream.

I am ready for Trick 'r Treat. Whoever is shelving this one doesn't realize that people are clamoring for it. I have seen nothing but rabid posts of people wanting it now. It may suck, but it looks a helluva lot better than what is currently out there in terms of horror. It has Dylan Baker and Anna Paquin for godsake! How bad can it be? Surely better than Black Christmas and Turistas.

The only movie that might surpass The Dark Knight in B.O. revenue is WALL-E...might.

Do many of you really feel that the Dark Knight can jump that far over the grosses of Begins? Really?

The big moneymakers will be:

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Wall-E
Hancock
Indiana Jones

The surprises:

Harold & Kumar 2 - this is going to have a bigger than expected opening weekend and probably good legs

Get Smart - every time I see the trailer in the theater it's getting big laughs

The Pineapple Express - I have no idea why everyone is saying this will bomb. It has all the ingredients of H&K2, plus guns, plus Apatow. The Superbad crowd is going to eat this up.

On The Fence:

Speed Racer - if the studio can really sell the family angle (and it's not helping that trailers are playing up the Wachowskis/Matrix connection) this will bring in a boatload. If not, it's going to confuse Wachowski fanboys and families are going to pass.

The bombs:

Mamma Mia - the kids aren't seeing this, and the target crowd for this doesn't flock the cineplex in the middle of summer. This should be pushed to the fall.

The Love Guru - the trailer stinks. This is Austin Powers 4 with an Indian accent.

Hellboy 2 - no one saw the first one and I have no idea why they are tentpoling this film. It would've done better in a late February/early March slot. The studio is also stupidly selling trying to sell this to the Pan's Labryinth art house crowd who will have no interest in this.

The Happening - as much as I'm looking forward to it, the buzz is bad, the script and ending have leaked and Shyamalan needs to take a break and get a new schtick.

Step Brothers - (as much as I want to see it). It needs a red band trailer to convince people this isn't Semi-Pro meets Walk Hard. Also, I think there is a huge amount of Ferrell fatigue right now.

IOIOIOI: Uh...YES.

Apparently all the people on the Warner lot have been creaming their pants after seeing Nolan's first cut. And with the whole Ledger thing...expect TDK to easily jump Begins' 205 domestically and flirt with 300 mil.

5 biggest:

Indy - this is gonna be huge, no matter what.

Dark Knight - Ledger's death is gonna make this one huge.

Wall*E - when was the last time Pixar didn't thrown under $200 million?

Prince Caspian - this is a franchise that relies on Christians, who will return for the sequel.

Iron Man - That shot of Iron Man flying with the planes should get it up there.

Best 5 (Out of the blockbusters, that is)

Dark Knight - The first one was amazing, and Ledger looks fucking badass.

Speed Racer - Wachowski's are geniuses, and advance word has been good, even though they cancelled the sneak previews for my campus :(

Pineapple Express - David Gordon Green, Seth Rogen, the neo-Apatow movement hasn't gone wrong yet. Sarah Marshall is very fresh at Rotten Tomatoes.

Tropic Thunder - I think this one'll be good enough for the critics as well as the fanboys. Downey Jr. as a black guy? Classic.

Hellboy II - Never bet against Guillermo Del Toro.

5 Crushing Disappointments (Only films that people expect to be good. No Mummy 3, Zohan, Meet Dave, etc. we already know that they'll be shite)

Hancock - Watch Berg apply the Friday Night Lights style to superheroes, or listen to the test audiences that say it's shit. With this and all the scientology talk, I'd say Smith's career is heading downhill.

X-Files - People are expecting box office from this, but I don't think anyone's cared about X-Files in a very long time.

Sex and the City - Surprise! It's not like the show was actually any good.

The Incredible Hulk - Ed Norton fighting with the studio + inexperienced blockbuster director + the fact that they're actively avoiding a thinking man's action film after Ang Lee's version = major disappointment.

The Happening - Surprise! M. Night Shyamalan still sucks!

Of course, this'll all change. For all I know, Meet Dave will be the best and biggest film of the summer

Don't discount "Sex and the City," of course, as it has a tremendous following even now among women due to reruns and the DVDs (which are huge sellers), but what's this about its run-time being 2 hours 40?!?

Don't discount "Sex and the City," of course, as it has a tremendous following even now among women due to reruns and the DVDs (which are huge sellers), but what's this about its run-time being 2 hours 40?!?

TOP 5
1. Wall-E
2. Dark Knight
3. Indy 4
4. Hancock
5. Kung Fu Panda

THE DUDS
Mummy 3
Narnia 2
Incredible Hulk
Love Guru
Mamma Mia
Speed Racer (sorry Dave!)

I'm about as excited about Dark Knight as any one, but let's temper expectations, here. Comic book movies can gross well, but usually have a ceiling. X Men, Superman, Batman, etc. The only one that has hit the stratospher is Spiderman and I think much of that is based on the timing of the first one the first summer after 9/11.

I think Warner's should/would be happy if this one cracks $250 million, which is not a guarantee by any means. But yeah, the Heath Ledger curiosity will certainly juice grosses.

I think it can be a bit tempered on its opening weekend by Mama Mia, seriously - that film could really be huge. Hairspray opened in the same spot, with tougher competition, last summer and did $125 - there is no reason Mama Mia can't do $140 million.

I still don't get all the heightened expectations for Kung Fu Panda. Seriously, top five???? Non-Dreamworks, non-Disney CGI animated films never hit the stratospher, just the way it is. Have there been stellar early reviews or really good buzz or something? What do all these bloggers know that I don't? Is there a REALLY funny trailer out there? I just don't get it, but maybe I am missing something.

I think Paramount would really be wise to push back Love Guru a big - it's going to get clobbered by Get Smart and their marketing department is going to be fried by having to open Iron Man, Indy and future $300 mill grosser Panda within a six week period. I had originally expected Guru to be a top five hit, given Myer's track record, but then I saw the trailer.

Speed Racer is a real wild card, but I have not seen the clearcut family sell, as of yet, that Warners is going to need. Then again, I don't want daytime or Saturday morning cartoons - is this thing getting serious ad coverage in those areas already?

I'm just wide away, right now. Bold prediction:

Paramount is going to bump Love Guru to the fall around late September/early October in the mid-autumn Meet the Parents/Zoolander/First Wives Club comedy slot. They are going to relaunch a new campaign and give the film some breathing room. Wath it happen.

The ONLY reason I want to see IRON MAN is Downey. Apart from that, INDY 4, HELLBOY 2, DARK KNIGHT and WALL-E, this looks like the lamest summer in ages. And how depressing is it that four of the five I do want to see are sequels and/or comic book-based? (And the fifth IS a cartoon.) Oy.

And how frickin' many Apatow movies are coming out? They all seem alike and I'm sure they'll all stink.

Panda IS from Dreamworks. And are they really going to open Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3D so close to Mummy 3? I don't think any actor can open 2 films so close together, let alone Brendan Fraser...

What the MOTHER FUCK is WALL-E?

Is that some CARTOON BULLSHIT?

Why does anyone over the age of 9 ever go to see WEAK BULLSHIT LIKE THAT? When did OSTENSIBLE ADULTS START GIVING A FUCK ABOUT ANIMATED MOVIES?

CARTOONS ARE FOR KIDS.

BE A MAN, BITCH.

Alright motherfucker... NOW I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE! Ripping my shit off and ripping PIXAR? GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. IT'S PIXAR MOTHERFUCKER! THE FACT THAT YOU LACK A BEATHING HEART THAT DOES NOT GET DOWN with robot's finding their sense of purpose... CROSSES ME ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

CARTOONS FOR KIDS? IF YOU ARE DEAD INSIDE, LACK A SENSE OF WHIMSY, AND ONLY THINK YOU NEED ONE THING TO GET YOU THROUGH THE MOTHERFUCKIN DAY. Fucking hell man. Again... IT'S PIXAR! PIXAR IS FOR THE WORLD AND ALL AGES! If you are not down with UNIVERSAL STORYTELLING THAT APPEALS TO ALL AGES... again... GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. You damn poseur... shit.

Eh... much respect to IO and all, but, yeah...

cartoons are wack. Sorry.

Not to mention, all 300 mil worth of WEAK-ASS BITCHES who have even the slightest designs on paying money to see some kiddie shit on the big screen should just MAN UP BITCH and put that money toward seeing STREET KINGS next week.

THE KINGS OWN YOU.

YOU WHACK ASS MOTHERFUCKER... I WILL SEE STREET KINGS AND WALL-E! Seriously motherfucker... do not limit people. There's only so much whacky shit people can handle and DISSING PIXAR IS RIGHT UP THERE IN THE WHACK-ASS BUSTA PANTHEON OF DOUCHEBAGGERY, ASSORTED DICK MOVES, AND ASSHOLOGY. Get a handle on your life, sir. If not... I WILL THROW MY PIXAR DVDS AT YOUR DAFT HEAD! INDEED!

IO *OWNS*.

I'm now convinced more than ever that IO and LexG are - if not the same person - actually friends and are just doing this to dick around with us. There's no other explanation for their presense, really.

"4. Trick r' treat (damn it where is it!!)"

It's distributor has dumped it and put it up for sale to anybody who wants it.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11819

"Mamma Mia - the kids aren't seeing this, and the target crowd for this doesn't flock the cineplex in the middle of summer. This should be pushed to the fall."

That's what they said about The Devil Wears Prada, too.

But, oh yeah, CARTOONS ARE FOR KIDS, AND FUCKING GEEKS WHO WATCH IMPROV AND CONAN O'BRIEN.

MAN UP AND BE A GOD. WATCH VIOLENT MOVIES.

OR AT LEAST SOMETHING ADULT.

LIKE HELLBOY.

BITCH.

Maybe it's just hope, but it seems like The Love Guru and The Happening are both ripe to be major bombs. M. Night has managed to seriously erode his appeal with his last couple of movies and I just have a really hard time imagining a lot of people being that interested in even more tired schtick from Myers.

Hellboy is a fully adolescent film. The word 'adult' is difficult to apply.

HELLBOY 2.

RECOGNIZE.

(Considering the entire film world was on GDT's jock for PAN'S LABYRNITH, every single one of those motherfuckers best be sucking up to HELLBOY 2, else they're TOTAL fairweather bitches.)

top five grossers and wild guess at the grosses:
Wall E - i'm guessing in the 350ish range
Indy IV - just over 300
Hancock - 300
The Dark Knight - 280
Prince Caspian - 280
Iron Man - 250 (maybe more it looks better each time)
Get Smart - 200

bombs:
Speed Racer
Mamma Mia
Love Guru

Am I the only one who's not pumped about "Wall-E"?
Wall-E's annoying, kiddie-ish voice drives me up the wall every time I see the damn trailer. And a 'toon set (partially anyway) in a junkyard is even more of a turn-off than a rat in the kitchen. Yeah, yeah; I know that "Ratatouille" made $200-million, but it was the only Pixar movie (besides "Monsters, Inc.") that I didn't love. "Wall-E" will no doubt be a monster hit, but I'm just not feeling it.
I've already shared my (qualified) enthusiasm for the "Meet Dave" trailer. Sure, it might turn out to be "Pluto Nash 2," but there's also a chance that it could be another "Bowfinger." For what it's worth, "Dave" is one of the few summer movies that actually looks (kind of) original.
Love the uber-creepy "Strangers" trailer; "The Happening" would look a lot more promising if the trailer (hell, the entire premise and look of the film) didn't give me deja vu; "Mamma Mia" seems like a hoot, but why aren't we allowed to actually see anyone, uh, singing??
The "Hancock" trailer is terrific, but this wouldn't be the first time that Berg made a movie that failed to meet box-office expectations. Last year everyone was predicting that "The Kingdom" would be a major fall hit and...it sort of tanked. I know that it's foolish to bet against Will Smith, but this could turn out to be a case where the film is simply too hip (and meta?) for the masses.
Is it true that "Sex and the City" is being trimmed for a PG-13 because they're afraid of alienating fans who discovered the show in bleep-heavy syndication? Say it isn't so, Dave!!!
"Speed Racer" looks awesome cool (love the vibrant colors, skewed camera angles, monkey and Emile Hirsch), but I can't see a Wachowski Bros. joint becoming a Disney-sized "family" blockbuster.
I actually dug "Narnia," but the "Prince Caspian" trailer hasn't wowed me. And while I wasn't the biggest "Batman Begins" fan, "The Dark Night" (except for Maggie Gyllenhaal who annoys the shit out of me for some reason) looks extraordinary. Ditto "Hellboy 2" which I'm totally pumped for.
Sadly, I still haven't worked up any (ANY!) enthusiasm for "Indy IV." Sorry, Steven, George and Harrison; 19 years between installments is at least a decade too long for me.
Somehow I've managed to avoid the "Love Guru" trailer until now.
Is it really "that" bad? Definitely seems like a marketing boo-boo to open it the same weekend as "Get Smart," though.

The Strangers looks too much like The Orphanage but with the usual soulless, cliched American spin on things.

Aside from similar masks worn by a few of the home invaders, I don't see any resemblance to "The Orphanage" at all, Reginald.
If anything, "The Strangers'" premise seems derived more from something like Haneke's "Funny Games"--of course the trailer insists that it's really based on "actual" events.
I'm hardly expecting this to be one of the season's breakout hits (it's been kicking around nearly as long as Haneke's American "FG" did), but the trailer creeps me out big time and I'm hoping for at least a few decent scares.

I am not sure where all this excitement over Iron Man is coming from. He is a second tier super hero.....comfortablly sandwiched between Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider. Directed by a man who has yet to prove he can deliver this type of flick featuring a cast of quality academy award level actors that have little box office power. Granted the trailer is good, but it isn't spider-man(has a romantic angle) nor X-men(has a huge cult following) nor Batman(an icon).

It will open(50-60)....because of the trailer and lack of ANYTHING opening for the last few months, but if paramount gets more than 150 they should be happy. Speed Racer (one weekend wonder) and Narnina 2(will play well until Kung-Fu Panda) will kill it's legs.

Hell, I asked my wife and friends the other day if they wanted to see Iron Man and I got blank stares........these are the same people that couldn't wait to see Spider-Man 3 last year at this time.

"a cast of quality academy award level actors"

That's one reason for the excitement, suggesting a good script, and I think that Favreau proved himself on Elf and yes, Zathura that he can deliver the visuals and performances (Zathura's big weakness was the screenplay).

And yeah, the zero awareness at this point for Hulk Do-Over is suggestive. That and the fact that they went hugely over-budget and the cast and crew hated each other.

I am not saying that Gwen, Robert, Terrance(fantastic in The Hunting Party) nor Jeff are not Great actors, but they don't exactly open movies.......

Elf was cute, but let's not act like it was great art.

I do agree that Hulk will probably be one of the bombs of the summer....Sell the action Universal....sell the action.

"I am not sure where all this excitement over Iron Man is coming from."

It's the glimpses of Robert Downey Jr's performance in the first 30 seconds of the trailer. The Iron Man suit is a beautiful thing, but Downey's bit about "the weapon you only have to use once" was a 10,000 volt frisson that almost made me cry thinking that this is the performance we could have been blessed with if, instead of Cage, he'd been cast in Lord of War.

What worries me is that the arms-dealing cad of the opening of the film is probably going to be transformed into a stoic heroic bore for the majority of it.

I've seen 20 movies in the theater this year and not once have I seen a HULK 2.0 trailer.

Speaking of awareness... is MUMMY 3 just too far away yet to register?

HELLBOY 2 AND SELMA BLAIR WILL OWN YOU.

COUNT ON IT.

God, shut up.

Liv's glasses are cute in the HULK trailer!

"What worries me is that the arms-dealing cad of the opening of the film is probably going to be transformed into a stoic heroic bore for the majority of it."

I think Downey Jr. will bring the funny. I like the whole "that's right, I can fly."

LexG's defense of Michael Mann's Miami Vice is classic. Anyway...

Anybody else think that Robert Downey Jr. could emerge as the Johnny Depp of this summer; the actor with a cult following who really breaks out?

Anybody else think that Robert Downey Jr. could emerge as the Johnny Depp of this summer; the actor with a cult following who really breaks out?

HB2 WILL OWN! Also... Camel.. have some fun like the rest of you chicklets. Nevertheless Bennett, IRON-MAN IS AN A-LIST FREAKIN MARVEL CHARACTER! Please go pick up damn near any Marvel title right now, and you will notice TONY STARK IS DRIVING THAT ENTIRE UNIVERSE! Seriously, there is a reason that they did an IRON-MAN movie before any other Avengers flick, because he's freakin IRON-MAN, and the best character to use as a launching pad for the eventual AVENGERS franchise. Seriously... again... IRON-MAN has the potential. Never under-estimate the love for a man in an armored life saving suit.

Seems like there aren't many women around here. I was too young to care about Sex and the City during the first 2 seasons. But I later caught them on DVD. I'm looking forward to it. It'll probably disappoint me (seen the trailer, Ouch), but I'll see it anyway.

Was a fan of the first 2 Mummys, but the third one just looks bad. I will skip it in theater unless there's really nothing to see that week (it's Thailand by the way).

"Anybody else think that Robert Downey Jr. could emerge as the Johnny Depp of this summer; the actor with a cult following who really breaks out?"

Possibly. It depends on how good the movie itself is, and maybe how much screen time he spends inside that suit. I don't think he's got anywhere near the same appeal Depp has with women (ployp? can you back me up on this, or bat me down?), so it wouldn't be the same scale. Considering where Downey's career once was (wasn't he uninsurable?), it's jawdropping that he was able to come back to the point where he's the star of a Hollywood blockbuster.

I will go and see the SATC movie. I spent almost seven years watching those broads. I might as well throw them some coin, and see what the hell happens on screen.

The Mummy 3 reminds me of Rush Hour 3 and Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer. Nobody asked for it, but it'll probably make some decent cash before nobody ever mentioning it ever again.

Poor Maria Bello having to sub for Rachel Weisz.

"Please go pick up damn near any Marvel title right now, and you will notice TONY STARK IS DRIVING THAT ENTIRE UNIVERSE!"

Gee, what a coincidence.

Jeff, no, this has been set in motion for a while now because Iron-Man is important to the Marvel Universe. He always has been. He always will be. He is on the Moutn Rushmore of Marvel. Anyone declaring or stating he's a "Second-tier" character. Obviously has strayed away from the comic book thingys.

I don't disagree about him being on of the Marvel pantheon, but surely they're also trying to have him 'featured' more this summer than usual as part of a corporate tie-in.

i'm here polyp (rather belatedly)

i'd watch an entire movie of robert downey standing in a reaaally long bank queue, i'm that stupid for the guy

Leahnz, glad to see there is another woman here. Will you see Sex and the City? Are you a fan of the 4 fabulous NYC girls?

The IMDb daily poll asks what will be the highest grossing movie of 2008. 38% picked Indy 4 while 33.2% picked The Dark Knight. The third place is Harry Potter.

My boldest predictions are that Wall-E will be the highest grossing Pixar movie yet, Hancock will outgross Dark Knight by at least 30 mil and Mamma Mia will be the highest grossing Universal title of the summer (I see the potential for 150 domestic 400 worldwide on this one)
Biggest losers will be Love Guru, Step Brothers, Sex and the City, X-Files and Wanted. None of which will pass 60.
Hulk, Hell Boy, Vegas,and Made of Honor will do 60+
Iron Man, Speed Racer, Starship Dave, and Zohan will all reach a comfortable but not spectacular 120-140. You should never count out Eddie Murphy in a broad comedy, Norbit was considered a crime against humanity and it still made 90, and this sounds like a concept he could knock out of the park. Of these four films I think Dave has the greatest breakout potential

TOP 5:

1) Wall-E
2) Mamma Mia
3) Hancock
4) Batman
5) Son Of Rambow

LOSERS:

1) X-Files
2) Sex & The City
3) Iron Man
4) Hulk
5) Indy 4 (bad reviews, big open, faaast fade)

I think Downey Jr. will bring the funny. I like the whole "that's right, I can fly."

This is what I fear. I don't need every line to be a variation on "Oh how cool I'm a superhero. Love my name. Watch me fly on myspace." We've seen that before. Stark needs to find that dark side to become Iron Man proper. Yes, I'm a geek. But only because I care. And this and INDY are my top picks for summer.

Hopefully the 'zing' lines in Iron Man are just getting extra play from the trailer monkeys.

I had completelly forgotten about THE ZOHAN. That is the single movie of the summer I want to see flop harder than THE LOVE GURU.

Chiming in with a female voice here ...

*Sex and the City -- I could care less about this film, but apparently a lot of women are really into it still. My oldest daughter (22) and her friends are mega-excited about it, watching the DVDs in preparation for it, and talking about it like it's the second coming.

*Iron Man -- Aside from Indy and Batman, this is the film I'm most excited about of the entire summer lineup. Robert Downey Jr owns any film he's in, period, and I think it's genius to cast him as a superhero. We got the Iron Man action figure yesterday and my kids were thrilled by that even more than by the Indy swag. They've all -- even the 4YO -- made their father swear to take them to it on opening day, and they want more Iron Man toys.

Wall-E vs the Panda -- My own kids are way more into seeing Kung Fu Panda than Wall-E, in spite of my attempts to gently guide them toward the latter. What can I say? They're marketing the hell out of it, kids like talking animals, and as long as it's not blisteringly stupid like Over the Hedge or Barnyard, the kids are gonna flock to the Panda flick. Once they figure out that Wall-E is cool, though, they'll clamor for that one, too.

Caspian, btw, won't just draw the Christians. The books are also big with parents who are into general fantasy, and kids like mine who just dig the stories.

My predicted top 5 grossers:

Indy
Dark Knight
Hancock
Kung Fu Panda
Caspian

I expect Iron Man will perform pretty well, Wall-E and Sex and the City will hold their own. X Files? Meh. And I agree with the Speed Racer marketing ... totally off the mark, perhaps they just don't know how to market what they've ended up with. My kids should be totally psyched to see that one, and they have no idea what it even is. Doesn't help that the trailer looks like an acid trip.

Oh, and Mike Myers and M. Night will be buying each other consolation drinks. Such wasted potential. Love Guru looks absolutely dreadful.

holy crap, batman, 3 women on this blog, that's got to be some kind of world record!

ployp (sorry i typoed your name before, i was stuffed after a long day), don't say 's@tc' around here, the mens can't dig it, man, apparantly it's the female appocolypse...but as for the movie based on 'that tv show', which i think is very amusing and occasionally lovely, i probably won't go see it in the cinema cuz i'm super picky about what i shell out the big bucks to see, but definately on dvd.

the 'prince caspian' trailer freaks me out cuz it's like 'spot the location'... 'hey, that's northland, i've been to that beach!'; 'hey, i know that field, my friend passed out there on his 21st'... weird.

i can't type or spell for shit lately, i've got to start proof-reading before i post... i'm not as think as you dumb i am

Wait there's chickz on this blog?

WHAT'S UP HOTNESS? Anyone wanna friend me on MySpace?

Yep yep.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT FRIEND LEXG ON MYSPACE!!

:P

That Wall-E trailer keeps getting better and better. I prey it doesn't disappoint (quality wise I'm not worried about, but are audiences going to spend $300mil or whatever on it?)

OPENING WEEKENDS:

May 2
Iron Man -- $70 million

May 9
Speed Racer -- $40 million

May 16
Prince Caspian -- $75 million

May 23
Indiana Jones -- $100 million ($125 million over 4-day weekend, $160 million total including Thursday)

May 30
Sex and the City -- $35 million

June 6
Zohan -- $40 million
Kung Fu Panda -- $25 million

June 13
Incredible Hulk -- $55 million
The Happening -- $25 million

June 20 (why are two comedies opening on the same weekend? shouldn't one move up to the 13th and open against the two dramatic flicks?)
Get Smart -- $30 million
Love Guru -- $20 million

June 27
Wall-E -- $55 million
Wanted -- $30 million

July 4
Hancock -- $60 million ($90 million over 5 days)

July 11
Hellboy II -- $28 million
Meet Dave -- $21 million

July 18
Dark Knight -- $85 million
Mamma Mia -- $19 million

July 25
Step Brothers -- $30 million
X-Files -- $25 million

August 1
Mummy 3 -- $50 million

August 8
Pineapple Express -- $30 million

August 15
Tropic Thunder -- $25 million

BIGGEST OPENERS:
Indiana Jones
Dark Knight
Prince Caspian
Iron Man
Hancock
Wall-E
Incredible Hulk

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