We Need YOU!

[desoto_hia873]

Well, the weekend take for Serenity looks to have been in the neighbourhood of $10 million US. I believe this figure includes only U.S. theatres. It was #2 at the box office this weekend behind Flight Plan (starring Jodie Foster). It actually out-performed Flight Plan in tickets per theatre as Flight Plan was showing in more than 1000 more theatres than Serenity.

The general consensus seems to be that these figures aren't great. Joss posted to the Browncoats board on Sunday:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post subject: Worst. Movie. Ever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
was probably "Summer Holiday" with Mickey Rooney. Can you believe that kid was the biggest star in the world? Funny world.

Meanwhile, I'm just rounding out the weekend with a little praise for my dear peeps. Considering everything we've had to overcome, this is an extraordinary achievment. And you guys have been in the front lines. I lurk, I know all. So thanks. Some of you might know that this flick means more than a little to me.

Yes, the second weekend will tell all, as we've always known. I'm not here to push you guys -- you push yourselves way harder than I could anyway. I'm just trying to figure out how to get the message out to the guys that aren't you, that don't know any of you, and that don't run into someone who saw the film. I'll be hounding the extremely patient Uni execs on that very subject. Like the lady said, "People have to know".

It's not that there HAS to be a sequel. It's just that I've got so many IDEAS...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


And again today (in response to an editorial on CHUD.com that said it's all over but for the weeping):


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post subject: Well. Here I am.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I was flouncing (that's lurking but fancier) about WHEDONESQUE (for which I have forgotten my password yet again) and I couldn't help but see the little CHUD.com hate-bomb that Devin wrote. I don't mind that he doesn't love the film, but things like "It failed in a big way" and "It's over" are about as charming -- and journalistic -- as "I was right." I am being totally realistic when I say the weekend grosses did not meet expectations -- but those expectations were based on models that don't apply to this situation because, seriously, nothing does. The industry is not calling this a failure, just a slightly soft version of a normal opening in a generally weak weekend.

[snip... Joss defending and loving his Browncoats... /snip]

We all know this remains an uphill battle. We all know that next weekend is crucial -- and a lot of it will rest on us. A lot will rest on the studio reaching people we can't. And factors we can't see coming. But I don't especially appreciate people calling Time of Death while I'm still operating. I don't like smug defeatism. And nobody disses the 'coats without me wading in. That's all.

The question remains: Did Early die out there in space, or did some passing ship show up at the last second? There's no answer yet, but I sure as hell know how I'd write it.

-j.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It's a good film. Rotten Tomatoes currently has it at a 79% 'fresh' reading, compared to 37% for Flight Plan. Ebert and Roeper gave it two thumbs up. It's worth two hours of your time.

Go forth and make this weekend count.

Comments

[herself_nyc]

Early! God I LOVED him.

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

Have you read the three Serenity comics that link the series and the film? Another villian we thought was dead wasn't so much.

It's a wonder that Joss's brain doesn't explode from all the ideas he has in it...

[herself_nyc]

No! Where do I get these comics? Or are they utterly sold out and gone?

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

You can order them online from the publisher is here: http://www3.tfaw.com/search/index.html?sstring=serenity+cover&cart=5276322524193299 . Looks like they're out of #1 - I found it on eBay and bought it there. It's a good story - definitely worth reading. And they explain why the Operative was in the movie instead of the 'two by two, hands of blue' guys.

I believe the three are also being combined into one graphic novel that will be released (I think) in January.

[herself_nyc]

I'll wait for that. When you see it available for pre-order, would you tell me? Because I'm not in the way of being up on comics.

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

I'm not usually either, but it'll probably be announced on Whedonesque. I'll let you know when I hear anything.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised, given the general stinkiness of CHUDs ability to predict industry behavior, that the site is even up any more; it is, after, all, the place that called Scapers crazy for thinking that their campaign would result in any new work in that 'verse (one miniseries later, he looks remarkably nonprescient).

Julia, seeing it again this week, maybe Thursday

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

I hope their lack of prescience continues.

Julia, seeing it again this week, maybe Thursday

Good Browncoat! :-) I'll be going twice more myself. I'm taking my cousin to dinner and a movie for her birthday. Not that she has any say in *which* movie...

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

*blankly*

But... wait. No. 2 doesn't cut any ice? Behind a Jody Foster pic? On limited release? Since when?

I'm confused.

And why is JW going to pieces from one beastly review when all the others have been overwhelmingly positive?

This doesn't add up. AND (she said stoutly) there is such a thing as a sleeper. WOM and repeat vieweings count for a lot. Plus it'll kill on DVD.

Sigh. I missed the opening because of the job nightmare to end all, but I'll be there Wednesday with a guest in tow. Forgive me, Joss! I couldna' help it.

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

You'd think that being #2 would count, but I guess the money counts more. It was a weak weekend all round, from what I can gather. Nothing did really well. Universal has said that Serenity is meeting their expectations - it would have been nice to blow them away, but not flopping is a good thing too!

The beastly review upset Joss for two reasons: 1) Because it was titled 'A Requiem for Serenity' or some such - basically, pronouncing it DOA which was a bit of a leap; and 2) because the author dissed the Browncoats as a bunch of in-your-face fanatics who turned everyone else off the film. He said that Browncoats made Trekkies blush. I think that's what bothered Joss more than anything - he is as loyal to his fans as they are to him.

I don't think he ever expected the film to be a blockbuster. Hopefully it will remain quietly strong and pay Universal back for their investment that way. I think it'll kill in DVD sales too.

And it hasn't even opened in Europe yet.

I think Joss forgives you. :-) Opening weekend isn't everything - in fact, he's said that the second weekend is even more important. I know I'll be seeing it again - it's a good film and I'm still picking up on things that I didn't notice the first few times.