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

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I actually loved 2049. I watched the original a few years ago and had to watch it in two sittings because I fell asleep. After seeing the last half of it I was like, "That's it? What's the big deal?"
 

vinnygambini

Why are strippers at the U.N. bad when they're great at strip clubs???
250 million in advertising, are you for goddamn real

looks around

Where is this advertising?!

No no. The advertising is most likely in the $120-150M range WW, add the budget of $150M, and that's $270-300M of capital invested in BR2049.

The break-even point is $400M (perhaps more) from box-office revenues (what's reported by publications such as deadline and box-officemojo are gross revenue - the money is divided between distributors and theater chains)
 

kirblar

Member
I disagree that the marketing was a hopeless cause; frankly, I think if nostalgia's all you've got then you're dead. There's art (potentially, anyway) within marketing, I think, and a movie like this needs more than a prefab campaign or, well, nothing, because I barely heard anything about it.

But I mean the original itself is a different beast. Not just that it's cult or niche or whatever. It's not just the well-justified doubts with making a sequel so long after a box office flop became a cult classic. If Tolkien emerged from the grave to announce a new Middle-Earth novel, I'd be hyped for it. Even Star Wars and Star Trek I feel are suffering badly from a dearth of creativity, but the settings have much left to explore. These stories are about exploration and adventure, so they make you wonder what lies beyond the edges of the map. They look outward. If it works, the audience becomes insatiable, and that makes expansions a relatively easy sell.

Taking the impressions here at face value it seems they found a way to explore the world of Blade Runner beyond what the original showed, but the original work itself wasn't the sort to imply that was possible, necessary, or even desirable. Blade Runner always gave me the impression that it was introspective and nihilistic, and was done exploring its own mind. Are there unanswered questions? Sure. But it's not like I was particularly interested in what Deckard and Rachael would find on their journey, because wasn't Roy's point that it wasn't going to matter?
You really should watch the movie, because your concern and skepticism is something the narrative is very aware of.
 

Timbuktu

Member
I actually loved 2049. I watched the original a few years ago and had to watch it in two sittings because I fell asleep. After seeing the last half of it I was like, "That's it? What's the big deal?"

I would say that 2049 is a better film than the original, although it might not have anywhere as big an impact or be as influential. The original broke new ground in terms of how we imagine and visualise the future, which I don't think 2049 did, but it is probably more flawed as well.
 

Zakalwe

Banned
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.
 
David Lynch was given Carte blanche to do an 18 hour David Lynch movie.

Denis Villaneuve was given 150 million dollars to make a 3 hour Blade Runner sequel.

What a time to be alive.
 

Blade30

Unconfirmed 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"..

tfIs3uK.gif


Bland and no substance? What movies does the girl watch that makes BR2049 bland?
 

A-V-B

Member
No no. The advertising is most likely in the $120-150M range WW, add the budget of $150M, and that's $270-300M of capital invested in BR2049.

The break-even point is $400M (perhaps more) from box-office revenues (what's reported by publications such as deadline and box-officemojo are gross revenue - the money is divided between distributors and theater chains)

Ahhh, I gotcha.
 

Kadayi

Banned
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.
 
No no. The advertising is most likely in the $120-150M range WW, add the budget of $150M, and that's $270-300M of capital invested in BR2049.

The break-even point is $400M (perhaps more) from box-office revenues (what's reported by publications such as deadline and box-officemojo are gross revenue - the money is divided between distributors and theater chains)
I think the original point stands. What'd they blow a $150 million marketing budget on? Inkjet cartridge party?
 

bounchfx

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.

when I was on my way out, I overheard three older women talking. they were complaining that it was 'so boring', 'nothing happened', and 'I guess the future is just naked women everywhere'. actually they sounded pretty offended by the boobs. Lol. I don't even remember that many scenes of toplessness. a couple statues, and maybe 5 minutes otherwise? maybe I'm misremembering.

but yeah... it's not for everyone. I loved the pacing.
 
No no. The advertising is most likely in the $120-150M range WW, add the budget of $150M, and that's $270-300M of capital invested in BR2049.

The break-even point is $400M (perhaps more) from box-office revenues (what's reported by publications such as deadline and box-officemojo are gross revenue - the money is divided between distributors and theater chains)

They did not spend an amount nearly equal to the production budget on advertising. Especially not for a somewhat niche, rated R sci-fi movie. That's an completely absurd assumption
 

Zakalwe

Banned
when I was on my way out, I overheard three older women talking. they were complaining that it was 'so boring', 'nothing happened', and 'I guess the future is just naked women everywhere'. actually they sounded pretty offended by the boobs. Lol. I don't even remember that many scenes of toplessness. a couple statues, and maybe 5 minutes otherwise? maybe I'm misremembering.

but yeah... it's not for everyone. I loved the pacing.

The exploitation was shown as a sickness.

The Joi model was as exploitative as the replicants.

This was all intended and intrinsic, and it makes the little moments of humanity scattered about both films so damn beautiful.

Preaching to the choir, but damn it makes me sad some people won't get to experience this.
 

Kaizer

Banned
Well I just watched the first Blade Runner earlier today, went with the Final Cut. I enjoyed it a lot for the most part. I paused the movie at one point to use the bathroom & noticed apparently an hour had already gone by but it only felt like I'd been watching the film for 5 minutes. If 2049 is similar in tone & pacing to the original at all, I know I'm probably going to love it.

The most intriguing thing about the movie is how it's made me all the more interested in seeing 2049 since the original very much feels like a self-contained story that wraps up with questions left for ambiguity. There was nothing that screamed out "we need to make another of these", but the fact that they did & that it's a continuation of Deckard's story in part now has me really interested in 2049. Definitely gonna watch the film again & also check out the other cuts though.
 

mlclmtckr

Banned
Guys the theatre I went to was also pretty much full but let's not fall into the trap of extrapolating our personal anecdotes out to nationwide box office totals
 

Rydeen

Member
Well I just watched the first Blade Runner earlier today, went with the Final Cut. I enjoyed it a lot for the most part. I paused the movie at one point to use the bathroom & noticed apparently an hour had already gone by but it only felt like I'd been watching the film for 5 minutes. If 2049 is similar in tone & pacing to the original at all, I know I'm probably going to love it.

The most intriguing thing about the movie is how it's made me all the more interested in seeing 2049 since the original very much feels like a self-contained story that wraps up with questions left for ambiguity. There was nothing that screamed out "we need to make another of these", but the fact that they did & that it's a continuation of Deckard's story in part now has me really interested in 2049. Definitely gonna watch the film again & also check out the other cuts though.

You absolutely owe it to yourself to check out the 'Dangerous Days' documentary about the making of Blade Runner. All the major players involved with the film were interviewed.
 
Well I just watched the first Blade Runner earlier today, went with the Final Cut. I enjoyed it a lot for the most part. I paused the movie at one point to use the bathroom & noticed apparently an hour had already gone by but it only felt like I'd been watching the film for 5 minutes. If 2049 is similar in tone & pacing to the original at all, I know I'm probably going to love it.
Blade Runner gets called slow and boring, even "glacial", and after I finally fully watched it, I couldn't understand it. The movie was surprisingly well-paced and engaging.

One thing I liked about 2001 when I watched it for the first time was that it felt partly like a travelogue of that future, letting us see the interesting technology and get a sense of place and really establish the setting. And Blade Runner had a similar element, in how you want to see and experience the world as much as you want to follow the story, so even the slower parts are fascinating because you get to enjoy the visuals and architecture and design of the world.

And yes, you are going to really like 2049
 
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.

Ugh...these are the worst kind of complaints for a movie and oftentimes gaf is susceptible to it too. Instead of appreciating a movie for what it is and what the director intentionally wanted it to be, they reminisce on the move that THEY wanted and something the director wasn't going for at all
 

Raziel

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.

when I was on my way out, I overheard three older women talking. they were complaining that it was 'so boring', 'nothing happened', and 'I guess the future is just naked women everywhere'. actually they sounded pretty offended by the boobs. Lol. I don't even remember that many scenes of toplessness. a couple statues, and maybe 5 minutes otherwise? maybe I'm misremembering.

but yeah... it's not for everyone. I loved the pacing.

I can't be mad at either of those takes tbh.
 

JaggedSac

Member
In all honesty, I could have sat through another hour of movie. Maybe they will release a LOTR style extended edition for the crazy people like me. Was enthralled all the way through. Likely to watch it again this weekend. Especially since I have a Movie Lass, lol.
 

diaspora

Member
In all honesty, I could have sat through another hour of movie. Maybe they will release a LOTR style extended edition for the crazy people like me. Was enthralled all the way through. Likely to watch it again this weekend. Especially since I have a Movie Lass, lol.

Same, every minute mattered- give me a 4 hour cut.
 
my cinema was full in sydney but also it was in one of those super inner-city neighbourhoods where everyone looked like a film critic (white)

i am spreading the word about this film tho

also kinda hope this leads to a cyberpunk resurgence, people gotta realise we're living so close to the edge in regards to the themes of blade runner
 

GhaleonEB

Member
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.

The international breakout isn't fully populated yet. The total international is $49M through Sunday, but the countries listed in the table add up to ~$10M. It opened pretty well in the UK, for instance.

It opened pretty much everywhere. Looks like it just has China, Japan and South Korea left.

Sorry to crush your hopes and dreams. It's got those three countries and legs to rely on.
 

Facism

Member
when I was on my way out, I overheard three older women talking. they were complaining that it was 'so boring', 'nothing happened', and 'I guess the future is just naked women everywhere'. actually they sounded pretty offended by the boobs. Lol. I don't even remember that many scenes of toplessness. a couple statues, and maybe 5 minutes otherwise? maybe I'm misremembering.

but yeah... it's not for everyone. I loved the pacing.

The movie felt like one long lucid nightmare to me, which isn't criticism. Loved it.
 
That is a strange thing for that person to hate, given that was the entire purpose of that hologram's existence. That's like hating that a toaster toasts bread.

It's a choice that the movie decides to go 100% down the male viewpoint/experience though isn't it? They focus on female prostitutes, female subservient AI, naked female bodies used for advertising, naked female bodies intended purely for procreation and violently destroyed when they don't fulfil that purpose.
 

Sunster

Member
Just saw it and I loved every minute of it. idk anything about the original. Is there a sequel?
do we see the rebellion?
 

george_us

Member
In all honesty, I could have sat through another hour of movie. Maybe they will release a LOTR style extended edition for the crazy people like me. Was enthralled all the way through. Likely to watch it again this weekend. Especially since I have a Movie Lass, lol.
Same here. It's honestly nice to watch a movie that isn't going 200 mph at all time. I don't know what people are thinking when they say the movie should have been an hour shorter. What do you cut? Every minute felt essential.
 

derder

Member
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.
 
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.

Are the Friday times usually finalized by now? I'm not seeing Friday times near me either.
 
Are the Friday times usually finalized by now? I'm not seeing Friday times near me either.

I think showings tend to get listed on Wednesday don't they? I mean I know the movie is not a huge hit, but it was number 1 at the box office last weekend and it's only been one week. Would be insane if they were pulling it en masse that soon.
 
It's a choice that the movie decides to go 100% down the male viewpoint/experience though isn't it? They focus on female prostitutes, female subservient AI, naked female bodies used for advertising, naked female bodies intended purely for procreation and violently destroyed when they don't fulfil that purpose.

Female bosses who don't treat K like shit, female artist with incredible skill and is the best in her field, female villain who has a lot more agency than she lets anyone believe (
"Of course replicants can't lie. Guess I'll just tell Wallace that you pulled a gun on me.
). Blade Runner 2049 is a movie about powerful women, with Ryan Gosling as the narrative anchor.
 
I think showings tend to get listed on Wednesday don't they? I mean I know the movie is not a huge hit, but it was number 1 at the box office last weekend and it's only been one week. Would be insane if they were pulling it en masse that soon.

I was going to say. The only film showing up was Happy Death Day, and I couldn't imagine them filling every theater with that one.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
shits mind boggling

"I dont have time in my day to watch a 3 hour masterpiece"

...

"binge watches Fuller House all day"

Is it really hard to understand that someone is fine spending time with a harmless distraction on in the background while they fiddle with their phone, so some work, eat, clean their house, etc. but doesn't have the desire to spend 3 uninterrupted hours in silence paying rapt attention to something that rewards and requires close active listening and watching?
 
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