News Round Up

[rteetz]

Iger seems happy so far

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/b...oyees-star-wars-the-force-awakens-1201663410/

 

[jade1]

New magicbands coming to Disney parks including the purple one

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...more-coming-soon-to-walt-disney-world-resort/

Got a purple at Space Mountain a month ago if anyone is interested. Thinner band to-nice.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There is some deliberate echoing, but it's done with respect to the orginal trilogy. Its like coming home after 4 years of college some things have changed some have stayed the same, but it's great to to go back and worth the trip.

I saw "50% sequel/ 50% rework/reboot"...

Which is 100% down the uprights for me.

That is exactly how it should have been done...because there is a financial concern and we can't get movies without that being serviced.

All the hateful, spiteful geekers that have been throwing darts at Abrams for three years on the Internet should write him a handwritten apology.

What am I saying? They sleep with their keyboards...they don't know how to write.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Iger seems happy so far

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/b...oyees-star-wars-the-force-awakens-1201663410/

In other news...the sky is likely blue...

 

[soniam]

Then you'll be looking at them on their second, third showings and they may be in regular clothes...
None of who you describe aren't seeing it at least once tonight

We are not uber fans but will probably wear our Jawa costumes and Star Wars xmas shirts. However, we won't be seeing it until xmas day, because we are leaving the country tomorrow. So, if anyone wants to see some weirdos seeing Episode VII in costumes on xmas day, head out to our theater

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We are not uber fans but will probably wear our Jawa costumes and Star Wars xmas shirts. However, we won't be seeing it until xmas day, because we are leaving the country tomorrow. So, if anyone wants to see some weirdos seeing Episode VII in costumes on xmas day, head out to our theater

You get a pass

 

[lockedoutlogic]

less than 12 hours... just saying'.

Haven't seen the over seas results yet... but I don't think its everywhere in Europe. I'm sure we'll start hearing initial numbers tomorrow. My thought was initially it would fall short because people wouldn't go... but as we've gotten closer people who were "waiting" at work have gotten excited and bought tickets... so...

I predict opening weekend to be $210-218 Million... based on nothing more than a lottery guess. Because I have no clue how this stuff works.

I think it will barely break the domestic record...and as well on the world market.

The British mark is EASILY gonna fall. And I have a feeling the French might need some lighthearted fun as well.

I think the December opening was genius from the start.

And the week before Christmas...when the majority of work parties are done as well as the Xmas shopping...

Was 100% genius.

Remember...if you don't travel after Christmas you do NOTHING...and the kids bounce off the walls.

Moms will be taking the boys twice...and now maybe the girls.

 

[luisov]

Does that mean Disney is adding an extra billion to the DHS budget?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Does that mean Disney is adding an extra billion to the DHS budget?

My first thought was laugh...

...the second was to remind myself that nothing they have has the proven track record on a Mass, mainstream demographic scale as Star Wars has had and will have if its going more gender neutral.

Sure as hell not frozen.

So not entirely crazy...if unlikely


Not including Mickey Mouse or disneyland

 

[luisov]

My first thought was laugh...

...the second was to remind myself that nothing they have has the proven track record on a Mass, mainstream demographic scale as Star Wars has had and will have if its going more gender neutral.

Sure as hell not frozen.

So not entirely crazy...if unlikely


Not including Mickey Mouse or disneyland

It's been a MASSIVE year for the Walt Disney Company. We can only hope that it translates into more than just happy shareholders.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's been a MASSIVE year for the Walt Disney Company. We can only hope that it translates into more than just happy shareholders.

...from your lips to rich men who don't care ears

They have had a ridiculous one...
But...I read a wsj yesterday -
Which I never do because that's satan's newspaper - talking about hoe Disney has gotten almost no traction in China with Star Wars.

Which we've talked about in relation to Shanghai.

China is a huge problem - along with ESPN and the Paris takeover -
That will likely limit domestic parks spending some.
What could've been.

 

[twebber55]

You're freaking me out, dude...

But I would classify myself as a "moderate zealot"...

As in I know everything about it...never stopped caring/following. Was slapped in the face with a wet fish in 1999, 2002, and 2005 (that was crap too...the fall of one of the top 5 Villians in history with no depth)...

But I can criticize and be honest and I don't wear uniforms and go to conventions. Occasionally I do something else too...

There are many like me.

It's hard to explain...like the RIDICULOUS comparisons to Harry Potter (better case) and avatar (zero case) thrown around here since Comcast showed up in Orlando...

You know what is a good comparison? Disney nuts.

Those that buy those ridiculous Dooney and Burke purses, 1600 vacation club points, pay $100 for cupcakes and a 13 year old fireworks show that lasts 7 minutes, and go to food and wine festival 3 weekends a year - every year.

It's the same damn thing. It's pop culture that people identify personally with and will till they leave their physical states.

It's not Justin beiber.

great comparison

 

[skier_pete]

It's hard to explain...like the RIDICULOUS comparisons to Harry Potter (better case) and avatar (zero case) thrown around here since Comcast showed up in Orlando....

yeah - I always think it's funny that Harry Potter - while huge - comes in a distant second to the reach of Star Wars in the US. Your comparison to Disney fans is very apt, but I actually wonder if their might be more Star Wars fans out there.

While I was weaned on Star Wars and Spielberg, and I'm a big fan, I am far from a Star Wars nut. (I'm a Disney Nut though.) I own very little Star Wars merchandise and have never been to Star Wars Weekends. I will not be out in line tonight. But, I still am very excited to see this movie, and have so far been very successful at avoiding spoilers. SO again - please no-one post them here! I need to make it to Sunday.

 

[skier_pete]

Does that mean Disney is adding an extra billion to the DHS budget?

While this is not true - if this movie exceeds expectations, it's quite possible they could look to add to what is in Florida. I think California won't be affected much, but they could decide to expand Florida's footprint pretty easily. A third ride, or additional dining or another stage show is not out of the question.

One mistake I think Disney is making which I wonder if this could also rectify is to make both the DLR and WDW Star Wars lands Identical. I realize cloned parks is a cost saving measure (and I suppose a bit of a Star Wars tribute). However, there is no doubt in my mind that Star Wars will drive fans to the parks, but if they had the guts to make the parks different, you might even drive East Coasters out to California. (Perhaps they consider that potential revenue not great enough to offset to extra design expenses.)

 

[lockedoutlogic]

While I was weaned on Star Wars and Spielberg, and I'm a big fan, I am far from a Star Wars nut. I own very little Star Wars merchandise and have never been to Star Wars Weekends. I will not be out in line tonight.

x2

I wouldn't have waited in lines if I hadn't become
Privy to the Presales in October...

But with that...lines are pointless...I'm sure damn near all the first wave of showings are sold out and were weeks ago.

Over $100 million in Presales 4 days before opening is no small chunk of cash.

10x the IMAX previoue record in the first day

 

[jade1]

Isn't opening record weekend in Dec like $80 Million? Wonder what it would have done in peak release weeks. Or wouldn't that have even mattered.

 

[twebber55]

Isn't opening record weekend in Dec like $80 Million? Wonder what it would have done in peak release weeks. Or wouldn't that have even mattered.

yes historically December releases have a longer life than summer movies but also opening weekend movies in the summer have bigger numbers
Box office mojo predicts 231,000,000 domestic opening this weekend
i see star wars breaking the all time domestic numbers going over 800 million and winding up second all time right around 2.3 billion

 

[Budshark]

It will be interesting to watch...

Somewhere there is a top level to how much can be made in an opening weekend... we'll get up close to that in the next 3-4 days. If it tops out at 190-200 Million, then you are truly seeing what the max of the market is.

In terms of traditional December releases and top grossing of all times, it'll be interesting to see. Typically December is a slow burn month... open modestly, good word of mouth, heaving repeat as fans bring family members during the holidays... whereas blockbusters are quick burns... $200 million, 100 million, 50... and so on until it burns out.

So, the 2 questions for this year:
What is the max capacity of the market? Can it bear a $230 Million movie? We will find out in 3-4 days.
Can a blockbuster also be a slow burn? Can it have a $200 million weekend, and still have enough demand to sustain the slow and steady over several weeks? We won't know that for a couple weeks.

If the answer to both of those are "Yes" - then we'll see a change to the whole strategy of when to release movies. If it acts like a blockbuster, but muted in take because of the time of year? Then December will remain a "mistake" and blockbusters will stay in the summer.

 

[jade1]

It will be interesting to watch...

Somewhere there is a top level to how much can be made in an opening weekend... we'll get up close to that in the next 3-4 days. If it tops out at 190-200 Million, then you are truly seeing what the max of the market is.

In terms of traditional December releases and top grossing of all times, it'll be interesting to see. Typically December is a slow burn month... open modestly, good word of mouth, heaving repeat as fans bring family members during the holidays... whereas blockbusters are quick burns... $200 million, 100 million, 50... and so on until it burns out.

So, the 2 questions for this year:
What is the max capacity of the market? Can it bear a $230 Million movie? We will find out in 3-4 days.
Can a blockbuster also be a slow burn? Can it have a $200 million weekend, and still have enough demand to sustain the slow and steady over several weeks? We won't know that for a couple weeks.

If the answer to both of those are "Yes" - then we'll see a change to the whole strategy of when to release movies. If it acts like a blockbuster, but muted in take because of the time of year? Then December will remain a "mistake" and blockbusters will stay in the summer.

Yea that's what I have been wondering.

So are Dec weekends lower because of other things people are doing? Or sharing more screens? A mix?

Our Local 15 has Star Wars on 5 screens, and other movies on 10 for this friday. I would have thought 1/2 maybe.

 

[Budshark]

Our Local 15 has Star Wars on 5 screens, and other movies on 10 for this friday. I would have thought 1/2 maybe.

Some of that was Disney rules... In order to product the longevity of the movie, Disney put requirements in that theaters keep the same number of screens for 3-4 weeks after opening. That prevented a theater from opening on 12 out of 15 screens, and then dropping to the more normal 4-6 after the first week.