MikeQ

Genuinely glad you so enjoyed it! I know you've been looking forward to this. Anticipating movies and being able to experience them in the theatre is just the best. Peace, Mike

Wonder Woman is pushing its way closer and closer to Guardians. It will pass it soon. Theoretically, if it has terrific late legs, Wonder Woman could pass Spider-Man, Civil War, and Iron Man 3, to sit in the top 5 grossing comic book films ever, or close to it. Highest Grossing Comic Book Films Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) — 623.4 million The Dark Knight (2008) — 534.9 million Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) — 459.0 million The Dark Knight Rises (2012) — 448.1 million Iron Man 3 (2013) — 409.0 million Captain America: Civil War (2016) — 408.1 million Spider-Man (2002) — 403.7 million Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) — 386.6 million^ Wonder Woman (2017) — 380.6 million^ Spider-Man 2 (2004) — 373.6 million Deadpool (2016)— 363.1 million Spider-Man 3 (2007) — 336.5 million Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — 333.2 million Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — 330.4 million Suicide Squad (2016) — 325.1 million Iron Man (2008) — 318.4 million Iron Man 2 (2010) — 312.4 million Man of Steel (2013) — 291.0 million The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) — 262.0 million Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) — 259.8 million ^Run not yet complete Spidey had a large drop in its second weekend, but it should be able to stabilize. I don't expect it to drop nearly as hard next weekend, simply because its opening weekend previews made for a significant Friday-to-Friday drop this weekend (which is the nature of these big MCU films). Its Saturday-to-Saturday and Sunday-to-Sunday drops were 52.5% and 55.5%, respectively, whereas its Friday-to-Friday drop was 73.2%. 2nd Weekends & Drops for Live Action Comic Book Movies that Opened to $70+ million Title (Year) — 2nd Weekend Gross (Drop from Opening Weekend) Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) — 103.1 million (-50.3%) Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) — 77.7 million (-59.4%) The Dark Knight (2008) — 75.2 million (-52.5%) Captain America: Civil War (2016) — 72.6 million (-59.5%) Iron Man 3 (2013) — 72.5 million (-58.4%) Spider-Man (2002) — 71.4 million (-37.8%) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) — 65.3 million (-55.5%) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) — 62.1 million (-61.4%) Wonder Woman (2017) — 58.5 million (-43.3%) Spider-Man 3 (2007) — 58.2 million (-61.5%) Deadpool (2016) — 56.5 million (-57.4%) Iron Man 2 (2010) — 52.0 million (-59.4%) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — 51.3 million (-69.1%) Iron Man (2008) — 51.2 million (-48.1%) Spider-Man 2 (2004) — 45.2 million (-48.7%)* Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) — 44.2 million (-62.2%) Suicide Squad (2016) — 43.5 million (-67.4%) Doctor Strange (2016) — 43.0 million (-49.5%) Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — 42.1 million (-55.3%) Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) — 41.3 million (-56.6%) Man of Steel (2013) — 41.3 million (-64.6%)** X2: X-Men United (2003) — 40.0 million (-53.2%) Logan (2017) — 38.1 million (-56.9%) Thor: The Dark World (2013) — 36.6 million (-57.3%) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) — 35.5 million (-61.2%) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) — 34.0 million (-66.9%)^ 300 (2007) — 32.9 million (-53.6%) X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) — 32.6 million (-64.2%)^ X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) — 26.4 million (-69.0%) *Opened on a Wednesday **Opened on Father’s Day Weekend ^Opened on Memorial Day Weekend Peace, Mike

I don't mind that the trailer doesn't tell you what the film is about (in fact, I prefer it). The trailer isn't as good as the previous one, but it does get me excited. This one showcases more of the actors/acting. Peace, Mike

Yes, Shrek the Third ($121.6M opening) and POTC: At World's End ($114.7M opening) opened back-to-back on May 18th & May 25th, 2007. Edit: Oops, I was beat to it. Peace, Mike

Haha! Every time I reflect on 'Midnight' I remember just how rich and rewarding it is. It ends on a very hopeful and uplifting note. Even as life inevitably gets complicated, love can endure, if you choose it. It carries the weight of 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' before it and delves deep. Man, looks like I'm gonna have to revisit the trilogy again soon, maybe next weekend! Peace, Mike

This is interesting. I love the 'Before' trilogy. One of the aspects that I find so interesting about it is that one's feelings about the three separate films are often shaped, I think, by wherever one is located in their own life course. I mean, each of the films themselves were created at very different times within the life course for the three central artists involved (Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy), and so I love how each film reflects the way we often view love and what love means when we're young and as we get older. You're a young person, and so it is interesting that you love 'Sunrise' but dismiss the other two. I encourage you to revisit the trilogy later in your life, once you hits your 20s, mid-20s, and 30s, etc. (I don't have time to get into it right now, but any argument that 'Sunset' is a cynical film, just doesn't hold up. Each of the films in the trilogy inspires in its own way.) I was actually first introduced to Jesse and Celine in 'Before Sunset', back when it was released in 2004 - so at the time only Sunrise and Sunset existed. I fell in love with it. So I went back and watched Sunrise and I fell in love with it too. And it made 'Sunset' even richer. Now with the full trilogy, I find that my favourite of the three will change depending on where I am in my life or my mood for the day/week/month. I seem to mostly go back and forth between 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' right now. And yet 'Midnight' sits with me in a way that the other two don't. I wonder how my perspectives on the three films will change as I get older. When I revisit the films, I sometimes will watch them in a different order, and I learn something new from doing so. I often wonder if the fact that I discovered 'Sunset' first, before the other two, shapes my perspective. I look forward to every time I revisit the trilogy, because I know that it will be a different experience each time, as I continue to evolve as a person and work through my own trajectories of love and life. It is such an interesting, complex, and beautiful trilogy. Peace, Mike

The content of the trailer looks good, but I really don't like how its edited and the terrible music that goes with it. I wish they would make a better trailer, so that I can actually get a better sense of the movie and its visuals. Because of the director and casting attached, looks promising. Peace, Mike

The fate of original sci-fi does not hang on this movie's prospects; its just nice to see these kinds of films succeed on some level, that's all. That's what it is for me, at least. I like diversity of film and diversity of producers of those films. I like seeing different and interesting movies. Etc. It doesn't mean I don't still enjoy the usual suspects - I saw Guardians and Wonder Woman this summer and loved them both. So, it's really quite simple for me. Peace, Mike

I don't know if its a duplicate, or if a person at the same website linked to the wrong review or what, but... the latest review added is from Dave Schilling at Birth.Movies.Death. It has almost the same blurb as one added by Evan Saathoff, also from Birth.Movies.Death. And the links for each review go to the same review (by Dave Schilling). Dave Schilling Birth.Movies.Death. July 16, 2017 A mixed bag you either go with or don't. Full Review Evan Saathoff Birth.Movies.Death. July 11, 2017 Luc Besson's latest is a mixed bag you either go with or don't. Full Review Peace, Mike

With this weekend's estimated gross, Wonder Woman has hit a 3.69 multiplier and moved into 9th of all time for multipliers among $70+ million Friday openers. It will soon pass The Incredibles, and is basically guaranteed now to pass Toy Story 3 and The Force Awakens, to become the 6th best multiplier. This is where it will likely finish. If Wonder Woman can have insane late legs and somehow hit just above a $405 million total, then it will pass American Sniper (to grab 5th place), or hit ~$407.5 million, then it will pass Inside Out as well (to grab 4th place). This is the absolute highest rank it can achieve. It is pretty stunning either way, as Wonder Woman is the only comic book film among the bunch. The top 10 is heavily populated by animated films (six of them), and five of those are Pixar films! #PixarDominance Best Multipliers Ever for $70+ Million Opening Films (Friday Openers): Rank / Title (Year) / Opening Weekend Gross (Multiplier) Avatar (2009) — 77.0 million (9.73) Finding Nemo (2003) — 70.3 million (4.84) Zootopia (2016) — 75.1 million (4.55) Inside Out (2015) — 90.4 million (3.94) American Sniper (2015) — 89.3 million (3.92) Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) — 248.0 million (3.78) Toy Story 3 (2010) — 110.3 million (3.76) The Incredibles (2004) — 70.5 million (3.71) Wonder Woman (2017) — 103.3 million (3.69) Finding Dory (2016) — 135.1 million (3.60) Peace, Mike

2nd Weekends & Drops for Live Action Comic Book Movies that Opened to $70+ million Title (Year) — 2nd Weekend Gross (Drop from Opening Weekend) Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) — 103.1 million (-50.3%) Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) — 77.7 million (-59.4%) The Dark Knight (2008) — 75.2 million (-52.5%) Captain America: Civil War (2016) — 72.6 million (-59.5%) Iron Man 3 (2013) — 72.5 million (-58.4%) Spider-Man (2002) — 71.4 million (-37.8%) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) — 65.3 million (-55.5%) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) — 62.1 million (-61.4%) Wonder Woman (2017) — 58.5 million (-43.3%) Spider-Man 3 (2007) — 58.2 million (-61.5%) Deadpool (2016) — 56.5 million (-57.4%) Iron Man 2 (2010) — 52.0 million (-59.4%) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — 51.3 million (-69.1%) Iron Man (2008) — 51.2 million (-48.1%) Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) — 45.2 million (-61.4%) Spider-Man 2 (2004) — 45.2 million (-48.7%)* Suicide Squad (2016) — 43.5 million (-67.4%) Doctor Strange (2016) — 43.0 million (-49.5%) Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — 42.1 million (-55.3%) Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) — 41.3 million (-56.6%) Man of Steel (2013) — 41.3 million (-64.6%)** X2: X-Men United (2003) — 40.0 million (-53.2%) Logan (2017) — 38.1 million (-56.9%) Thor: The Dark World (2013) — 36.6 million (-57.3%) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) — 35.5 million (-61.2%) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) — 34.0 million (-66.9%)^ 300 (2007) — 32.9 million (-53.6%) X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) — 32.6 million (-64.2%)^ X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) — 26.4 million (-69.0%) *Opened on a Wednesday **Opened on Father’s Day Weekend ^Opened on Memorial Day Weekend Peace, Mike

Looks very strong for both! +23% from True Friday for Apes (better than the +8% from True Friday for the previous film). And +40% increase for Spidey. Peace, Mike

I hear ya, but also have you ever had a film that you loved or fanboyed over and went to go see a bunch of times in theatres for that magical experience? Unless she is asking all of the time to see movies 4 times in theatres, go with your wife to the movies, take pleasure in her enjoyment of the film, and like someone else said: relax, eat some nachos, and enjoy the movie-going experience with the love of your life Peace, Mike

So, some weekend projections that could be totally wrong... If 'War' approximately follows 'Dawn' for the weekend: THU PREVIEWS: $5M TRUE FRIDAY: $16M SAT: $17.4 (+9%) SUN: $13.2M (-24%) WKD TOTAL: $51.6M If you don't separate previews from True Friday then Apes hits ~$55M - 'cause maybe the lower absolute numbers, combined with stellar reviews/great WOM, will make for a less frontloaded weekend. No idea on this one. If Spidey follows around Ant-Man for Sat/Sun: FRI: $13.2M SAT: $18.0M (+36%) SUN: $14.4M (-20%) WKD TOTAL: $45.6M (-61%) This seems like a heavy drop. Realistically, I could see a stronger Saturday increase (+40%) and something more like a -18% on Sunday, for $46.9M (-60%). If Wonder Woman follows around its Sat/Sun from last weekend: FRI: $2M SAT: $2.7M (+35%) SUN: $1.9M (-30%) WKD TOTAL: $6.6M (-33%) Peace, Mike

I think this one was rth teasing us, making us all try to squint and "Look and Find" the number for Spidey. Peace, Mike

I've missed your riddles/pictures for numbers @Rth Homecoming, thank you! Peace, Mike

Thanks. I didn't believe for a second Variety was right... 114% Friday in July, and for a huge young-skewing comic book film? Not happening. Heh. Either a typo, or their source really messed up. Peace, Mike

Whoa, $19M for Spidey? That would represent a 114% Friday increase! Peace, Mike

Summer RT Watch Update: With the wide expansion (to about 2600 theatres) of The Big Sick this weekend, I've added it to the list - currently the best reviewed wide opening/expanding film of the summer. Apes also is at the top of the list as one of the best reviewed films of the summer. Valerian so far is in the Fresh territory. And Wish Upon has joined the Rotten end of the list. Last summer had only one wide-release film with an 8.0+ average rating on RT (can you remember what that was without looking it up? ). Already this summer we have three, with Dunkirk essentially certain to add to that once the review embargo ends on Monday (tweets from critics have been overwhelmingly very positive, with lots of raves). Last summer also had only 10 films with an 80+% on RT. So far this summer we have nine films that have hit this milestone, and again, Dunkirk will almost certainly end up there next week, making for ten. It remains to be seen how many more can hit this milestone in terms of RT critical reception. 2017 Summer Films RT Watch (Wide-Release — May/June/July/August) The Big Sick — 97% — 8.4 rating Baby Driver — 96% — 8.1 rating War for the Planet of the Apes — 94% — 8.2 rating Spider-Man: Homecoming — 93% — 7.6 rating Wonder Woman — 92% — 7.5 rating It Comes At Night — 88% — 7.4 rating Captain Underpants — 85% — 6.8 rating Megan Leavey — 82% — 6.7 rating Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 — 81% — 7.1 rating Alien: Covenant — 71% — 6.4 rating Cars 3 — 69% — 6.1 rating Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets — 67% — 5.9 rating Despicable Me 3 — 60% — 5.7 rating 47 Meters Down — 54% — 5.5 rating The Dinner — 51% — 5.6 rating Rough Night — 48% — 5.4 rating Everything, Everything — 47% — 5.4 rating Snatched — 35% — 5.1 rating Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales — 29% — 4.7 rating King Arthur: Legend of the Sword — 28% — 4.6 rating Wish Upon — 23% — 3.8 rating Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul — 20% — 4.2 rating Baywatch — 19% — 4.0 rating The House — 17% — 3.6 rating All Eyez on Me — 16% — 4.3 rating The Mummy — 15% — 4.2 rating Transformers: The Last Knight — 15% — 3.3 rating (Last summer half of the 42 wide-release films tracked were “rotten” on RT, and only 10 of the films had an 80+%.) Peace, Mike

Not amazing for Apes, but I could see it hitting the high end or above Deadline's early projections for Friday (hitting $20-22M), given I would think this would play less frontloaded than your typical big summer film with an older male audience mostly coming out in the evening. But maybe they are already accounting for this, so what do I know. *shrug* Maybe audiences are just kinda tired of the many 3rd+ entry sequels, regardless of the quality. I'm totally surmising either way off of super early projections from the sometimes unreliable Deadline, so maybe let's just see what happens... heh. Assuming the $14 million Friday projection for Spidey is correct, I think it's looking at a $48-49 million weekend (58-59% drop), maybe closer to $50 million-ish (-57%) if it has a very strong weekend multiplier. Peace, Mike

I think your comparison to Wonder Woman isn't the right choice. Wonder Woman opened at the beginning of June, when there are still schools in session in the US, and schools in Canada were all in session as they have their summer holiday during the months of July and August. Wonder Woman also skewed older than Spidey does. Thus, there is a reason Spidey is outdoing Wonder Woman's dailies this week - it is July and it skews much younger. Also with your prediction broken down per day to hit $60 million, you’re giving Spidey the following breakdown for drops/increases: THU: -3% FRI: +70% SAT: +55% SUN: -23% Let's compare those to other July comic book film openers: Ant-Man (July 2015) THU: -8% FRI: +54% SAT: +36% SUN: -21% Captain America (July 2011) THU: -6.5% FRI: +45% SAT: +26% SUN: -22% And August comic book film openers: Guardians of the Galaxy (August 2014) THU: -13% FRI: +61% SAT: + 38% SUN: -24% Suicide Squad (August 2016) THU: -16% FRI: +60% SAT: +34% SUN: -26% If your breakdown happens, I will be amazed! I genuinely hope it happens for your sake and for the incredible surprise that it would be for everyone Peace, Mike

Technically yes, but you're really splitting hairs here (34.2% drop for Spidey vs. 34.8% drop for Ant-Man). Essentially the same drop. To the thread: Spidey may be performing 'normally' or 'as expected' so far, but that doesn't mean that it is doing poorly. There isn't anything so far, from my perspective, to suggest that Spidey will necessarily be unusually frontloaded in the long run. It was frontloaded on its opening weekend with huge previews, so I do believe there will inevitably be a large drop this weekend because of this (I'm expecting a 55+% drop). But that's how comic book films usually roll due to the high up-front demand. Spidey, like Ant-Man and like Guardians, could go on to have a very leggy run. Or not. But let's take it by week. Just my two cents. Peace, Mike

If it manages to hit at least $391 million total (achieving a 3.79+ multiplier), then yes, it will be the leggiest film ever among $100+ million openers! Peace, Mike

With its Tuesday gross, Wonder Woman hits a 3.60 multiplier and enters the top 10 multipliers of all time for films that opened to $70+ million. I expect it to finish with the 6th best multiplier of all time (it needs to hit ~$391 million total to do so). Best Multipliers Ever for $70+ Million Opening Films (Friday Openers): Rank / Title / Opening Weekend Gross / Multiplier Avatar (2009) — 77.0 million (9.73) Finding Nemo (2003) — 70.3 million (4.84) Zootopia (2016) — 75.1 million (4.55) Inside Out (2015) — 90.4 million (3.94) American Sniper (2015) — 89.3 million (3.92) Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) — 248.0 million (3.78) Toy Story 3 (2010) — 110.3 million (3.76) The Incredibles (2004) — 70.5 million (3.71) Finding Dory (2016) — 135.1 million (3.60) Wonder Woman (2017) — 103.3 million (3.60) Peace, Mike

I agree. If this was a feature that you could to set up, and then access on each film's RT page to create a "personal RT score" using the critics whose tastes best align with your own taste in film or whom you most trust to critically analyze film, that would be super useful. It might also help encourage people to look beyond the surface of "fresh" vs "rotten", as we all seem to complain happens, and read more into what our favourite reviewers are actually saying about a movie. Personally, my favourite reviewers are those that, from my perspective, are less "this movie is good/bad because... [insert hyperbole here]" and instead are more quietly analytical and expound on what is valuable or interesting (or not) about a given film. Peace, Mike