Yeah this will certainly not follow TA's Sat/Sun pattern. That was highly remarkable for such a big OD because as you said buzz after people first saw it was just so insane that theaters couldn't keep up with demand. IM3 isn't getting near that kind of WOM, even if it's getting good WOM.
And the thing is everyone knew the midnight record was toast when DH2 was about to hit. If you were surprised it broke the record than you clearly didn't follow box office. Sure few knew it was gonna go that big at midnight, but we all knew midnight record was getting smashed. Whereas next to no one knew Avatar would beat Titanic, Avengers and Spiderman would obliterate the OW records, and New Moon would set the OD record. That's why those 4 were more impressive for me.
Sad but true. DH2's run was so anticlimactic if you take out the midnights it's almost pathetic. Even it's Friday w/o midnights was blah. For me when I think of the greatest box office achievements since I've been following box office (around 2000 or so) I think:
1. Avatar's run
2. Avenger's OW (tie)
2. SM1's OW (tie)
4. New Moon's OD
5. DH2's midnight
I never thought I'd see a 200m OW for years to come. That was far more impressive to me than any midnight number. And everyone knew DH2 would shatter the midnight record so it's not like it was a surprise. Almost no one knew TA would even get anywhere near 200 OW.
Neither did we. But most of us expected more than 150's. But this is a premature argument because we have no confirmation yet that's where it's headed.
It seems like the numbers for this all day have been the most unreliable for a mega blockbuster in quite some time. We can't seem to get anything locked down.
I agree that Mandarin should under no circumstance be compared to a well known or iconic comic book villain. We have to keep in mind the general audience had no idea who Iron Man even was before 2008, let alone the Mandarin.
I know the twist has literally been a non factor to everyone I've talked to so far. When I bring it up some of my friends have even asked what twist I'm talking about, lol.
Why are we already writing off SM2's gross as unreachable? Even if it does 155m this weekend it only needs IM2's multi to get to SM2's total. Hardly impossible.
Am bummed that 160m OW seems to be out now. Thought that would definitely happen. Mid 150's isn't bad, but disappointing. It also makes 400m very hard now with this month's schedule.
23) Will Nikki's first posting about IM3 contain the phrase "NOT A RECORD" anywhere in the post? NO
The answer is technically no, lol. But who care right, we're all pretty much in the same boat with that one.