Weekend actuals Journey 2: 27,35m/Star Wars: 22,47m/SH: 40,17m/ The Vow: 41,20m

[AniNate]

That opening for Safe House is incredible. I never expected that.

[junkshop36]

Denzel's movies may not open as big or gross as much as other actors like Smith, Cruise, Ford and Hanks have( and occasionally still do ) but I'd argue that he's been more consistent than any of those guys have been over their careers.

[RichWS]

I bow to that Safe House performance. There's also the fantastic hold for Chronicle.

Edited February 13, 2012 by RichWS

[MovieMan89]

If this box office streak holds up into March, hello 50m+ OW Lorax & Titans and 80m+ OW Hunger Games.

Edited February 13, 2012 by MovieMan89

[Hiccup]

Great for Safe House and Chronicle!

[AniNate]

If this box office streak holds up into March, hello 50m+ OW Lorax & Titans and 80m+ OW Hunger Games.

It's funny how people are still so afraid to predict anything huge for John Carter

[MovieMan89]

On the downside, I hope this doesn't mean GR2 is in for a big OW this weekend. I despise Nic Cage and pretty much any movie he does.

[Robertron]

So what do the two $40m openers mean record-wise?

[MovieMan89]

It's funny how people are still so afraid to predict anything huge for John Carter

Oh I think this box office revival will certainly benefit everything next month if it holds up that long, but even so I still think JC is destined to have the lowest opening of those 4. A $40m OW would be an ambitious goal for it to hit, imo.

[Cochofles]

I am cautiously optimistic. These openings only mean that the films themselves were actually appealing to audiences. It does not mean that everything from now on will break out.

[Elessar]

I am cautiously optimistic. These openings only mean that the films themselves were actually appealing to audiences. It does not mean that everything from now on will break out.

Bingo. People don't suddenly go more to theaters because the calender year has switched from 2011 to 2012.

[MovieMan89]

I am cautiously optimistic. These openings only mean that the films themselves were actually appealing to audiences. It does not mean that everything from now on will break out.

But I find it hard to believe that we're not in a box office revival when nearly every week of 2012 has seen at least one surprising breakout, and primarily with the standard slew of generic January/February releases. I don't see anything about any of these breakout movies this year that have been more appealing than the usual crop of crap released this time of year. The box office rebounding seems to be the only explanation, and if that's the case then yes that will affect everything. It doesn't mean everything will breakout, but movies in general will do better than the last 2 years.

[CJohn]

Bingo. People don't suddenly go more to theaters because the calender year has switched from 2011 to 2012.

I have been saying that for months!!!! Edited February 13, 2012 by CJohn

[AniNate]

Bingo. People don't suddenly go more to theaters because the calender year has switched from 2011 to 2012.

Well, not consciously, but who knows? 2011 was kind of a shitty year in general, not just in the movie biz. And since January the economy's been rebounding, unemployment is down, even the weather has improved... Edited February 13, 2012 by tribefan695

[MovieMan89]

Bingo. People don't suddenly go more to theaters because the calender year has switched from 2011 to 2012.

I believe it all has to do with cycles of the box office, and it could just so happen that the cycle switched this time around the New Year. Edited February 13, 2012 by MovieMan89

[Elessar]

I don't see anything about any of these breakout movies this year that have been more appealing than the usual crop of crap released this time of year.

If moviemakers / studios would know the exact formula, what it is that makes people go to watch movies, there would only be breakouts. Moviemaking is not an exact science.

[Elessar]

And since January the economy's been rebounding, unemployment is down, even the weather has improved...

At best that affects a movie's gross by 5%, all of that put together.

[AniNate]

At best that affects a movie's gross by 5%, all of that put together.

Like you said, it's not an exact science.

[MovieMan89]

If moviemakers / studios would know the exact formula, what it is that makes people go to watch movies, there would only be breakouts. Moviemaking is not an exact science.

Right, and I think that partly has to do with the cycles of the box office I mentioned. It's a lot easier for movies to breakout when the box office is thriving. So if we're in a revival cycle after the slump of the past two years, that would explain why some of these movies are breaking out this year. I've never believed it all has to do strictly with movie appeal, there's too many times in box office history that disprove that theory. Timing is everything. Edited February 13, 2012 by MovieMan89

[Captain Craig]

Ever since the estimates were coming in on Saturday, for these films, it's made me think that should the trend continue the Ghost Rider 2 haters are going to be furious!!!