June Box Office Predictions
Written
on 9/6/08
You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (June 6th)
Plot Synopsis: Zohan is a tired Middle Eastern soldier who wishes to go to New York City and become a hairstylist.
Starring: Adam Sandler
Director: Dennis Dugan
Jon’s Take: Does Judd Apatow own the genre of comedy? I hope not, but the first trailer doesn’t look too bad. I think it’ll do okay and the premise seems wacky and could lead to some comedy gold. This is the first big comedy of the summer and could benefit from that aspect. Will it have legs? That all depends, but I believe audiences could be facing Apatow fatigue. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” got great reviews (check here for Killer film’s review), but didn’t exactly set the box office on fire.
Donny’s Take: I’m a huge Apatow fan and am extremely excited to see him and Sandler rock my funny bone this summer. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is my favorite film of the year so far, and it’s going to be hard to beat, but I’m pretty sure that even if it doesn’t pack the punch that “FSM” did “Zohan” will still make stupid money. I’m going to disagree with Jon and say that Apatow is just getting started, and can’t wait to see him bring the funny this summer. Also, I don’t think he owns the comedy genre, just 50% of it.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $125mil
Kung Fu Panda (June 6th)
Plot Synopsis: Po is a reluctant Panda who is recruited by Kung Fu masters, who train him in the ancient martial art ways to defend the Valley of Peace by an evil snow leopard.
Starring: Jack Black and Angelina Jolie
Director: Mark Osbourne
Jon’s Take: DreamWorks Animation sure has made a name for itself, but their product, to me, has been average at best. The success of this picture should be apparent, but will it have legs is always the question, but it should make enough money to erase doubts. It seems to joke-y to me and I think the aim is at kids obviously, but how will the story be? What sets Disney apart from their competitors is how Disney handles the story over jokes and that’s the reason DreamWorks films will be dated in time. All early promotion has been on Po and kung fu, not the story.
Donny’s Take: I don’t know much about “Kung Fu Panda” except for the fact that Jack Black is the voice of Panda, and my son is stoked about seeing it. I agree with Jon that DreamWorks’ animated features haven’t been anything but average. So I’m not sure how much impact it’ll have on the box office, but with the actors behind it I’m pretty sure it’s going to at the very least make it’s money back.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $175mil
The Incredible Hulk (June 13th)
Plot Synopsis: Bruce Banner is looking to understand and hopefully cure his problem. Making his life more troublesome, is the military looking to control him and an over-zealous military office that takes the gamma rays and becomes Abomination.
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, and Tim Roth
Director: Louise Leterrier
Jon’s Take: Hoping to rid our conscience of Ang Lee’s “Hulk” of just a few years ago, Edward Norton has taken almost total control on the film, story, and character. Sure that film bombed in its second and third week, and truth be told, not withstanding the final twenty minutes, it wasn’t that bad. The visual effects here look better and the Hulk looks more menacing than the cartoon-y Hulk of Ang Lee’s film, but I’m not a fan of the design of the Abomination character, no matter how much Leterrier defends it. It should be good and Marvel is desperately hoping to franchise this character. The first trailer did little to excite, even though it was good looking, but when they released the second trailer, wow! Now that’s the Hulk! But will average movie-goers see what I see? I do, despite whatever box office intake it does or does not do, I think Marvel studios will be two-for-two.
Donny’s Take: I loathed Ang Lee’s “Hulk” mainly because the ending blew goats, and the 3D made me want to bust out my Xbox controller. The actors were fine, but actors alone can’t make a movie. I did get a little excited by the new trailer for “The Incredible Hulk, “ but then the 3D characters came on screen and I got upset that I couldn’t log into my Xbox live account. Somebody tell the Hollywood brass that men in suits look better than pixels! Anyway, I’m a comic book nerd that has a boner for Marvel characters, so despite the 3D I’m going to plant my ass into a seat on opening night to see one of the greatest Marvel heroes come to life. Lets hope we aren’t let down.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $165mil
The Happening (June 13th)
Plot Synopsis: A natural disaster threatens the entire planet.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, and John Leguizamo
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Jon’s Take: Despite me liking “Unbreakable”, I’m so over M. Night. I don’t care about his one-note plot structures anymore. “The Village” and “The Lady in the Water” bombed so bad, he needs “The Happening” to open big and have some sort of legs. It has a horrible name for a film, but I was curious about the film after a decent trailer was released. The idea sounds timely enough, something about bees dying and causing a chain reaction or something. This could go either way but the Hulk could smash this film’s box office happening.
Donny’s Take: I dig M. Night’s flicks, but I don’t love them. So under normal circumstances I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about checking out one of his new films. Only I really do love end of the world type pictures (can’t help myself, I also really love disaster movies). I also love the fact that it’s opening on Friday the 13th, and since Jason isn’t blessing the silver screen with his presence I’m going to check out “The Happening.” I’m also curious to see how it does at the box office. I don’t think it’s going to break the bank, but maybe Marky Mark can rescue Night’s career from Hitchcock copycat limbo.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $132mil
Get Smart (June 20th)
Plot Synopsis: A bumbling agent, Maxwell Smart and his more capable sidekick Agent 99, battle the organization known only as KAOS.
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and The Rock
Director: Peter Segal
Jon’s Take: It looks promising, mostly because of Carell’s comedy talents, but it could face the similar foe of what happens when you modernize 60s television, like “Bewitched”-you bomb. It could bomb like Steve Martin’s similar spy tale, “Pink Panther” which failed to deliver upon the original Peter Sellers’ films. Carell hasn’t been gold lately at the box office (think “Evan Almighty”) and maybe he’s getting over-exposed already, especially weekly with the “Office” on TV. I have seen some of the original TV series and it’s a great show, and the trailer at least looks like they captured some of that show’s charm. It all depends whether people care for silly spies or not.
Donny’s Take: I loved “Get Smart” when I was a kid, and I can’t think of a cooler cat to take over that franchise. Remakes usually suck, but I’m going to agree with Jon and say that the trailer does look promising. Another plus the film has going is the undeniable fact that Ann Hathaway is smoking hot. (praise the lord of hot movie chicks, amen).
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $146mil
The Love Guru (June 20th)
Plot Synopsis: Pitka, raised outside the United States by gurus, travels back to the states to enter the self-help business. His very first challenge is to help a star hockey player whose wife left him for a rival, all in time prior to the Stanley Cup.
Starring: Michael Myers and Jessica Alba
Director: Marco Schnabel
Jon’s Take: Ugh, if there’s anything more annoying than another Will Ferrell sports comedy, it’s a Michael Myers character film. The premise sounds stupid to me and this month features a few comedies, so this one looks like it’ll get lost in the shuffle, even its opening week is against a comedy. I don’t expect much from this. Most of the cast are familiar faces from the “Austin Powers” films as are the jokes.
Donny’s Take: I’m not at all excited to see this flick. Actually, I’m hoping that Jon catches this on so that I don’t have to spend time with it. I think the premise sucks, and the only reason for me to even think about checking this one out it Jessica Alba. Fortunately I can google hot pics of her anytime I want so if I can convince Jon to watch this one I’m free and clear. Google baby, google.!
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $60mil
Wall-E (June 27th)
Plot Synopsis: In the far future, a trash-compacting robot sets off on an adventure for the meaning of life.
Director: Andrew Stanton
Jon’s Take: Oh I can’t wait! Pixar has captured that emotion and story telling like old Disney once did and “Ratatouille” proved to be their best animated and film yet. “Wall-E” looks highly original; no actual dialogue, Wall-E beeps like-minded syllables to form sentences, it’s futuristic, and its part of that infamous round table discussion of the original Pixar guys had that formed “Toy Story”, “Cars”, “Bugs Life”, and “Finding Nemo”. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays to the kids because as great as “Ratatouille” is, I think that film plays to the adults better than the children. This could be the same, but the character is cute enough to draw wondrous amounts of acclaim and cash. This might be clichéd but this could be Pixar’s best-again.
Donny’s Take: Pixar rocks! I love their movies and this one reminds me of the flicks I used to love when I was a kid. I can’t wait to hit the theater, buy myself (and my son) a monster box of popcorn, a huge Coke, and relax in the place where dreams come true. No, I’m not talking about Jessica Biel’s panties, perverts. I’m talking about the movies. I love the movies; I know that today lots of people think that watching a DVD in the comfort of your home is just as good, but I disagree. I love the theater, and “Wall_E” is the kind of flick that gets me excited about going to the movies.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $230mil
Wanted (June 27th)
Plot Synopsis: When young Wesley Gibson discovers his father was an elite assassin, the organization his father works for recruits him.
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, and James McVoy
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Jon’s Take: I’ve dug what Bekmambetov done on a lower budget with his “Night Watch” films. Sure most of it was style over substance, his eye for action set pieces are top-notch and to prove it, re-watch the trailer for “Wanted”. I won’t know how accurate the film will be to the comic/graphic novel it’s based on, although it’s apparently a dark comic, darker than “Sin City”, but you don’t get that sense from here. McAvoy is everywhere now days and Jolie is the ultimate tough, pretty chick, so I think this has some potential to be that perfect time-waster on a hot, summer night. Timur’s touches are all over it and the action will be over-the-top, but will its originality be enough to compete against robots, iron men, hulks, and Will Smith? Probably not, but it looks cool.
Donny’s Take: This is another flick that I am really stoked to see. Killer special effects, one of the hottest babes on the planet makes for good times at the theater. Hell yeah! I know it’s probably going to be cheese, but I really miss having a little cheddar with my cinema. I agree with Jon that it probably won’t do well against the “Hulk,” but I think it’ll make its money back and then some.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $160mil
Plot Synopsis: Zohan is a tired Middle Eastern soldier who wishes to go to New York City and become a hairstylist.
Starring: Adam Sandler
Director: Dennis Dugan
Jon’s Take: Does Judd Apatow own the genre of comedy? I hope not, but the first trailer doesn’t look too bad. I think it’ll do okay and the premise seems wacky and could lead to some comedy gold. This is the first big comedy of the summer and could benefit from that aspect. Will it have legs? That all depends, but I believe audiences could be facing Apatow fatigue. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” got great reviews (check here for Killer film’s review), but didn’t exactly set the box office on fire.
Donny’s Take: I’m a huge Apatow fan and am extremely excited to see him and Sandler rock my funny bone this summer. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is my favorite film of the year so far, and it’s going to be hard to beat, but I’m pretty sure that even if it doesn’t pack the punch that “FSM” did “Zohan” will still make stupid money. I’m going to disagree with Jon and say that Apatow is just getting started, and can’t wait to see him bring the funny this summer. Also, I don’t think he owns the comedy genre, just 50% of it.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $125mil
Kung Fu Panda (June 6th)
Plot Synopsis: Po is a reluctant Panda who is recruited by Kung Fu masters, who train him in the ancient martial art ways to defend the Valley of Peace by an evil snow leopard.
Starring: Jack Black and Angelina Jolie
Director: Mark Osbourne
Jon’s Take: DreamWorks Animation sure has made a name for itself, but their product, to me, has been average at best. The success of this picture should be apparent, but will it have legs is always the question, but it should make enough money to erase doubts. It seems to joke-y to me and I think the aim is at kids obviously, but how will the story be? What sets Disney apart from their competitors is how Disney handles the story over jokes and that’s the reason DreamWorks films will be dated in time. All early promotion has been on Po and kung fu, not the story.
Donny’s Take: I don’t know much about “Kung Fu Panda” except for the fact that Jack Black is the voice of Panda, and my son is stoked about seeing it. I agree with Jon that DreamWorks’ animated features haven’t been anything but average. So I’m not sure how much impact it’ll have on the box office, but with the actors behind it I’m pretty sure it’s going to at the very least make it’s money back.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $175mil
The Incredible Hulk (June 13th)
Plot Synopsis: Bruce Banner is looking to understand and hopefully cure his problem. Making his life more troublesome, is the military looking to control him and an over-zealous military office that takes the gamma rays and becomes Abomination.
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, and Tim Roth
Director: Louise Leterrier
Jon’s Take: Hoping to rid our conscience of Ang Lee’s “Hulk” of just a few years ago, Edward Norton has taken almost total control on the film, story, and character. Sure that film bombed in its second and third week, and truth be told, not withstanding the final twenty minutes, it wasn’t that bad. The visual effects here look better and the Hulk looks more menacing than the cartoon-y Hulk of Ang Lee’s film, but I’m not a fan of the design of the Abomination character, no matter how much Leterrier defends it. It should be good and Marvel is desperately hoping to franchise this character. The first trailer did little to excite, even though it was good looking, but when they released the second trailer, wow! Now that’s the Hulk! But will average movie-goers see what I see? I do, despite whatever box office intake it does or does not do, I think Marvel studios will be two-for-two.
Donny’s Take: I loathed Ang Lee’s “Hulk” mainly because the ending blew goats, and the 3D made me want to bust out my Xbox controller. The actors were fine, but actors alone can’t make a movie. I did get a little excited by the new trailer for “The Incredible Hulk, “ but then the 3D characters came on screen and I got upset that I couldn’t log into my Xbox live account. Somebody tell the Hollywood brass that men in suits look better than pixels! Anyway, I’m a comic book nerd that has a boner for Marvel characters, so despite the 3D I’m going to plant my ass into a seat on opening night to see one of the greatest Marvel heroes come to life. Lets hope we aren’t let down.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $165mil
The Happening (June 13th)
Plot Synopsis: A natural disaster threatens the entire planet.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, and John Leguizamo
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Jon’s Take: Despite me liking “Unbreakable”, I’m so over M. Night. I don’t care about his one-note plot structures anymore. “The Village” and “The Lady in the Water” bombed so bad, he needs “The Happening” to open big and have some sort of legs. It has a horrible name for a film, but I was curious about the film after a decent trailer was released. The idea sounds timely enough, something about bees dying and causing a chain reaction or something. This could go either way but the Hulk could smash this film’s box office happening.
Donny’s Take: I dig M. Night’s flicks, but I don’t love them. So under normal circumstances I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about checking out one of his new films. Only I really do love end of the world type pictures (can’t help myself, I also really love disaster movies). I also love the fact that it’s opening on Friday the 13th, and since Jason isn’t blessing the silver screen with his presence I’m going to check out “The Happening.” I’m also curious to see how it does at the box office. I don’t think it’s going to break the bank, but maybe Marky Mark can rescue Night’s career from Hitchcock copycat limbo.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $132mil
Get Smart (June 20th)
Plot Synopsis: A bumbling agent, Maxwell Smart and his more capable sidekick Agent 99, battle the organization known only as KAOS.
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and The Rock
Director: Peter Segal
Jon’s Take: It looks promising, mostly because of Carell’s comedy talents, but it could face the similar foe of what happens when you modernize 60s television, like “Bewitched”-you bomb. It could bomb like Steve Martin’s similar spy tale, “Pink Panther” which failed to deliver upon the original Peter Sellers’ films. Carell hasn’t been gold lately at the box office (think “Evan Almighty”) and maybe he’s getting over-exposed already, especially weekly with the “Office” on TV. I have seen some of the original TV series and it’s a great show, and the trailer at least looks like they captured some of that show’s charm. It all depends whether people care for silly spies or not.
Donny’s Take: I loved “Get Smart” when I was a kid, and I can’t think of a cooler cat to take over that franchise. Remakes usually suck, but I’m going to agree with Jon and say that the trailer does look promising. Another plus the film has going is the undeniable fact that Ann Hathaway is smoking hot. (praise the lord of hot movie chicks, amen).
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $146mil
The Love Guru (June 20th)
Plot Synopsis: Pitka, raised outside the United States by gurus, travels back to the states to enter the self-help business. His very first challenge is to help a star hockey player whose wife left him for a rival, all in time prior to the Stanley Cup.
Starring: Michael Myers and Jessica Alba
Director: Marco Schnabel
Jon’s Take: Ugh, if there’s anything more annoying than another Will Ferrell sports comedy, it’s a Michael Myers character film. The premise sounds stupid to me and this month features a few comedies, so this one looks like it’ll get lost in the shuffle, even its opening week is against a comedy. I don’t expect much from this. Most of the cast are familiar faces from the “Austin Powers” films as are the jokes.
Donny’s Take: I’m not at all excited to see this flick. Actually, I’m hoping that Jon catches this on so that I don’t have to spend time with it. I think the premise sucks, and the only reason for me to even think about checking this one out it Jessica Alba. Fortunately I can google hot pics of her anytime I want so if I can convince Jon to watch this one I’m free and clear. Google baby, google.!
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $60mil
Wall-E (June 27th)
Plot Synopsis: In the far future, a trash-compacting robot sets off on an adventure for the meaning of life.
Director: Andrew Stanton
Jon’s Take: Oh I can’t wait! Pixar has captured that emotion and story telling like old Disney once did and “Ratatouille” proved to be their best animated and film yet. “Wall-E” looks highly original; no actual dialogue, Wall-E beeps like-minded syllables to form sentences, it’s futuristic, and its part of that infamous round table discussion of the original Pixar guys had that formed “Toy Story”, “Cars”, “Bugs Life”, and “Finding Nemo”. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays to the kids because as great as “Ratatouille” is, I think that film plays to the adults better than the children. This could be the same, but the character is cute enough to draw wondrous amounts of acclaim and cash. This might be clichéd but this could be Pixar’s best-again.
Donny’s Take: Pixar rocks! I love their movies and this one reminds me of the flicks I used to love when I was a kid. I can’t wait to hit the theater, buy myself (and my son) a monster box of popcorn, a huge Coke, and relax in the place where dreams come true. No, I’m not talking about Jessica Biel’s panties, perverts. I’m talking about the movies. I love the movies; I know that today lots of people think that watching a DVD in the comfort of your home is just as good, but I disagree. I love the theater, and “Wall_E” is the kind of flick that gets me excited about going to the movies.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $230mil
Wanted (June 27th)
Plot Synopsis: When young Wesley Gibson discovers his father was an elite assassin, the organization his father works for recruits him.
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, and James McVoy
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Jon’s Take: I’ve dug what Bekmambetov done on a lower budget with his “Night Watch” films. Sure most of it was style over substance, his eye for action set pieces are top-notch and to prove it, re-watch the trailer for “Wanted”. I won’t know how accurate the film will be to the comic/graphic novel it’s based on, although it’s apparently a dark comic, darker than “Sin City”, but you don’t get that sense from here. McAvoy is everywhere now days and Jolie is the ultimate tough, pretty chick, so I think this has some potential to be that perfect time-waster on a hot, summer night. Timur’s touches are all over it and the action will be over-the-top, but will its originality be enough to compete against robots, iron men, hulks, and Will Smith? Probably not, but it looks cool.
Donny’s Take: This is another flick that I am really stoked to see. Killer special effects, one of the hottest babes on the planet makes for good times at the theater. Hell yeah! I know it’s probably going to be cheese, but I really miss having a little cheddar with my cinema. I agree with Jon that it probably won’t do well against the “Hulk,” but I think it’ll make its money back and then some.
Killer Film’s Box Office Prediction? $160mil
