Fox says 'Avatar' is costliest film it's ever made
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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- Boss of Fox Filmed Entertainment says "Avatar" is their most expensive movie
- James Gianopulos predicts 3D will become dominant film form
- Says director James Cameron was waiting for technology to catch up
- Cameron had idea for movie more than a decade ago, last movie was "Titanic"
Production has run over $200m and marketing is ~$150m, so the low-end is $350m and figure the high-end is ~500m.
Considering big movies that came out this year (newest Harry ****** did $930m, 3rd Ice Age did ~$800m) it could turn a decent profit.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the...r-price-tag-how-about-a-cool-500-million.html
Considering big movies that came out this year (newest Harry ****** did $930m, 3rd Ice Age did ~$800m) it could turn a decent profit.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the...r-price-tag-how-about-a-cool-500-million.html
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'Avatar' pre-sales heat up: Early data showing date-night appeal
by Jeff Labrecque
Categories: Box Office, Film, Movie Biz, News
Fueled by a Golden Globe nomination for best drama, near-universal critical praise, and positive buzz, Avatar is picking up steam in advance of its Dec. 18 opening. Hundreds of theaters have scheduled midnight screenings for Thursday night, and more than 400 weekend shows have already sold out. Though that doesn’t approach the breathless anticipation that swept The Twilight Sage: New Moon to a record opening, healthy online pre-sales bode well for director James Cameron’s pricy 3D sci-fi epic.
At MovieTickets.com, Avatar ticket orders have accelerated in recent days, and “people are definitely looking to see it in 3D,” says CEO Joel Cohen. Approximately 90 percent of MovieTickets’ pre-sale tix have been purchased for 3D and IMAX showings.”This could really be a pivotal movie for the entire industry,” says Cohen. “This is the first real big blockbuster movie than many people can see in 3D. [The technology] wasn’t an afterthought.”
Fandango.com is witnessing a similar surge, driven by male buyers making approximately 70 percent of the pre-sale orders. But a Fandango survey of 2,493 Avatar ticketholders indicates that the film’s love story could broaden its appeal: Two times as many men intend to bring a female companion to the movie compared to those who are planning to see the film with three or more male friends. ”This seems to imply that it could be a date-movie — and not just for the Watchmen crowd,” says Fandango rep Harry Medved. “I also think part of the anticipation is due to the fact that Cameron is presenting an original piece of storytelling that’s not based on a TV show, book or previous movie. Moviegoers are hungry for fresh fare — just look at District 9 and The Hangover.
by Jeff Labrecque
Categories: Box Office, Film, Movie Biz, News
Fueled by a Golden Globe nomination for best drama, near-universal critical praise, and positive buzz, Avatar is picking up steam in advance of its Dec. 18 opening. Hundreds of theaters have scheduled midnight screenings for Thursday night, and more than 400 weekend shows have already sold out. Though that doesn’t approach the breathless anticipation that swept The Twilight Sage: New Moon to a record opening, healthy online pre-sales bode well for director James Cameron’s pricy 3D sci-fi epic.At MovieTickets.com, Avatar ticket orders have accelerated in recent days, and “people are definitely looking to see it in 3D,” says CEO Joel Cohen. Approximately 90 percent of MovieTickets’ pre-sale tix have been purchased for 3D and IMAX showings.”This could really be a pivotal movie for the entire industry,” says Cohen. “This is the first real big blockbuster movie than many people can see in 3D. [The technology] wasn’t an afterthought.”
Fandango.com is witnessing a similar surge, driven by male buyers making approximately 70 percent of the pre-sale orders. But a Fandango survey of 2,493 Avatar ticketholders indicates that the film’s love story could broaden its appeal: Two times as many men intend to bring a female companion to the movie compared to those who are planning to see the film with three or more male friends. ”This seems to imply that it could be a date-movie — and not just for the Watchmen crowd,” says Fandango rep Harry Medved. “I also think part of the anticipation is due to the fact that Cameron is presenting an original piece of storytelling that’s not based on a TV show, book or previous movie. Moviegoers are hungry for fresh fare — just look at District 9 and The Hangover.
'Avatar' grosses $3 mil since midnight
First-weekend haul expected to exceed $80 mil
By Carl DiOrio
Dec 18, 2009, 12:36 PM ET
<table class="news_col" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>
"Avatar"
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
James Cameron's epic sci-fi actioner "Avatar" rang up more than $3 million in domestic boxoffice from 12:01 a.m. Friday performances, according to preliminary unofficial estimates.
Running more than 2 1/2 hours, "Avatar" unspooled in a mix of 3D and 2D venues amid mostly positive reviews and broad expectations of a first-weekend haul exceeding $80 million. Though nowhere near any records, the solid witching-hour coin will help keep the Fox release on track as it strives to reach that sort of rarefied range.
Fox would not immediately confirm the unofficial estimate of the early grosses, but is expected to release its own estimate later Friday.
"Avatar" played on about 2,000 mostly 3D screens for its earliest showtimes but will boast about 3,000 3D screens the rest of the weekend and an equal number of 2D auditoriums. Its domestic theater count is more than 3,400.
Fox is also opening the pic -- produced in a mix of motion-capture animation and live-action -- in most foreign territories this week. "Avatar" bows in Japan on Wednesday, in China on Jan. 2 and in Italy on Jan. 15.
Sony has this weekend's only other domestic wide release, the romantic comedy "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" Starring Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker, "Morgans" may get to $10 million through Sunday.
First-weekend haul expected to exceed $80 mil
By Carl DiOrio
Dec 18, 2009, 12:36 PM ET
<table class="news_col" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
James Cameron's epic sci-fi actioner "Avatar" rang up more than $3 million in domestic boxoffice from 12:01 a.m. Friday performances, according to preliminary unofficial estimates.
Running more than 2 1/2 hours, "Avatar" unspooled in a mix of 3D and 2D venues amid mostly positive reviews and broad expectations of a first-weekend haul exceeding $80 million. Though nowhere near any records, the solid witching-hour coin will help keep the Fox release on track as it strives to reach that sort of rarefied range.
Fox would not immediately confirm the unofficial estimate of the early grosses, but is expected to release its own estimate later Friday.
"Avatar" played on about 2,000 mostly 3D screens for its earliest showtimes but will boast about 3,000 3D screens the rest of the weekend and an equal number of 2D auditoriums. Its domestic theater count is more than 3,400.
Fox is also opening the pic -- produced in a mix of motion-capture animation and live-action -- in most foreign territories this week. "Avatar" bows in Japan on Wednesday, in China on Jan. 2 and in Italy on Jan. 15.
Sony has this weekend's only other domestic wide release, the romantic comedy "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" Starring Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker, "Morgans" may get to $10 million through Sunday.
Ok just got back from IMAX 3d and this is what I learned.
Get the large glasses if you wear glasses or have a big head
You do not keep the glasses and a buzzergoes off if you try to leave with them.
The 3D takes a few minutes to work. I had to adjust my glasses to the tip of my nose to get it just right.
The movie is AWESOME!!!!!!
The story is weak in some areas but over all this is a must see movie.
Effects 9.9/10
story 8.5/10
music 2/10
Over all it is a 9 the music is bad at the credits really bad .. clear the theater bad.
Get the large glasses if you wear glasses or have a big head
You do not keep the glasses and a buzzergoes off if you try to leave with them.
The 3D takes a few minutes to work. I had to adjust my glasses to the tip of my nose to get it just right.
The movie is AWESOME!!!!!!
The story is weak in some areas but over all this is a must see movie.
Effects 9.9/10
story 8.5/10
music 2/10
Over all it is a 9 the music is bad at the credits really bad .. clear the theater bad.
Cameron's 'Avatar' takes off with $27 million
(AP) – 2 hours ago
LOS ANGELES — James Cameron's space fantasy "Avatar" has launched with a solid $27 million opening day at the box office.
Storms in the East likely will hurt the movie's prospects to approach the December opening weekend record of $77.2 million set by Will Smith's "I Am Legend."
"Avatar" did almost as much business Friday as Cameron's last narrative film, 1997's "Titanic," over its entire opening weekend. "Titanic" had a $28.6 million debut weekend, but remained afloat for months at the top of the box office as it took in a record $600 million domestically.
Set in the 22nd century, "Avatar" stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana in a story of a human-alien conflict on a distant moon.
<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=article) --> Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
(AP) – 2 hours ago
LOS ANGELES — James Cameron's space fantasy "Avatar" has launched with a solid $27 million opening day at the box office.
Storms in the East likely will hurt the movie's prospects to approach the December opening weekend record of $77.2 million set by Will Smith's "I Am Legend."
"Avatar" did almost as much business Friday as Cameron's last narrative film, 1997's "Titanic," over its entire opening weekend. "Titanic" had a $28.6 million debut weekend, but remained afloat for months at the top of the box office as it took in a record $600 million domestically.
Set in the 22nd century, "Avatar" stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana in a story of a human-alien conflict on a distant moon.
<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=article) --> Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
So after a few days to think the movie through some more I have come to the impression that this movie is some kind of secret hoimage to Mel Gibson.
1)The Austrailian actor that plays the main role has a voice that sounds exactly like Mel Gibson.
2) The visulal and scriipt similarities/references to Brave Heart and Appocolypto are more then coincidence.
Go see this movie and tell me if you see this also.
Solid 9/10 but the music at the end credits feels like it attacks the nervous system. It is that bad..... theater clearning bad.
Ever see the movie Brain Storm ? The music that they played during the smoking scientists heart attack scene is used over and over again in this movie. I hope the original scorer of Brain Storm gets some cash.
1)The Austrailian actor that plays the main role has a voice that sounds exactly like Mel Gibson.
2) The visulal and scriipt similarities/references to Brave Heart and Appocolypto are more then coincidence.
Go see this movie and tell me if you see this also.
Solid 9/10 but the music at the end credits feels like it attacks the nervous system. It is that bad..... theater clearning bad.
Ever see the movie Brain Storm ? The music that they played during the smoking scientists heart attack scene is used over and over again in this movie. I hope the original scorer of Brain Storm gets some cash.
Movie just opened in Thailand last week...saw it last night and was overwhelmed....
As stated before, the main character did sound like Mel Gibson at times...
Overall, I was really impressed with the cinemaphotography and special effects...the animation was fabulous...the music was so so....
I enjoyed the story line and the villian was great...the colors and wild life animation was incredible...Cameron is a genius....Will be going back to see it again...
As stated before, the main character did sound like Mel Gibson at times...
Overall, I was really impressed with the cinemaphotography and special effects...the animation was fabulous...the music was so so....
I enjoyed the story line and the villian was great...the colors and wild life animation was incredible...Cameron is a genius....Will be going back to see it again...
