BvS opens to record numbers, but also sets a record drop from Friday to Sunday

[karadinart]

Batman V Superman’s actual opening weekend numbers released this morning and were a few million dollars short of the studio’s estimates which initially pegged the domestic release at over $170 million for the weekend. Actuals saw BvS earn $166.1 million domestically and $254,000,000 in foreign markets for a grand sum of just over $420 million worldwide – the largest worldwide debut for any superhero movie ever. That last bit is a little misleading since it opened in more markets day and date than any other superhero film, but an impressive number nonetheless.

That effect was potentially already seen over the weekend since Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice actually set a record for the biggest box office dropoff for a superhero film from Friday to Sunday in an opening weekend.

Looking at daily numbers for all modern superhero films, Forbes discovered that BvS dropped 58.6% from Friday (which includes Thursday previews) to Sunday.

That’s the biggest dropoff for a film in the genre, even topping the pattern of last year’s Fantastic Four disaster which comparatively dropped approximately 48% and the previous Easter weekend record holder, Furious 7, which dropped 51% from Friday to Sunday last year.

It might be a sign that after the most eager fans saw it on Thursday and Friday, word of mouth didn’t carry in more moviegoers.

Comments

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

I saw it last night. I've a friend who has read all the comics and he knows all the characters well.

He was very disappointed with the film. We went on a Tuesday night and had a decent crowd in the theatre but there was none of the "buzz" you can feel in a theatre when people are having fun. When it was over it was like leaving a funeral. No one was talking and everyone felt bummed out.

I thought it was okay. I'm more of a Superman fan so I would have been happy with simply Supe and Lois and their relationship shown in the film being 3/4ths of the film (grin).

[karadin.livejournal.com]

when I was growing up it was all DC films, and no Marvel to be seen. I was more into DC characters until recently. I think they should have done another Supes film and a Bats film with Affleck before trying to get a Justice League film going, but ... I also wouldn't have picked Synder to direct.

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

I did like Affleck as Batman. He has a presence in this film I've not seen in him before. I agree with you that a Batman film with him would have been a better introduction.

I would have loved a Supes film that gave us more insight into him, too.

I read an interview with Cavil and he said that for much of the beginning Superman is having to deal with his emotions of hurt and distress. Having read that before seeing the film I was much more able to pick up on it when I saw it.

Snyder has moments of insight and beauty in Man of Steel. Really powerful images that allowed us to slip into Clark's life in ways not ever done before.

I wonder when these film makers are going to catch on that most of us have had far too much CGI thrown at us by now. We are looking for more characterization.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

in MoS I really didn't like how Clark's father died, sometimes its the little differences that can kill something for you, like, how Sam abandoned Frodo in Cirth Ungol in Return of the King.

As for CGI, I think too much of it wrecked Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (among other things) and one of the reasons I LOVED Winter Soldier was the return to practical effects in the fighting and hand held camera, it balanced out the big helicarrier battle later.

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

Interesting, Karadin. I was much impressed with how Clark's father died in MoS. I do know what you mean though. I cannot think of anything at this moment but I have had times when one thing hit me as being so wrong that I mentally checked out in the middle of a film.

Crystal Skull came out at the same time as the last X-Files film. I remember being furious at the stupidity of the ending and seeing the X-Files poster in the hallway. I pointed to it and said, "Fox Mulder would have known how to deal with this!" To my surprise a number of folks coming out of the theatre started clapping.

I had read before seeing the film that Ford thought some of the audience would not like the obvious delving into real aliens. I wanted to write to him that the subject was fine with me but I sure could have used a lot less of the stupid in how the characters approached it. Yes, way, way too much CGI.

Agree again about Winter Soldier! I also feel that way about the Star Trek reboot. Stop taking advantage of having recognizable characters and actually allow them to interact, then cut out 2/3rds of the CGI effects so you can fill that time with your cast.

That was what sold Star Trek to so many of us from the beginning. We loved the people. So give me the people. It is not a difficult concept. Especially since so many huge tentpole films that major in CGI have been failing at the box office.