You missed out on something great. Avatar was more of an experience like a ride. I often describe Avatar to people like a rollercoaster. It's something you had to see in theatres on the big screen and in 3D to have understood the experience, otherwise it's actually just a mediocre film.
Yeah Avatar and Gravity are probably the only two movies I've ever seen that the visuals alone made it a must-see in IMAX 3D, but if you didn't see them in theatres they're hardly worth watching at all.
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I don't blame you. I have only watched it that one time as well. It isn't that compelling a film but it was probably my favorite big screen "experience".
I am debating watching TFA again because it watched by myself at 8AM on the friday morning opening in the front row of a regular screening (Intel sponsored presentation) and the Star Destroyer was like 3D above my head as I sat through 3 hours of neck strain.
Is it worth seeing it in IMAX 3D? I wanted to see the 70mm print but I guess we don't have that in Calgary?
I don't blame you. I have only watched it that one time as well. It isn't that compelling a film but it was probably my favorite big screen "experience".
I am debating watching TFA again because it watched it at 8AM on the friday morning opening in the front row of a regular screening (Intel sponsored presentation) and the Star Destroyer was like 3D above my head as I sat through 3 hours of neck strain.
Is it worth seeing it in IMAX 3D?
As someone who was in the same position on Thursday night before the release, I say yes. Absolutely.
Being able to sit at the back of the theatre and actually see the whole frame rather than trying to follow parts of the screen made a big difference in my experience. And the 3D looked great, whereas it's choppy from underneath in the front row. And this is from someone who really doesn't like 3D.
Avatar made most of it's money in Asia. Star Wars doesn't have the appeal over there as it does in traditionally western countries where a lot of the population and culture grew up with the phenomenon.
IE: People in China didn't grow up with Star Wars as China in 1977 was was like today's North Korea.
None of them would have grown up with Avatar either.
Star Wars has been doing okay in Japan, and has actually seen an increase in attendance over the last week.
Much like Avatar the only way Star Wars is going to have a chance to break the record is if it's attendance can slowly grow, giving it a long run in theaters.
If the North American fanfare and hype can carry over (Star Wars is actually quite popular in Japan, that may spread to China) and if it can begin to generate it's own hype and momentum as more people see it.
It's probably going to pass Avatar domestically today (which is remarkable since it has only been out for 17 days), and is already over $1.5 Billion internationally, if it can gain any sort of steam in Japan and China then it will have a shot at the record.
China's release date will be interesting. Disney has been trying to generate a lot of hype there. Presales are soft but will be interesting if it can garner hype as people start to watch it.
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 01-05-2016 at 10:44 AM.
From what I'm seeing here in Finland, Star Wars draws a lot more interest than Avatar did.
Plus Hollywood has become much better at marketing in Asia. If anything I would be surprised if Star Wars didn't crush Avatar internationally based simply on that.
Avatar was pulling in 100 million dollar weekends internationally for 6 weekends after it came out. Star Wars has already dropped under 100 million internationally in it's 3rd weekend (96 million). Avatar kept pulling in weekends in the 20-30 million range (which are solid opening weekends for an average movie) for more than 2 months after it came out. It was released Internationally on Dec 18th 2009 and didn't dip under 20 million in the international box office until March 5th. Star Wars has another 15 territories to open in though including China which will help but as others have mentioned China isn't a big market for Star Wars.
I do think Disney delayed the Chinese release so that they could call it the biggest movie in North American history and all that in their Chinese marketing which will make a bigger impact then a Star Wars movie could have had on its own. That will probably give it a big boost. I still don't think it'll be enough to challenge Avatar globally but I hope I'm wrong! Who knows, maybe the Chinese embrace it like we did!
None of them would have grown up with Avatar either.
Star Wars has been doing okay in Japan, and has actually seen an increase in attendance over the last week.
Much like Avatar the only way Star Wars is going to have a chance to break the record is if it's attendance can slowly grow, giving it a long run in theaters.
If the North American fanfare and hype can carry over (Star Wars is actually quite popular in Japan, that may spread to China) and if it can begin to generate it's own hype and momentum as more people see it.
It's probably going to pass Avatar domestically today (which is remarkable since it has only been out for 17 days), and is already over $1.5 Billion internationally, if it can gain any sort of steam in Japan and China then it will have a shot at the record.
China's release date will be interesting. Disney has been trying to generate a lot of hype there. Presales are soft but will be interesting if it can garner hype as people start to watch it.
Avatar was a stand-alone "experience" film which had many things going for it in the Chinese market. TFA is the 7th sequel in an un-established franchise in that market.
I thought I had read that TFA was actually down in Japan as compared to attendance for the prequels but that might just be trepidation over there given what happened last time around.
Avatar was pulling in 100 million dollar weekends internationally for 6 weekends after it came out. Star Wars has already dropped under 100 million internationally in it's 3rd weekend (96 million). Avatar kept pulling in weekends in the 20-30 million range (which are solid opening weekends for an average movie) for more than 2 months after it came out. It was released Internationally on Dec 18th 2009 and didn't dip under 20 million in the international box office until March 5th. Star Wars has another 15 territories to open in though including China which will help but as others have mentioned China isn't a big market for Star Wars.
I do think Disney delayed the Chinese release so that they could call it the biggest movie in North American history and all that in their Chinese marketing which will make a bigger impact then a Star Wars movie could have had on its own. That will probably give it a big boost. I still don't think it'll be enough to challenge Avatar globally but I hope I'm wrong! Who knows, maybe the Chinese embrace it like we did!
You fail to mention that after those 6 weeks Avatar's international take fell off a cliff.
So without the release of China SW is about 40 billion below where Avatar was in weekend 3 internationally. And while China won't be a huge market for SW, it will contribute 20+ million for the first few weekends and probably give SW 200-300 million overall extra box office.
Star wars has also been absolutely destroying Avatar domestically:
Week 1: SW ahead by 253 million.
Week 2: SW ahead by 115 million.
Star Wars is also the type of movie that people are going to on the weekdays to avoid lines. Your foreign numbers only look at weekends. The weekday numbers for Star Wars have been incredible. SW should sail into 3rd all time this next week and then will easily pass Avatar before its done.
You missed out on something great. Avatar was more of an experience like a ride. I often describe Avatar to people like a rollercoaster. It's something you had to see in theatres on the big screen and in 3D to have understood the experience, otherwise it's actually just a mediocre film.
For whatever reason no 3D movie since has duplicated the visual clarity of Avatar. Even on Blu-Ray it looks amazing.
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Originally Posted by undercoverbrother
Arguing between Avatar and Star Wars.
The nerd shark has been jumped.
How so? Avatar is (or soon to be was) the biggest box office take of all time if we ignore inflation adjusted so of course the comparison is going to be made.
You fail to mention that after those 6 weeks Avatar's international take fell off a cliff.
So without the release of China SW is about 40 billion below where Avatar was in weekend 3 internationally. And while China won't be a huge market for SW, it will contribute 20+ million for the first few weekends and probably give SW 200-300 million overall extra box office.
Star wars has also been absolutely destroying Avatar domestically:
Week 1: SW ahead by 253 million.
Week 2: SW ahead by 115 million.
Star Wars is also the type of movie that people are going to on the weekdays to avoid lines. Your foreign numbers only look at weekends. The weekday numbers for Star Wars have been incredible. SW should sail into 3rd all time this next week and then will easily pass Avatar before its done.
Hey, I'm rooting for Star Wars to take down Pocahontas 3D more than anybody, I just think it will take a very impressive response from the remaining territories to make it so. They'll basically have to match what Star Wars has already done in North America.
My inexperienced, casual following of the box office over the years leads me to think Star Wars will shake up something like this:
Domestic: 1.1 billion (which would be incredible. that is a massive accomplishment. Thats adding another blockbuster, Marvel movie-esque total to its already impressive #1 all time haul)
The international territories it's already been released in: 1 billion (it's neck and neck with the domestic (786 vs 742) so it seems reasonable? Assuming the international box office has less people spending money to see it again)
That leaves another 600-700 million for it to make up in it's remaining territories. China appears to be the only major territory left for it to open in and again, a big pull is far from guaranteed (it opened up in India on the 25th and fell well below expectations and failed to beat two hindi movies on it's opening weekend: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainmen...-india-2161099)
I really hope it does it though. All it takes is it to out perform my guesses by a hundred million here and there and it becomes a real possibility. We will see how it does in China this weekend and we'll know for sure if it has a shot.
Hey, I said that I didn't think it would cross 1 billion domestically and it looks well on track to do that so lets hope it keeps exceeding every expectation.
Avatar had staying power likely do to the limited number of screens it could be played on at the time so money trickled in for months. The end of Jan numbers for star wars is where it will be decided. If it's still doing 10-20 million a week then with limited drop off then it's got a shot at what Avatar did. But it's starting to drop off like a typical blockbuster albeit with a lot further to go down and find a bottom.
Wouldn't be surprised if Disney does something a little sneaky when the hype starts to fade a little as well.
Could see something like an exclusive preview or teaser for Rogue One, being tacked on to the end of the movie in February to drive more people back to the theatre for a 2nd or 3rd viewing.
Hey, I'm rooting for Star Wars to take down Pocahontas 3D more than anybody, I just think it will take a very impressive response from the remaining territories to make it so. They'll basically have to match what Star Wars has already done in North America.
My inexperienced, casual following of the box office over the years leads me to think Star Wars will shake up something like this:
Domestic: 1.1 billion (which would be incredible. that is a massive accomplishment. Thats adding another blockbuster, Marvel movie-esque total to its already impressive #1 all time haul)
The international territories it's already been released in: 1 billion (it's neck and neck with the domestic (786 vs 742) so it seems reasonable? Assuming the international box office has less people spending money to see it again)
That leaves another 600-700 million for it to make up in it's remaining territories. China appears to be the only major territory left for it to open in and again, a big pull is far from guaranteed (it opened up in India on the 25th and fell well below expectations and failed to beat two hindi movies on it's opening weekend: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainmen...-india-2161099)
I really hope it does it though. All it takes is it to out perform my guesses by a hundred million here and there and it becomes a real possibility. We will see how it does in China this weekend and we'll know for sure if it has a shot.
Hey, I said that I didn't think it would cross 1 billion domestically and it looks well on track to do that so lets hope it keeps exceeding every expectation.
Star Wars is already at 750 domestic. It has a very good chance of bringing in more than 1.1, as it'll attack a lot of repeat viewing.
You're right that SW may not match Avatar's international take, but it is absolutely going to destroy it domestically and will pass it domestically sometime in the next few days. SW is currently listed at 10 million less than Avatar, but that figure doesn't include today's numbers.
Also, while SW's numbers haven't been lights out in Asia, it is doing much better than Avatar ever did in the EU.
For whatever reason no 3D movie since has duplicated the visual clarity of Avatar. Even on Blu-Ray it looks amazing.
Only a few movies were filmed using the fusion camera system that Avatar used. Resident Evil: Afterlife used it as well and I was amazed at how well that movie looked despite what a turd it was. For some reason the last movie filmed using that camera technology was back in 2013, maybe it was cost prohibitive or something.
Its funny, I went to see Avatar in the theatre, and was blown away by the film quality and the 3d effects. So I went out and bought the DVD when it came out, but its still in shrink wrap because the story was just not great enough for me to watch it again.
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Wouldn't be surprised if Disney does something a little sneaky when the hype starts to fade a little as well.
Could see something like an exclusive preview or teaser for Rogue One, being tacked on to the end of the movie in February to drive more people back to the theatre for a 2nd or 3rd viewing.
That would get me back into the theater a fifth or sixth time (by then).
