Hangover At Midnight
I’m loading up with another look at summer today, but in the meanwhile, I though I’d note the reported $10.4 million 12:01a launch of The Hangover, Part II.
Besides setting a record for R-rated Midnight launches, the number suggests that the Thursday opening will surely break the $20m mark and could even hit $30m. Even at $20m, it would be the #5 Thursday opening of all-time, after 2 Star Wars, a Matrix, and Indiana Jones 4.
Of course, there are studios out there who would try to spin a $10.4m Midnight launch as underperforming. This would be obvious spin.
All this said, Hangover is still not a lock to win the 5-day weekend vs Panda 2, though it’s looking pretty good. Both films are looking to step up in class, with Panda 1 having opened to a $60 million 3-day and Hangover 1 having opened to $45m. Both films are also moving from the first week of June in their previous incarnations to the Memorial Day power slot.
There is something a little creepy about looking back at Summer 2003, when both Matrix Reloaded and Finding Nemo, R-rated and animated predecessors to this weekend’s new combatants launched. Also opening that summer were a Pirates, an X-Men, and A Fast/Furious film. Deja vu all over again. Also that summer, the only comedy that The Hangover couldn’t top… on Memorial Day Weekend… Bruce Almighty.
Anyway…
The only $100m 5-day openings for animation are two Shreks and Toy Story 3, all over $128m in 5. Do we think KFP is now in that class? No. Next on the list is $84m in 5 for Finding Nemo. Given frontloading as sequelitis, KFP2 could beat that number. But $100m would be a new landmark.
$100m in 5 for The Hangover, Part Ii seems assured now. The question is, how high will it go? Indy 4 is really the only film with a 5 day that took advantage of both opening a day early and having Memorial Day Monday on the other end. $152 million in 5. $127m, Fri-Mon. There are only three films to do a Memorial Day 4-day of over $90.2 million… Pirates, 2, Indy 4, and X3. Bruce Almighty did $85m in 4 in 2003.
I like Hangover 2 to just beat Bruce with $89m in 4… and $114m in 5… which btw, is within $4m of my guess for the film’s open that I made 3+ weeks ago. I also predicted an $85m launch for Panda 2 back then… and while it might be a smidgen low… feels pretty close still.
DP, I agree with you on Hangover. But Panda is going to be huge. It will surpass $128m for 5-day. Thur and Fri might be muted (in terms of blockbuster openings), but it could pull $30m (or average) each on Sat-Sun-Mon.
God bless it if it’s that much in Shrek and Toy Story territory. Don’t see it. But I’ve been wrong before.
Wait, Hangover opens TODAY? On a Thursday?
What is THAT? I would’ve called off fucking work had someone told me. Since when do movies come out on a Thursday, and WHY? Can they come out on Mondays and Sundays now, too?
This is MIND BLOWING.
I was a little confused by the opening. I was thinking tonight was the advanced opening night.
I sure think “Kung Fu Panda” will have better legs than “Hangover.” Genre tendencies aside, the word of mouth should be fantastic.
I agree that Panda will be leggier and gross more, especially worldwide.
Who the hell goes to see KUNG FU PANDA?
It the entire world two years old? Didn’t they already make Kung Fu Panda 2 like four years ago? How do you guys tell any of these cartoons apart? They should fucking ban animation of any kind. I cannot IMAGINE being 25, 35, 50 years old and going “TWO FOR KUNG FU PANDA PLEASE” on a date or anything.
My parents NEVER would’ve taken me to some Kung Fu Panda shit as a kid, because they themselves wouldn’t have wanted to sit through it. What are you, men or mice?
i have no desire to watch any movie the first day or at
midnight ..these people are special and need a dp30
so quick – wait at midnight and do some dp/30’s – interview regular movie people in lines .. bring
extra lights cause its dark out.
also since DP and Todd Phillips are best friends – hook up LexG with Todd so LexG can cowrite Hangover 3..coming in 2013…it’ll make 300 million and LexG becomes a millionaire.
I always find it kind of funny how so many films start out with ridiculous Rotten Tomatoes scores when they first start getting reviews in. Happened with Thor, which was at something like 94% after it opened in Australia, and dropped down to around 78% after it went wide in American. Same for Kung Fu Panda 2, which dropped from like 92% a few days ago to 74% now.
First Class is at 100% at the moment; any guesses as to where it’ll wind up?
Who the hell goes to see TRANSFORMERS?
It the entire world two years old? Didn’t they already make Transformers 2 like four years ago? How do you guys tell any of these cartoons apart? They should fucking ban animation of any kind. I cannot IMAGINE being 25, 35, 50 years old and going “TWO FOR TRANSFORMERS PLEASE” on a date or anything.
My parents NEVER would’ve taken me to some Transformers shit as a kid, because they themselves wouldn’t have wanted to sit through it. What are you, men or mice?
Perm FTW
Matthew, I expect First Class to be in the high 80’s or low 90’s.
OK, I know this may mean nothing but: My 24-year-old son just strolled into the house and said he and two buddies went to see The Hangover, Part II after work. I can’t remember the last time — maybe there’s never been a previous time — he and his buddies went to see a movie on a Thursday.
Sanj, I think Lex clearly stated in another thread that he has no interest in working w/a hack like Phillips – his paraphrased words, not mine.
I kinda like midnight movies. I would’ve gone to a midnight showing for this one tonight if my friends weren’t lightweights. Actually, one was down, the other said he couldn’t hang. But the last time I went to a midnight movie was Kick-Ass and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I hope the anticipation would be high enough to stop people from texting in the middle of the movie. I doubt it, but still hoping.
I for one (with wife and kids) will be forking over for Panda this weekend. Panda 1 was a fun enjoyment. And yes, I am actively avoiding the 3D. Also, I will pay for Transformers as well. Unless reviews call Formers an abomination, it’s got me hooked (the trailer looks fantastic).
hey movie critics – how many midnight movies have you seen a year – i’m sure DP gets at least 5 invites to movies but he just can’t go cause he’s too busy reading the new yorker on is ipad.
“Panda” is one of the few times when you SHOULD get the 3-D, Jason. It’s really smartly used and, at least in the theater where I saw it with the projectionist running that screening, it looked fantastic.