Orson Scott Card (whom I don't like, as a person) says it's his all time favorite science fiction movie, and if Ender's Game can't be as good as Serenity, he doesn't want it made.
But numbers matter. I'll actually be okay if there are no sequels. I love the characters, but . . .*sigh*
I don't think I can see it again right away. Twice in two days . . . and I'm already in a weird space right now. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll be ready again. It's certainly wonderful. But my feelings are not all smooth.
They got a better opening weekend than they were expecting, which made them fairly happy. The US has it second only to Flightplan, and here it's fifth behind kids' movies (since it's their school holidays at the moment).
Still, there are two things they're hoping to get with Serenity. One is immense Firefly-esque DVD sales, since they've seen we're that kind of fandom. The other is Joss.
Googling "serenity whedon box office" turns up an article that describes its $10-million opening-weekend revenue as "neither hit nor flop", in the same range as Red Planet and Titan A.E.. By comparison, when Firefly first aired on TV, the pilot was 66th in the Nielsen ratings and went down to around 100th.
I don't remember the figures, but these days a large proportion of studio revenue comes from DVD sales rather than the theaters, so the DVD revenue shouldn't be discounted.
The move had a $39-million budget. Is that typical for SF B-movies these days?
Well, it's near impossible to get a copy of the Firefly DVD on Amazon or Ebay for less than $30 and all copies have lots of people bidding on them plus tons of sales of posters and artwork, etc. While that doesn't translate into direct revenue for the company, it's still a benchmark of how much people like it - if, like me, they left the theatre and thought "I have to have me some more of that."
Of course, I'm going to play it safe and I'd have to go with "too soon to tell" on the issue of sequels or not.
My brother and I went to see it, and the next day we went again with my dad. I loved it both times, and if I had the money, I'd go see it again. I think maybe the executives are aware they made a mistake - I just want to rub it in :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 04:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 04:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 05:09 am (UTC)Orson Scott Card (whom I don't like, as a person) says it's his all time favorite science fiction movie, and if Ender's Game can't be as good as Serenity, he doesn't want it made.
But numbers matter. I'll actually be okay if there are no sequels. I love the characters, but . . .*sigh*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 05:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 05:21 am (UTC)I don't think I can see it again right away. Twice in two days . . . and I'm already in a weird space right now. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll be ready again. It's certainly wonderful. But my feelings are not all smooth.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 03:58 pm (UTC)(thank goodness i've learned to control my breathing when racked with sobbing. hyperventilation seems to freak him out.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 06:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 01:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 05:49 am (UTC)Still, there are two things they're hoping to get with Serenity. One is immense Firefly-esque DVD sales, since they've seen we're that kind of fandom. The other is Joss.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 01:00 pm (UTC)(Interestingly enough, after this movie I'm no longer desperate for more sequels. If the story stopped here, I'd be content.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-04 03:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 01:13 pm (UTC)I don't remember the figures, but these days a large proportion of studio revenue comes from DVD sales rather than the theaters, so the DVD revenue shouldn't be discounted.
The move had a $39-million budget. Is that typical for SF B-movies these days?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-06 06:34 pm (UTC)Of course, I'm going to play it safe and I'd have to go with "too soon to tell" on the issue of sequels or not.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-08 06:11 pm (UTC)