Does anyone know how THE PRODUCERS is doing?

[Jovie24]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 12:49pm

Does anyone know if THE PRODUCERS is a BOX-OFFICE hit or miss yet, it is probably to soon to tell, but just wondering!


Drtheatre

[kasim]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 12:52pm

I think its a bit early to tell ... its only been out for ONE day nationwide.

For the life of me i dont know why they just didnt realease it on the Friday instead.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 12:52pm

too soon.

[Fan2]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 1:13pm

http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=9326

Expanding into wide release is The Producers: The Movie Musical, the movie based on the hit musical based on the hit movie. Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick reprise their roles here from the stage, as producers of a play they hope to flop, since they've attracted more investment than necessary. If it flops, there're no "profits" to be had, and thus nothing to give back to the little old lady investors.

The play is the notorious "Springtime for Hitler", a romantic paean to the days of Nazi Germany. Surely such a distasteful subject couldn't be a hit, right? The original 1968 film, penned by Mel Brooks, found the inherent comedy in Nazidom and won an Oscar for its Screenplay. In its transition to a stage musical, it won several Tony Awards. The retranslation to film seems to have become a bit more problematic, however. Jokes and musical numbers that work on stage don't always work on screen, and the broader acting styles just don't look to be working. Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell give the film a bit of a boost for star power, but ultimately it looks like this film has missed its mark. A limited engagement last weekend produced a respectable $25,000 per venue average on six screens, but this is not a number that inspires confidence for its expansion to just under 1,000 on Christmas Day. Look for about $4 million that day, and a slow trickle out of the charts.

Numbers from Dec. 15-23:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=producers.htm

Full chart with all movies:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart

Posted: 12/26/05 at 2:10pm

It didn't help on the upper East Side of New York on Christmas Day, when The Producers opened at the Loew's Orpheum, but the theatre didn't even list it on its marquis. On Dec. 26, however, they finally put it up.

[jasonf]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 2:11pm

Why was the movie released on Sunday rather than on Friday? That makes no sense...

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 3:06pm

Movies are often released on Christmas Day, regardless of what do of the week it falls.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 4:15pm

For what it's worth, the 12:30 screening I saw yesterday in Portland, OR was completely full.

[Mamie]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 4:35pm

For what it's worth, my 83 year old mother, who NEVER goes to the movies, went to see it yesterday and she loved it. According to her, so did everybody else in the theatre. (I forgot to ask just how full that theatre was.)

[moowithme111105]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 4:43pm

Is Uma good in it?

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 4:57pm

At the 10:10pm showing that I went to last night, there were about 20-25 people but no one stayed until the very end except for us. I guess the holiday took its toll.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 5:08pm

I saw it today at 1 pm (in CT) and the theater was a bit less than half full. Only three groups of us stayed until the very end--I suspect lots of folks didn't know there was anything to stay for! There was ALOT of extended and very loud laughter throughout the film, and I personally had to supress clapping after every single musical number.

It was playing in two different theaters of the same movie complex, with staggered start times 30 minutes apart. I'm guessing that if that were not the case, it would have been close to full.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 5:37pm

From CNN.com:

The Universal pictures "Munich" and "The Producers," in limited release, did well. "Munich" was No. 11 overall with a $5.7 million take at 532 theaters for a per-theater average of $10,735 and "The Producers," which expanded from six theaters to 975 on Christmas Day, earned $3.5 million for a $3,581 average.

Posted: 12/26/05 at 6:12pm

It looks like it's a huge flop. 1000 theaters and olny $1.6m

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 6:21pm

What are you talking about??? It says it earned $3.5 million, not $1.6

[phantom8019]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:18pm

"It looks like it's a huge flop. 1000 theaters and only $1.6m"

That was the first day, which was Christmas. Monday estimates put the total at $3.5 million. As CNN stated, the film "did well."

The film is in about 900 theatres and will expand again in January, after the Golden Globes, I believe. It is extremely premature and stupid to speculate about it being a flop after it being in semi-wide release for one day.

I do not know if people understand why Hollywood releases some movies like this, but it is to build buzz and word of mouth about the movie. A movie may take several weeks for word of mouth to spread. By that time, it may have left theatres. This way, by the time the buzz starts spreading, it will be opening up near more people. I think this is an effective strategy and the reason why Phantom (limited to wide) grossed $51 million to Rent's (wide only) $30 million.

Think about it. You go visit friends... or family. You talk about movies you've seen in the past few weeks or days. You mention The Producers and recommend it. The next time they are at the theatre, which may not be for a week or two, they see it.

I saw The Producers last night. It was maybe 30% full. Today I went back to the theatre to see Brokeback Mountain and the matinee and evening shows of The Producers were both sold out. This theatre is huge and I've never seen it sell out before.

This movie will not be a flop. It won't be a Chicago hit, but it will do well enough.

[Fan2]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:22pm

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2005&wknd=51a&p=

This chart is from Friday through Monday.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:22pm

Bravo phantom8019. Well said! I just saw it this afternoon and have told at least 5 people already how funny it was and to ignore the reviews and get out and see it! Judging from the reaction of the others in the theater, I'm sure they will do the same. Buzz is what it's all about!

[jv92]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:29pm

I'm seeing the play to get me in the mood to see the film.
The critics aren't too thrilled, but who gives a damn?

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:32pm

Ignore the reviewers. Honestly, I can't see where they are coming from. I really loved it, and so did everyone else at the showing I went to!

[Fan2]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:33pm

>>>What are you talking about??? It says it earned $3.5 million, not $1.6<<

The $3.5 number is the four-day weekend Friday through Monday. The $1.6 number is the three-day weekend Friday through Sunday.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:34pm

I totally agree. In Hollywood, as long as it makes money thats all that matters. And besides, it sounds like the public likes it, which also matters.

[phantom8019]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:49pm

"The $3.5 number is the four-day weekend Friday through Monday. The $1.6 number is the three-day weekend Friday through Sunday. "

Right. And Friday and Saturday the film was still playing in just 6 theatres nationwide.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:55pm

Showings yesterday afternoon in the upper west side were sold out.

Updated On: 12/27/05 at 07:55 PM

Posted: 12/26/05 at 7:56pm

It was the number 13 movie of the week end. It did only slightly better than Brokeback Mountain which is in 200 theaters vs almost 1,000 for producers. Do you really think positive word of mouth is going to help this movie? Critics have not been kind.

I like the musical and I liked the movie which I saw on Saturday, but it's tanking!!!