RENT's Weekend Box Office- Page 4

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:02pm

Oh once it opens elsewhere it will get MUCH MUCH more money. Then there are the Dvd sales and does the soundtrack have anything to do with its profit or not?

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:05pm

"but that doesn't hold water for those of us who feel this IS a quality film... "

But you are already sold on the show and the film. Others aren't. And if you are a consumer who is on the fence about seeing a film and it doesn't have any big stars you particularly like, you will depend on reviews.

When those aren't 70 or 80 percent positive, you probably take a pass and wait on the DVD if you bother to see it at all.

When I kept hearing people talk about how many folks they knew who were super excited about Rent and that EVERYONE they knew wanted to see it, I suspected their experiences couldn't have been universal. Why? Because I live in a small college town with a thriving theater community and lots of artsy types and these folks almost NEVER talked about Rent. It simply wasn't on the radar much of the time. And when it was discussed, it was as something that it was no longer hip to like.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:06pm

when we talk about dvd sales, are we talking about people who purchase the dvd? does the studio get money when people rent the dvd?

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:09pm

"but that doesn't hold water for those of us who feel this IS a quality film..."

That's almost irrelevant. I'm talking about the overall word of mouth, which, as Michael Bennett said, is probably not universally positive or AS positive as it is on boards like these.

The film is lacking some things. There are plot holes that weren't there in the show, there is a lack in development of certain characters and certain relationships. It's just true. Whether or not that holds a lot of weight as far as your opinion of the film is something entirely different. But if those holes were filled...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:11pm

Once it opens elsewhere? The release happened.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:11pm

maybe talking about international release?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:14pm

It'll certainly make MORE money to ad to what it made here, but will it do better? Probably not.

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:18pm

fantabulous i think the studio gets money from the amount of dvds rental stores buy..as i think its about 80 dollars a dvd for them....and obviously the more people rent them the more they buy

at least thats how i have understood it..

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:23pm

RENT should do very well on dvd. When you consider how incredibly strong that opening day for the film was, you see just how many fans there are who will likely buy it. If they are smart they'll make it a 9.99 dvd and sell it at Target.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:25pm

Making it 9.99 at Target would not only be insulting, but foolish.

RENT made, like you said, an astounding amount of money opening day. Those exact fans - and more - will buy the DVD whether it costs 9.99 or 19.99.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:28pm

hopefully the rent dvd will be a 2-disc dvd. How much are those usually?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:28pm

Actually what I meant to say was that they should sell it for 49.99 and then six months later sell it at Target for 9.99. The first part somehow got deleted

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:36pm

wouldnt 49.99 be overkill? i mean wed pay it, but a lot of people wouldnt pay the 10 dollars to see it in the theatre

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:38pm

I'm being a smart ass. It will probably retail 25.00 for two discs and be discounted most places to 19.99.

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:39pm

haha sorry im slow with sarcasm

[WickedRentLuv]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:45pm

Two discs would be wonderful :)

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:47pm

*crosses fingers*

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:47pm

My just said that to my wife tonight that we must see it in the theater before it closes.
Updated On: 12/4/05 at 10:47 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:54pm

even the biggest theatrical flops recoup their costs overtime.

[JenD512]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 11:24pm

Such a lame excuse. CHICAGO was a box office champ which goes to prove that if a movie musical is done well and captures the audiences' imagination people will go see it.

Comfort yourselves in *projected* DVD sales and unfortold International box office receipts.

I don't have to *comfort* myself in anything. Nothing "Rent" makes at the box office will ever show up in my bank account, and I can assure you, I haven't lost any sleep over it.

I loved the show, I was hoping for a decent movie, and for the most part, I totally enjoyed it. That's a success to me.

Another example would be the movie version of "Annie." I was 8 years old when it was released, I'd never seen it on B'way, but my friends and I were totally obsessed with it (seriously, I just found Annie stickers in one of my old Narnia books). Only years later did I find out what a flop it was, and how most theater people regard it as such a terrible movie.

But it didn't matter--me and my friends have very fond memories of that silly movie. That's all that mattered, in the long run.

Some will be big hits like "Chicago," some won't win any Oscars or make tons of money...but if it makes people happy (which clearly, "Rent" has--I've talked to plenty of people who enjoyed it), that's what matters to most people in the long run.

[twotrey]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:09am

>>>What makes you so certain the reviews will be stronger? I mean, the film is cute, but stellar reviews? I dunno. The audience I saw it with was pretty lukewarm.<<<

I never said stellar reviews. I said reviews would be stronger in comparison to Rent, and I'm expecting some Globes love. Anecdotal evidence that probably will mean nothing in the end, but I saw both at awards consideration screenings, and The Producers reaction was stronger than the rather lukewarm Rent reaction at that screening. Pedigree alone (Brooks revisiting an old favorite vs. Chris Columbus and his baggage) will spell stronger reviews in general for The Producers. Fair? No. But that's how it goes. Also, the film in itself is more broadly commercial. It's a light romp that has a sense of humor about itself, has a pair of name stars with two leads who are at least recognizable. Musicals are generally easier for contemporary public to take, and the youth, when it's for a light purpose. And the trailers with its emphasis on slapstick silliness (though lack of music) are a bit more easy to grasp for general audiences than the Rent campaign was, with the "Seasons" teaser to the "8 friends..." whatever. It's a recognizable sell. They know what's being pitched. The Rent campaign left a lot of people to wonder.

As for Rent, though I was lukewarm on the film, I was of the mind that it had commercial breakout potential, and it is sad to see that it has underachieved commercially as I do love the stage version so much. At the end of the day, it has earned new fans of Larson's work. Maybe not as much as no doubt Sony/Revolution was hoping, but there you have it.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 10:51am

Also, just because it "flops" (and it is too soon to say that) doesn't mean it won't be appreciated over time. Look at The Wizard of Oz, one of the most popular films of all time. It was a huge financial failure until it started airing on television.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 10:56am

like i said before every flop makes it money back overtime, with constant airings on cable, tv, dvd and video sales.
the point is to make the money all back during it's original theatrical release.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 12:49pm

As I said in yet another thread ( and I am saying it again and you can all scream, yell, bang your head agianst the wall.. I don't care).. YOU ALL NEED TO ACCEPT AND COME TO TERMS. IT IS A BIG FLOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twotrey]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 6:46pm

Word to that.