Rent The Movie Financially

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:31pm

Will RENT: The Movie be successful financially like Chicago or a dissapointment like Phantom? Sure, the Rentheads will come to the theatre to experience the film but will it catch on with all America?

[jaded_october]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:33pm

i think its too early to tell. the trailer isnt even out in theatres (for the most part) so its hard to tell since most people probably dont even know about it yet.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:34pm

I think it will be a huge hit. Its without a doubt, one of the most popular Broadway shows ever written. I think it will be a very big hit (just hoping Columbus didnt absolutley wreck it a la Shumacker (sp)'s Phantom)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:36pm

It won't do near the volume of CHICAGO which grossed close to 200 million dollars. It doesn't have major movie stars and probably won't win multiple Academy Awards.

PHANTOM (shockingly) only made about 50 million dollars domestically, and it was arguably a much more popular title then RENT. But perhaps RENT will get a teenage fan base which would help immensely.

I think a lot will depend on reviews actually. I imagine though that it will make about 50 million as well, but given its lower budget, that would be a decent profit.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:38pm

I think Rent will become very popular amongst people who love Rent previously, those who like the message, those fans of New York, many differnt ages..it has the possibility to be an everything all around successful film.
Differnet music types..interesting..I can't wait!

[jaded_october]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:39pm

"(just hoping Columbus didnt absolutley wreck it a la Shumacker (sp)'s Phantom)"

word. i doubt he will, hes an amazing director.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:43pm

Since when has Chris Columbus been an amazing director? I'm hoping he pulls off RENT, but his reputation for mediocrity is almost as bad as Schumachers.

I actually think it will be more interesting to see how RENT does internationally. The show has been very hit or miss in foregin markets.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:56pm

It won't do near the volume of CHICAGO?

I really don't think that statement has any merit to it. RENT is hands down, a more well-known and popular show than CHICAGO (before the movie came out.) RENT has a bunch of awards to its name, including a Pulitzer Prize, plus the tragic real life Larson tale behind the show. I think RENT will do just as well if CHICAGO financially - if not more.

[Forester]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:00pm

Chicago had something that Rent doesn't have, big names (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah).

I think Rent will find a niche market and make good money. With enough word of mouth, might even make it big. I don't think it'll be as big as Chicago though.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:02pm

Might even make it big? I would say a nationwide release is pretty big. It will largely depend on the reviews the movie gets.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:08pm

Munk ---

The story of Larson's death and the numerous theatre awards are not only old, old news, they won't make a lick of difference on the box office.

If your theory were true about the popularity of the stage show equating the popularity of the film adaptation, PHANTOM would have been the biggest movie musical ever made. And it basically tanked.

RENT has big obstacles. It has no stars. It has a limited audience. It won't appeal to most people over 50. It's unlikely to be a major awards contender.

It could still be succesful, of course, but it definitely is a tougher sell then CHICAGO.

[jaded_october]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:08pm

"Since when has Chris Columbus been an amazing director?"

i really like his work. but thats just my opinion. you dont have to agree.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:12pm

I don't see RENT doing anywhere near as well as CHICAGO did. That's not because of the work, it's simply the fact that it's geared to a different audience. PLUS, there are no stars in the film and Joe Schmo in Hicksville Iowa, when faced between the new Will Smith movie and this, is probably going to go see Men in Black 6.

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:13pm

Rent is a more popular show than Chicago? Really? I'm not saying, I'm asking-- but, Chicago had two very successful Broadway productions. I can't imagine that Rent has sold appreciably more tickets than Chicago.

But I don't think that is necessarily the best indicator of Success as a movie. Chicago had one very big advantage: A Brilliant marketing strategy. The early trailers did not feature ONE NOTE of singing. (Test marketing shows, mainstream audiences are VERY resistant to musicals) The early word of mouth was extremely strong- it was being touted as an Oscar front runner long before the film was finished. Then, the film was released very slowly, generating huge buzz so that when it finally opened wide, people were clamoring to see the film, musical or not!

I think the film has some potential to be a hit, but I'd be surprised if it did anywhere near $200M.

[whiskedaway]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:26pm

like i said in another thread, i hope they learn from Phantoms marketing, and try and promote the story, and heart of the Rent, and not just the title and music.

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:28pm

I think this movie will do great because it'll appeal to so many different audiences.

It'll definitely get the Chicago audience back into the theatre.

If they market it right during 'chick flicks', focusing on the love/death etc. storyline, they'll get a large female base.

The fact that it's a rock musical (and that there's a stripper and lesbians in it, lol) can appeal to college/high school men.

and it won a pulitzer, thus appealing to the older, intellectual types.

I just think it's gonna do well. Just hoping it's done mainstream and not like...I dunno, like, Motorcyle Diaries where it's in very few theatres.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:38pm

I think the appetite for new movie musicals that was stimulated by Moulin Rouge and Chicago is still out there despite Phantom's disappointing box office take. Certainly the studios will learn from the Phantom fiasco and release RENT widely. The decision to "roll out" the release of Phantom was an ill-fated one in the highest degree. For its first week, Phantom had an excellent per-screen average but it was in just a handful of theatres. I think a well-marketed movie musical will make a bucket of money, at least in its first week.

Updated On: 6/2/05 at 05:38 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 5:51pm

More people have heard of Rent then you would suspect. They heard good things about the show, but they aren't "theater" people, so they didn't see the need to go to NYC or the tour to see it. So now that it's available for them to see for $10 at the local movie theater, I think many people that have just heard of it are going to check it out.

Chicago-level financial success? Maybe not, but I'd rather have it bomb with this cast than have it be a huge hit with a sell-out cast like Justin Timberlake and Beyonce.

[Jwaa]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 6:10pm

Im just enjoying the time before RENT explodes for a second time into commercialness...before people start saying:

"oh my god have you heard of this new musical..rent!?"
"wow did you know that the guy who did rent..."
"whats that new film where they sing about gays and drugs?"

argggh i am not looking forward to it....

im just going enjoy Rent while i can, for what i remember it for and what it really means to me....hopefully common film goers who are fans will develop this understanding and respect for its background. but yeah thats just how i feel....probally just me being possesive of modern/commercial musicals...which i see as 'my thing' within my community.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 6:53pm

Well, I saw the trailer and it's a montage of clips over "Seasons of Love." You really get no sense of the story or what the message is (except perhaps that one needs to measure a life in love...). I personally think that the trailer is not great and will not help sell tickets.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 6:55pm

I think it'll be the most marketable musical film. I mean, it's talking about, give or take a few years, today. It'll attract a young audience, and punk/goth teens.
Updated On: 6/2/05 at 06:55 PM

[jaded_october]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 6:56pm

its a teaser, thats why it doesnt show the story. its not supposed to.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 7:06pm

I don't think it will be nearly as successful as Chicago was.

And since when is Rent a more popular show? In 1975 Chicago nominated for 11 Tony Awards, got great reviews from critics, but was overlooked because of ACL. In 1996 the show returned, with rave reviews, and in 1997 won 6 Tonys. (more than Rent won the year before) Also the show is widely produced professionally all around the world.

Also, Chicago is a MUCH hotter ticket on Broadway right now than Rent is. Grossing more than Rent, and filling more of the Theater than Rent.

Updated On: 6/2/05 at 07:06 PM

[LaVieBoheme2]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 7:14pm

I think Rent will do pretty well but not as well as Chicago did (It'll probably hit somewhere between Phantom and Chicago). Chicago had the advantage of a lot of big names, but Rent has a really big fan base (I think the majority of the people in this board are Rent fans, sorry if I'm mistaken). I think it'll will do just fine (especially if they're showing the trailor in front of major movies like Star Wars, even if it is select cities), but I care more that it's an amazing movie and done the way it was meant to be done than how much money it makes. Elyse. No day but today.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 7:17pm

Chicago is a hotter ticket on Broadway right now because of the success of the movie. You'd have to compare the audiences/gross of Chicago BEFORE the movie came out to make it a plausible argument.

And Tony wins don't guarantee that the movie about the show will be more successful. Tonys don't make a difference in Hollywood. Isn't there a whole chapter on that it "Making It On Broadway"?