"Beowulf"

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I'm not saying this means anything as far as cineastes or animation aficionados are concerned, but a friend spoke to a Hollywood Foreign Press person about having seen Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf, and the HFPA guy expressed his feelings by putting his finger in his mouth. Is it fair to even repeat something like this? I don't want to acknowledge the opinion of an HFPA whore and pass it off as valid, but I heard this from a trusted source and I can't brush it off. The first Beowulf screenings are happening this weekend.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 31, 2007 at 6:41 PM

comment #1

lazespud says ...

It's definately fair to pass it off... because we have no clue what the hell it means! Is the HFPA "whore" supposed to have liked it or hated it?

Posted by lazespud at October 31, 2007 7:12 PM

comment #2

T. Holly says ...

It's totally fair, dude, but could you illustrate it with a picture?

Posted by T. Holly at October 31, 2007 7:16 PM

comment #3

Ian Sinclair says ...

Fantasy Moguls predicting a $50m weekend opening for BEOWULF:

EARLY TRACKING: 'Beowulf' Tracking Like a Four-Quadrant Blockbuster Event! Digital 3D Could Drive It to $50M-plus Opening Weekend!
by Steve Mason
Paramount's Beowulf has popped onto the film industry tracking with some very impressive numbers. Based on the epic poem read by many a high school student, this Robert Zemeckis-directed adaptation is set for release on Nov. 16, and with a huge IMAX push along with over 700 traditional locations offering Digital 3D, this action/fantasy should generate a fantastic opening.

My sources tell me that Paramount has burned only 20 percent of its massive marketing budget, yet Beowulf, starring Angelina Jolie, Ray Winstone (The Departed), Sir Anthony Hopkins and John Malkovich among others, is at 4 percent Un-Aided Awareness as of 19 days prior to release. That's stronger than 2006 release Casino Royale (3 percent) and on par with February's Ghost Rider (4 percent) at the same point in their marketing cycles. Un-Aided Awareness is an excellent measure of buzz, and, even early in the game, Beowulf has got it.

I'm using Casino Royale ($40.8 million opening, $167.4 million cume) and Ghost Rider ($45.3 million opening, $115.8 million cume) as comparables for Beowulf. Both are big budget PG-13-rated spectacles, although Ghost Rider was more geared for Males Under 25 and Casino Royale had the advantage of being the latest installment in a legendary franchise. Beowulf already has a Total Aware of 67 percent, nearly matching the 69 percent Awareness scored by Casino Royale and in the neighborhood of Ghost Riderâ€™s 77 percent at 19 days out. In terms of Definite Interest, Beowulf compares very favorably to those two blockbusters as well.

DEFINITE INTEREST
Ghost Rider â€” 36 percent
(Males Under 25, 50 percent; Males 25 Plus, 36 percent; Females Under 25, 29 percent; Females 25 Plus, 27 percent)
Casino Royale â€” 35 percent
(Males Under 25, 47 percent; Males 25 Plus, 41 percent; Females Under 25, 22 percent; Females 25 Plus, 27 percent)
Beowulf â€” 34 percent
(Males Under 25, 39 percent; Males 25 Plus, 34 percent; Females Under 25, 30 percent; Females 25 Plus, 32 percent)

Although, it's a bit early to analyze First Choice numbers, it's safe to say that Beowulf is on track for a monstrous opening. Especially impressive is the Definite Interest among women, actually considerably stronger at this point than for Casino Royale and Ghost Rider. Beowulf has a chance to be a big, fat four-quadrant smash.

The 3D approach will be a huge boon for Beowulf business. Back in 2004, Polar Express was released on over 3,500 screens including 62 3D IMAX runs. Of the $162.7 million domestic take, an estimated 20 percent-25 percent was generated from those 3D runs, and the lifetime PTA of the 3D locations was 14 times that of traditional venues. Hundreds of theaters are in the process of adding Digital 3D, either from Dolby or from a company called Reel D, in order to show Beowulf. The current number of Beowulf 3D locations is estimated at 700, but it will most likely be a higher number, possibly considerably higher.

If Beowulf was a traditional film, tracking suggests it would be a hit. When you add 3D IMAX and all of those 700+ 3D digital engagements to the mix, it's a blockbuster event. It's safe to talk about $50 milllion-plus for opening weekend, and as we get closer to the Nov. 16 release date, that target could be headed north.

http://news.fantasymoguls.com/originalcontent/2007/10/beowulf-trackin.html

Posted by Ian Sinclair at October 31, 2007 7:23 PM

comment #4

Devin Faraci says ...

Did he see it in 3D?

Posted by Devin Faraci at October 31, 2007 7:45 PM

comment #5

nemo says ...

Aren't those Hollywood Foreign Press guys mostly in it for the free meals? Maybe that's what he meant -- where's my free food?

Posted by nemo at October 31, 2007 7:52 PM

comment #6

Ian Sinclair says ...

Neil Gaiman saw it at Paramount a couple of days ago and it was in 2D. I think the first 3D screenings are Friday.

Posted by Ian Sinclair at October 31, 2007 8:04 PM

comment #7

ScreenRant.com says ...

"Is the HFPA "whore" supposed to have liked it or hated it?"

LOL, dude... that's the universal sign for "it made me want to vomit." :-)

Vic

Posted by ScreenRant.com at November 1, 2007 9:15 AM

comment #8

Bocephus says ...

Wow, Ghost Rider was tracking really well. I consider it a huge guilty pleasure. I'll never buy the DVD or anything, but I'll definitely watch it on TBS or Spike just to see the scene where Nic Cage drinks M&Ms from a martini glass while watching a TV show about monkeys.

Posted by Bocephus at November 1, 2007 9:51 AM

comment #9