"Burn" in September
Focus Features and Working Title will give a wide release to the Coen brothers' Burn After Reading on Sept. 12 because of it's funny (I've read the script) and has two big names (George Clooney, Brad Pitt) along with John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton. But how wide? Somewhere between 1500 and 2000 theatres? More? Pamela McClintock's Variety story doesn't mention a Cannes opening, but the IMDB has it down as a Cannes selection (with a date even -- 5.14).
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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM
comment #1
rgmax99
says ...
The Variety article also notes that Sept. 12 has a few high-profile pics opening on the same date. Why do studios do that when on many other dates just one or two low-profile movies open?
Posted by rgmax99
at March 4, 2008 2:40 PM
comment #2
erniesouchak
says ...
Is a Sept. opening supposed to be a good sign these days? It usually signifies a turkey.
Posted by erniesouchak
at March 4, 2008 3:45 PM
comment #3
JHRussell
says ...
Didn't "The Departed" release in September? I think it is seen as "the new November" for awards worthy film releases...
Posted by JHRussell
at March 4, 2008 4:06 PM
comment #4
Edward Havens
says ...
You shouldn't trust the IMDb for info before a movie opens. It's inability to filter fanboy info from real info caused nothing but consternation for me all the time I worked for Troma, and attempted to correct many factually incorrect listings of their films.
As for September being a dead zone, it's been proven time and time again there is no such thing as a dead zone when it comes to releasing movies anymore, the Hannah Montana concert movie doing more than $30M on Super Bowl weekend (with this Super Bowl getting its highest TV ratings ever, even) being the latest film to prove this assumption wrong. People will go to the movies if there is something they feel compelled to see, and the market can and will continue to expand if there are several movies released that have mass appeal. Even the biggest movie of all time, Titanic, was unable to get even half the potential ticket buying public to see the film in theatres, and that is assuming every single person who bought a ticket only saw it once (something we all know is not true). It's truly amazing how small of a percentage of the public you need to appeal to in order to gross $100M: less than 5% of the population (14.6m), based on an average ticket price of $6.85.
Posted by Edward Havens
at March 4, 2008 5:07 PM