What’s up with these summer movies that won’t allow reviewers to see them in advance? Dark Tower is yet another example. Based on a series of books by Stephen King, it is a complex world which required two movie studios to bring it to the screen. They apparently had their disagreements which moved the release date from January to August. At a cost of $66 million, it is only projected to bring in $20 million the first weekend. It’s hard to get much buzz when you won’t let anyone see it. Perhaps this is a loss-leader; a TV series is planned which may be more appropriate to the many characters and dimensions involved. Given that this is Stephen King, currently at 16% Rotten Tomatoes, and that Matthew McConaughey says “there’s some stuff in Dark Tower that’s ripe for nightmares,” I doubt that I will be seeing it anytime soon.
ICYMI, the Detroit review is now posted and, let me say, it lived up to the hype.
The July numbers are in and Dunkirk has made $104 million US with a worldwide total of $236 million. Planet of the Apes $120 million US with a total of $226 worldwide. Girls Trip $67 Million US. The Emoji movie, made at a cost of $50 million, has made $27 million thus far. Valerian made $31 million US and another $30 million worldwide.
How do these numbers compare?
Beauty and the Beast $504 million US plus $758 million worldwide.
Fate of the Furious $225 million US plus $1,013 million worldwide. WOW!
Guardians of the Galaxy $387 million US plus $472 million worldwide.
Despicable Me 3 $231 million US plus $592 million worldwide.
Wonder Woman $395 million US plus $393 million worldwide.
Other interesting numbers;
Pirates of the Caribbean–only $171 million US but another $605 million worldwide.
Transformers–only $129 million US but another $441 million worldwide.
The Great Wall–only $45 million US but another $286 million worldwide.
As you can see, the US market is big but the world market makes the crazy money!