ICYMI–Ohio State 49 Indiana 21 — You really didn’t think I would ignore the start of Football season?
The worst weekend in Hollywood box office since September 2001. Bad movies? Certainly. Great weather? At least in the Midwest. Really terrible weather? Certainly in Texas! This “woe is me” from Hollywood is getting old. You have competition–make better movies that people want to see rather than what you want them to see!
Fake news? Over the last week Facebook reported that Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson and Woody Harrelson both died. I am perplexed why anyone would make light of this subject. Certainly, many people will be fooled until they are properly informed. Ben Franklin said “Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see.” In today’s world, believe it only after verified by four major news sources, and even then, be skeptical. Oh, for the days of Walter Cronkite!
Interesting stat of the week—Birth of a Dragon (Bruce Lee fighting) earned $2.6 million this weekend in 1618 theaters. The Mayweather vs. McGregor fight earned the same amount in 532 theaters.
Tentpole is the term Hollywood uses to describe a movie that helps a theater survive. A tentpole movie is also used to help sell tie-in merchandise. You will hear that term as movie revenue is down 15.7% in US this year, taking in less than $4 billion for the first time since 2006. The tentpoles are collapsing. The good news for studios is that the international box office is up 3% this year.
Official bombs of the summer are King Arthur, Valerian, and Dark Tower. R-rated comedy bombs include Baywatch (1.5 Gavels), The House (0.5 Gavels), and Rough Night (1.5 Gavels). The latter are understandable; the comedy is merely a repeat of the same people and writers that we used to see on Saturday Night Live. Why pay for the same old stuff?
Finally, Mark Wahlberg will earn $68 Million for his efforts in Transformers and Daddy’s Home 2.
The Rock will come in second ($65million) for Baywatch, Jumanji and HBO’s Ballers. Vin Diesel, Adam Sandler and Jackie Chan round out the top five. Who says comedy doesn’t pay?