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 | Why is Superman opening up this way? |
As a DC Comics fan since I could read, I've been eagerly anticipating the opening of Superman. Life's a little crazy this week, but if I could go to the midnight opening of X-Men 3 then I can certainly go to the midnight opening of Superman.
I check Fandango last night, and what do I see? No midnight openings... but several 10:00 p.m. June 27 showings.
First of all, they may be thinking that's helping... but it's not. My home commitments aren't done by 10:00 p.m. I can't necessarily sneak away that soon. Midnight... the house is quiet and no one cares what crazy things I do.
Second of all, what in the world are they doing to their opening numbers that the press so loves to report on? They're now opening the film on June 27. They're going to have a lame-o opening day based on one showing per theater. Or do they not confident and looking for the asterisk or excuse of why X-Men 3 had a bigger opening day?
Will the press just put these 10:00 p.m. showings together with Wednesday's numbers? As someone peripherally in the industry, I say that's just not right. My 10:00 p.m. viewings of whatever Jet Li flick I go see is counted on that day... not the next day!
Or is this just some crazy Bay Area thing? I've lived here seven years, and have begun to lose track of what's normal vs. what's normal for San Francisco. Those are definitely two different things.
Plus, the great thing about midnight shows is that the audience really, really wants to be there. There's no impure riff-raff that just has nothing to do. Midnight on a weekday is a sign of respect for the source material.
I'm angry about this!
Guess I'd better pre-buy my 10:00 p.m. tickets. This just isn't the same at all.
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http://blogs.starwars.com/ghent/66 |
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FAN4YRS
A Rebel's Ramblings
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date Posted: Jun 27, 2006 5:10 PM
If it were "PG" like the Christopher Reeve versions I would guess that 10pm was for the little ones.
I like going to midnight showings, too. I remember going to "Jedi" at the midnight show (in 1997, not 83).
I am looking forward to the "Superman" movie, too. I have heard good things about it. I enjoyed the Christopher Reeve series (minus Superman III)
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Wampa_Jedi
Jedi Wampa's Playhouse
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date Posted: Jun 27, 2006 5:14 PM
This won't help your mood at all, but it's not just the Bay Area. I'm in Illinois (and no, that DOESN"T mean Chicago....there's more here than just Chicago) and we've got 10pm shows tonight, too....
As I stated in an earlier blog, I won't see it for a few days, at the earliest, so I guess it doesn't matter to me. It is going to make for skruuy numbers, though...
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Jedi Master Mina
Jedi blogging, go back to your drinks!
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date Posted: Jun 27, 2006 8:50 PM
They're now opening the film on June 27.
Yeah, I know...I almost crashed while driving by the theater on the way home. What did I see? Return of Superman...trippy.
They're going to have a lame-o opening day based on one showing per theater.
You betcha...Welcome to the Bay Area...
Or is this just some crazy Bay Area thing?
Yes, it is...Since I've lived here all my life. Remember, this is the State that houses the Stars in Hollywood...Anything goes...
...and have begun to lose track of what's normal vs. what's normal for San Francisco
There is no normal here buddy. You're in the wrong State if you are looking for normal. Again, welcome to San Francisco. 
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jkthunder
Seven Pieces
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date Posted: Jun 27, 2006 10:16 PM
My 10:00 p.m. viewings of whatever Jet Li flick I go see is counted on that day...
Yesss - Jet Li.
But the 10:00 showing isn't just a bay area thing. It's all over. I'm in a land far, far away from there, and there's 10 pm shows aplenty. I was going to try and make one, but I had the same problems as you getting out to it.
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Hangover Boy
Captain's Log, supplemental...
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date Posted: Jun 27, 2006 10:17 PM
Just got back...awesome movie.
People were worried this would just be a big CGI fest, but it really wasn't...the effects were quite amazing, and the airplane scene was breathtaking.
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bonniegrrl
Droids Just Wanna Have Fun
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date Posted: Jun 28, 2006 10:44 AM
yeah i've been noticing less and less midnight openings of shows as well. Don't know if it's the movie theaters getting lazy or if it has more to do with their reasoning that they don't think the next gen of fans care enough to go out to see a movie that late.
What I miss more are the midnight showings of classic cult films. I remember going to see Rocky Horror Picture Show, Freaks, and Polyester at midnight during high school and college years -- but nowadays movie theaters don't cater to that film culture....
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Tarkin the Ewok
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date Posted: Jun 28, 2006 2:00 PM
One factor in the decision may be the length of the movie. With previews and everything, we did not get out until 12:50. Push that back a few hours, and I would not have gone into work this morning.
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Pabawan
Fragments from the Mind's Eye
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date Posted: Jun 28, 2006 5:43 PM
a big CGI fest, but it really wasn't...the effects were quite amazing, and the airplane scene was breathtaking.
Well, it was. But I guess you meant it was done well. 
Yeah, the 11:30 show was like the fourth show of the night, but the first show I could get to. And it was a distressingly empty theater.
ph
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Lord Flemm
Ponderings of the Maw
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date Posted: Jun 28, 2006 7:34 PM
I work at a movie theater in PA and we had openings for the movie at ten too. I asked the managers about it once and they said it had to do with the higher ups not wanting employees to work later shifts past twelve, putting them into overtime.
Good movie though, not spectacular, but good.
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Mandalorian89
Mandalorian Ramblings
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date Posted: Jun 28, 2006 9:11 PM
I found out today that there will be no more midnight shows at our local Marcus in Illinois. only 10pm. Maybe they are doing away with midnight shows allogether.
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Ewan_Kenobi
Memoirs from the Soresu Master
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date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 8:00 AM
I'm from Texas and when I went to the midnight opeing of X-Men 3 the usher at the theater said that they would be doing the same midnight opening with Superman Returns. They might of changed their minds before it came out and did a 10PM showing.
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Joe Corroney
Drawing in the Empire
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date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 10:09 AM
I saw with a packed theater on Tuesday the 27th as well at 10.30 pm in Columbus. No midnight show was offered here either. I really enjoyed it though, will probably check out again this weekend.
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FrankD1962
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date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 5:06 PM
We had it around the Fitchburg, Ma area at 10pm also. I didn't go because I had to be at work the next morning. But the reason for these showing is they want those extra dollars so they "beat" out the last "blockbuster" numbers.
I saw it today and it was good. I was hoping more interaction between the Kent and crew instead of the big blue guy almost all the time but other than that it was good.
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Pabawan
Fragments from the Mind's Eye
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date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 5:24 PM
But the reason for these showing is they want those extra dollars so they "beat" out the last "blockbuster" numbers.
Yes, but this hurts their numbers. Because the pre-midnight screenings only count as the day before, not the day of release. So, your opening day is only limited to three or four screenings. Whereas a midnight opening encompasses an ENTIRE day's worth of screenings -- maybe eight or more.
By opening at 10pm the night before, they not only blow their opening day totals, but then also blow the next day total because all the die-hard fans would have seen it.
It's very peculiar.
ph
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Pabawan
Fragments from the Mind's Eye
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date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 5:25 PM
[[not the day of release]]
I mean, not the full day of release. Midnight openings give you a full 23 hours and 59 minutes to draw in "opening day" revenue. 10 pm screenings give you 2 hours.
ph
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MasterObi-Wan
My little slice of the GFFA
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date Posted: Jun 30, 2006 12:29 PM
I have to respectfully disagree.
My girlfriend has a 9 to 5, but I work retail. She won't go to midnight screenings anymore because she has to work in the morning. But staying out til 12:30 is VERY different from staying out until 2:30. And in many cases if she doesn't get to go to ghe midnight screening, I don't get to go!
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grayson*
screaming though cabonite
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date Posted: Jul 02, 2006 9:47 AM
i looked into it.
the movie is 2 hours 37 minutes.
as people have stated the studio was worried about keeping people out that late.
i asked a friend that works at the dome in la about this and he backed up what the newspapers said.
i brought up lord of the rings and it's midnights and he countered with the fact that the all came out on fridays.
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MasterObi-Wan
My little slice of the GFFA
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date Posted: Jul 03, 2006 8:20 AM
The Lord of the Rings films did come out on Wednesdays. And working the next day was tough.
I learned that you work on the wednesday, have friends save seats at the theater, and take Thursday off....
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