We've had the hoopla of the London and the Los Angeles premieres. We've had the hype, director Zack Snyder's placating of the hardcore fans, the merchandising and everything in between that a good honest to God blockbuster needs - now The Watchmen movie just has to open nationwide on March 6.
And even though the Hollywood Reporter's review called the movie, "the first real flop of 2009" from the already sold out screenings, it looks like The Watchmen could be opening big - like Dark Knight big.
The latest in the hugely successful and constantly reinvented Batman franchise holds the Box Office opening record right now, but The Watchmen just might have all the right ingredients to take the Dark Knight down in a way the Joker never could.
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“Over 90% of ticket sales on Fandango are for Watchmen," Chuck Walton, editor of the online movie ticket sales and review site, told your Pop Culture Examiner Wednesday morning. “It’s Fandango’s biggest film of the year so far, and should have a strong opening.”
Could strong mean that one set of cynical superheroes are about to sock it to Gotham's hooded vigilante? Perhaps, but even so it would have to be one Hell of a left hook, because the muscles of The Dark Knight’s dough are pretty daunting. The second Batman film to star Christian Bale as Gotham City's protector and the last appearance of Health Ledger, who won a posthumous Oscar for his performance as the Joker, is the second highest grossing movie in history, just behind that little ship called the Titanic. When The Dark Knight, which was made by Legendary Pictures the same lucky lucky people behind The Watchmen, came out last July, it landed the biggest three day opening weekend of all time and the biggest opening day and the biggest single day, with box office sales of $66.4 million, in Hollywood history. Spiderman 3, the previous titleholder, was left bloodied and bruised and distinctly shown who the real King of the Superheroes was.
Still, when it comes to The Watchmen movie, Fandango's Chuck Walton is willing to put your money where his mouth is. “It’s based on the most acclaimed graphic novel ever, fans are chomping at the bit to see it, and many of those who haven’t read it will be interested to see what the hype’s about…plus, there’s a hunger for films that have amazing visuals and action, and are centered on compelling stories, and intelligent ideas."
Long story short - The Watchmen ”should crush the competition this weekend,” proclaims Walton.
Is the Dark Knight shaking in his Batboots? Maybe, but why be so serious?
Comments
It won't beat TDK. Nothing will for a long time. The hype for Watchmen is high but its in the fanbase, not regular movie goers. This movie is being hyped by fans of the book whereas TDK was hyped by everybody.
Agreed.
A friend of mine bet me that Watchmen's first 45 days will outsell TDK's first 45 days. (I'm betting that it will not) Not gonna lie: Easiest bet of my life.
Lets not forget that its rated R which means kiddos wont be able to go see it 5+ times like they did for TDK. As a fan of Watchmen though I will admit I was underwhelmed by it.
I am a fan of Watchmen and pretty upsetting. : ( The gore was good, but the plot was Pulp Fiction like and hard to follow... kind of bummed now... I was really looking forward to this!
Watchmen's opening day gross was an estimated $25 million. At this point it will be lucky if it beats $66 milliion (The Dark Knight's one day gross) with its weekend total.
Sorry to break up the fun, and had to get SO SERIOUS just then :)
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