# Maleficent (film) will be a box office bomb. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296 "2014-05-12T19:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/41 "2014-05-13T18:45:43Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > I always found her very scary in the cartoon. Don’t understand the horns though… Looks like an evil-ified version of a [divided hennin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_de_Pisan). As for[atora](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atora). . . yeah. Every instance that comes up on a cursory search is obviously repeating the same line. Divided hennin: you heard it here first. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/42 "2014-05-13T19:19:38Z")
I have no particular knack for picking hits or bombs, but I agree with the OP - something tells me this is gonna tank. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/43 "2014-05-13T19:33:17Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Is it a “reform the character” revision, like “Wicked?” Can anyone point to some pre-release spoilers? Or is it a “reform the character” revision like “Oz the Great and Powerful”? > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Maleficent is one of Disney’s least impressive villains in one of their weakest fairy tale movies. But then, there are people who thing Darth Maul is a great villain. :rolleyes: > > However, that will have no bearing on the success of the film. People think Boba Fett was a great villain too. And he only had like two minutes of screen time where all he did was stand around looking menacing, pushed frozen Han Solo around on a space-pallet jack and fall into a Sarlac pit. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/44 "2014-05-14T05:48:48Z")
RealityChuck’s comment was so off base and bizarre it’s hard to believe he actually meant it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/45 "2014-05-14T05:50:53Z")
Not to put words in his mouth but I googled for previous discussions of Maleficent and going back as far as about 2008, he’s pretty consistent but does not go into any more detail. ---
**Author:** ![Rebecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Rebecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebecky)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/46 "2014-05-16T05:59:45Z")
I think Maleficent is one kick-ass movie! Angelina looks splendid! Besides, Maleficent is one of those once in a life time, over the top roles that you have to put all your time into to get the character perfect. I have a feeling Angelina Jolie is going to be really good in it, in particular with the movie being named after the character. And come on you can’t put a movie out without a strong performance from the title character. Yo Angelina! You rock woman! I am sure its gonna be a blockbuster! ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/47 "2014-05-16T06:36:46Z")
So I guess the studio PR is on the case to keep positive buzz alive. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/48 "2014-05-16T07:15:38Z")
> [@Rebecky](#): > > I think Maleficent is one kick-ass movie! Angelina looks splendid! Besides, Maleficent is one of those once in a life time, over the top roles that you have to put all your time into to get the character perfect. I have a feeling Angelina Jolie is going to be really good in it, in particular with the movie being named after the character. And come on you can’t put a movie out without a strong performance from the title character. Yo Angelina! You rock woman! I am sure its gonna be a blockbuster! Yeah! And you know what would go great while watching Maleficent? If everyone went down to the concession booth before the movie starts and ordered a few boxes of Nestlé[sup]®[/sup] Buncha Crunch[sup]™[/sup]. Nothing goes better with a movie than the satisfying “Crunch!” and the sweet-and-savory chocolate of Nestlé[sup]®[/sup] Buncha Crunch[sup]™[/sup], available at your local grocer as well! Perfect for kids and the kid in all of us. That’s Nestlé[sup]®[/sup] Buncha Crunch[sup]™[/sup]. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/49 "2014-05-16T11:26:53Z")
The thing is, Jolie could do a fantastic job and the movie could still tank. Movies succeed and fail for all kinds of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/50 "2014-05-16T12:53:58Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > The thing is, Jolie could do a fantastic job and the movie could still tank. Movies succeed and fail for all kinds of reasons. True. Angelina seems to be a good choice for the character, and the character is a well regarded one among the villains/antagonists, but the sucess of the movie as such hinges on a whole lot more than that. Audiences are not as predictable as the execs wish they were. One wonders for instance if the public has or has not had enough of the “darkened” live-action versions of the Disney properties. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/51 "2014-05-16T12:59:13Z")
Goddamn you, drew. Now all I can think about is buncha crunch. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/52 "2014-05-16T14:16:12Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’m with the OP, I just have a feeling it won’t do that well. > > It looks like it’s going to be a special effects driven film that looks WAY too clean, way to artsy-fartsy, and by the looks of the trailer everyone is overacting hardcore. I’ll compare it to Burton’s Alice in Wonderland movie. Your first and last sentences do not go together. _Alice in Wonderland_ grossed $1.25 billion worldwide, and is the [16th highest grossing](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/) movie of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/53 "2014-05-16T14:30:56Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Your first and last sentences do not go together. _Alice in Wonderland_ grossed $1.25 billion worldwide, and is the [16th highest grossing](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/) movie of all time. But was it actually reviewed well/was it a good movie? That’s my point to it. I was under the impression that Alice wasn’t reviewed well, but a shit-ton of people saw it because Burton/Depp. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/54 "2014-05-16T14:34:55Z")
I saw the preview last weekend and thought, why is it Malefi **cent** when it’s benefi **cient**? Come to find out, it’s benefi **cent**! I’m glad to know that. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/55 "2014-05-16T14:37:52Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > True. Angelina seems to be a good choice for the character, and the character is a well regarded one among the villains/antagonists, but the sucess of the movie as such hinges on a whole lot more than that. Audiences are not as predictable as the execs wish they were. One wonders for instance if the public has or has not had enough of the “darkened” live-action versions of the Disney properties. I never saw Snow White and the Huntsman, but if I’m remembering correctly, a lot of the reviews said that Charlize Theron was great in her role, but the rest of the movie was not that good. Maleficent could be like that, with Jolie being praised for her work, and the rest of the movie not well-regarded. But like others have said, the quality of a movie doesn’t directly relate to it being a bomb or not. SW&tH had a 48% Rotten Tomatoes score, but made $400 million worldwide (on a $170 million budget) and might be getting a sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/56 "2014-05-16T15:12:17Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > But was it actually reviewed well/was it a good movie? That’s my point to it. > > I was under the impression that Alice wasn’t reviewed well, but a shit-ton of people saw it because Burton/Depp. When people say a movie “won’t do well”, they typically are talking about the box office draw. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/57 "2014-05-19T14:57:36Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I wouldn’t be surprised if it broke $300M worldwide. It’s a high-budget film, but it has pretty good odds of breaking even after DVD sales and video on demand. > [@blueslipper](#): > > I think about 120M in the USA and 250M worldwide. > > Angelina Jolie is very famous but not actually a Box Office drawcard. > > Plus I think it will suffer the same fate as Jack the Giant Slayer - kids cannot go if it is too violent and it will not appeal much to others. I’m rethinking this and am closer to 500M worldwide now, with a little less than 200M domestic. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/58 "2014-05-19T18:38:34Z")
I kinda liked _Snow White and the Huntsman_ (though the biggest disbelief-breaker was any suggestion that Kristen Stewart could be “fairer” than Charlize Theron) and _Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters_, so… I dunno. Maybe I’ll see _Maleficent_. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/59 "2014-05-19T19:10:06Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > But was it actually reviewed well/was it a good movie? That’s my point to it. > > I was under the impression that Alice wasn’t reviewed well, but a shit-ton of people saw it because Burton/Depp. It’s at 51% on [Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1221547-alice_in_wonderland/), and higher (57%) with the top critics. 55% with audiences. Not great numbers, not “fresh” by any means, but definitely not a bomb. I liked it, FTR. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296/60 "2014-05-31T03:14:45Z")
Anybody call “huge opening”? > **[Box Office: ‘Maleficent’ Doubles ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’s’ Opening Day in...](https://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-maleficent-doubles-oz-great-and-powerful-opening-day-uk-1201195738/)** > > “Maleficent” reigns supreme in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where the Walt Disney Studios fantasy opened in the top slot Wednesday on its first day of release. The fantasy epic stars… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maleficent-film-will-be-a-box-office-bomb/688296.md?page=4)