# Now You See Me/After Earth (flops?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631 "2013-05-29T15:33:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/121 "2013-06-03T12:53:42Z")
[Here’s](http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=15937) Box Office Prophets’ extended analysis of the weekend. Some notes: There was indeed a reviewer embargo on at least _AE_. So, not in the not-prescreened-for-critics category, but in the we-don’t-want-early-buzz category. Apparently the overseas rights to _NYSM_ were sold off for $50M. For a $75M film, it’s going to be making money really soon, even after taking PR costs into account. The Big Story about the weekend is the Bollywood movie _Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani_ $1.6 million at 160ish locations. (It’s playing at 2 theaters within a short distance of me.) A superb per screen average around $10k. The film reunites stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. A Bollywood movie in limited release finished 9th place folks. And in early summer, not in the winter dead zone. This is going to get a lot of people’s attention. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/122 "2013-06-03T13:43:13Z")
That is really interesting. Thank you for drawing attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/123 "2013-06-03T14:02:58Z")
Is it OK if I’m actually saddened by AE not being very good? I mean, I _like_ the basic concept, and it if wasn’t loaded down by Will Smith’s ego, M. Night’s ego, and probably several other egos along the way, well… wishes and horse and beggars and all that, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/124 "2013-06-03T14:57:31Z")
All I’ve seen of AE was one side-of-bus ad featuring Smiths \*pere \*and _fils_ and my exact reaction was to roll my eyes and say “Give me a fucking break”. So well done to The Onion for once again hitting the nail of truth on the head with the hammer of parody. I think that metaphor works. Does it work? I think I got away with it… ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/125 "2013-06-03T15:08:59Z")
re AE’s tagline which is something like ‘danger is real, fear isn’t’ - I’d never be a good Scientologist cause I think fear is very real. and useful. also - life evolved to kill humans when there were no humans around? Really??? boy this movie sounds dumb. but the reviews have been entertaining ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/126 "2013-06-03T15:56:39Z")
From the Box Office prophets link: > [@](#): > > Lastly, I think we’re beyond people flying in spaceships and then fighting animals with spears – this is a weak plot to begin with regardless of all the rest. Seriously. How did they pass up a chance to use drones? ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/127 "2013-06-04T14:10:05Z")
Some pretty good “After Earth” analysis here: [http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/06/04/will-smith-after-earth-aftermath/](http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/06/04/will-smith-after-earth-aftermath/) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/128 "2013-06-04T14:33:55Z")
Note that After Earth hasn’t even opened outside the US. So it might still prove to be a money maker, even if the US opening was weak. Remember last year when John Carter (based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels) was considered a major disaster for Disney? Its failure was so bad that the studio chairman lost his job over the fiasco. In the end, the film did much better overseas. It still lost money but wasn’t even in the top ten of money losers last year. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/129 "2013-06-04T14:39:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Note that After Earth hasn’t even opened outside the US. So it might still prove to be a money maker, even if the US opening was weak. > > Remember last year when John Carter (based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels) was considered a major disaster for Disney? Its failure was so bad that the studio chairman lost his job over the fiasco. In the end, the film did much better overseas. It still lost money but wasn’t even in the top ten of money losers last year. You’re right, it still could be profitable once it opens everywhere. But even if it is, it will still be considered a disappointment. John Carter and After Earth were both supposed to be the beginnings of new franchises, but that’s unlikely to happen for either. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/130 "2013-06-04T16:20:30Z")
It looks like even Will Smith is finally coming around: [ **This is all your fault, Will Smith tells son** > [@Will Smith](#): > > Watching the movie back, I realise it’s pretty great apart from my teenage son. > > There are big emotional scenes where I’m totally nailing it and it’s like he doesn’t even give a shit, he’s drifting off thinking about girls or snack foods. > > Honestly, you put them in a $160 million sci-fi blockbuster and this is how they repay you. Fuck all this ‘cool dad’ shit. > > We’re not friends any more. I don’t even have a son, he’s dead to me now. ]([This is all your fault, Will Smith tells son | The Daily Mash](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/celebrity/this-is-all-your-fault-will-smith-tells-son-2013060370669)) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/131 "2013-06-04T17:26:12Z")
Wow. I’m so disappointed in Will. He was my favorite rapper, but if he can talk that way about his son, I want nothing more to do with him. For shame. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/132 "2013-06-04T17:35:52Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Wow. I’m so disappointed in Will. He was my favorite rapper, but if he can talk that way about his son, I want nothing more to do with him. For shame. Whoosh! (think of the Daily Mash as a UK version of the Onion). But seriously, **Bo** , you could at least mark these as non-serious responses. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/133 "2013-06-04T17:37:01Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Whoosh! (think of the Daily Mash as a UK version of the Onion). > > But seriously, **Bo** , you could at least mark these as non-serious responses. I believe you were the one who got whooshed there. But whooshers gonna whoosh. Then again both of you could be kidding and I could be falling into some kind of whoosh rabbit hole. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/134 "2013-06-04T17:41:59Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Then again both of you could be kidding and I could be falling into some kind of whoosh rabbit hole. Sweet Honey Bee of Infinity! ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/135 "2013-06-04T17:45:36Z")
Given the huge and growing international market, you have to produce a serious dog to lose money in the end. Many recent films considered flops here end up turning a tidy profit once the overseas box office is calculated. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/136 "2013-06-04T18:05:53Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Wow. I’m so disappointed in Will. He was my favorite rapper, but if he can talk that way about his son, I want nothing more to do with him. For shame. Nzinga, I’m sure the Power of Jaden will pull him through this familial disappointment. I’m sure if he plays his cards right, he could be the Charlie to his dad’s Martin Sheen! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/137 "2013-06-04T18:07:15Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Wow. I’m so disappointed in Will. He was my favorite rapper, but if he can talk that way about his son, I want nothing more to do with him. For shame. If this response is serious, it completely made my day. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/138 "2013-06-04T18:10:31Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Whoosh!.. Heee! We got one, Bo! We had to take the long way around, but we hooked one! > [@Marley23](#): > > I believe you were the one who got whooshed there. But whooshers gonna whoosh. Then again both of you could be kidding and I could be falling into some kind of whoosh rabbit hole. Nope, he wasn’t kidding. He made sure to let explain to me that the website was satirical and everything…we got him fair and square, baby! > [@JohnT](#): > > Nzinga, I’m sure the Power of Jaden will pull him through this familial disappointment. I’m sure if he plays his cards right, he could be the Charlie to his dad’s Martin Sheen! 😃 The Power of Jaden. Hahaaa! It’s funny because that Scientology stuff really talks like that, right? ETA: Justin Bailey, you just made MY day. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/139 "2013-06-15T14:27:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Note that After Earth hasn’t even opened outside the US. So it might still prove to be a money maker, even if the US opening was weak. > [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > You’re right, it still could be profitable once it opens everywhere. But even if it is, it will still be considered a disappointment. John Carter and After Earth were both supposed to be the beginnings of new franchises, but that’s unlikely to happen for either. It’s fairly likely that this film will lose more than $150M, perhaps as much as $170M. Partially that’s the budget, but it’s also the fact that they spent an insane amount of money on prints and advertising. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Remember last year when John Carter (based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels) was considered a major disaster for Disney? Its failure was so bad that the studio chairman lost his job over the fiasco. In the end, the film did much better overseas. It still lost money but wasn’t even in the top ten of money losers last year It lost well over $100M and was either #1 or #2 last year (I can’t recall where Battleship ended up). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/140 "2013-06-15T15:43:09Z")
Boxofficemojo says that as of June 13th, After Earth has taken in $99 million total, foreign and domestic. Production budget was $130 million (not sure if that counts advertising and all that crap). So yeah, a pretty big loss so far. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631.md?page=8)