# Prediction: Guardians of the Galaxy makes $120 Million+ its opening weekend **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 28, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242 "2014-07-28T14:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/21 "2014-07-29T03:48:02Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I don’t mean to be too much of a troll cause other than Batman & Superman I’m not a fan of any comic book movies, but I think it will not succeed _precisely because_ of the above reason. IOW no live-action, non-kids movie can have a talking anthropomorphic non-humanoid (i.e. animal) character and be successful. Adult audiences just can’t take them seriously… I must say, your last sentence is precisely why my wife and I groan whenever we see the trailer. The raccoon is just _silly_. And, of course, from what I’ve seen in the trailers, he’s gotta be the smartass of the group. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/22 "2014-07-29T04:15:04Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Uh, I don’t know what you mean by ‘Ents’… The walking, talking trees from Lord of the Rings. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/23 "2014-07-29T05:02:24Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The walking, talking trees from Lord of the Rings. I believe they’re called Groots now. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/24 "2014-07-29T12:36:07Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Comedies can have a difficult time in translation. The largest selling point for the film, here, might screw it abroad. Very true - but IIRC (and I could certainly be nutty on this one), the “international” trailers that I’ve seen have played up the action a lot more. I’d be curious to see some of the foreign language marketing, but I bet that’s how they’re playing it there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/25 "2014-07-29T12:38:14Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > \ > Ahem… > > CHRIS PRATT!!! > > I know it’s cool for all the wimmens to love Benedict Cumberbatch and Ryan Reynolds in their secret love scrapbooks they won’t show anyone. > > But he’s in mine. With Paul Rudd. And Seth Rogen. And some Jason Segel. > > I’m going the first showing this Friday. > > (Oh, it’s a nerdy comic thing? Yeah, yeah. That’s why I’m there. Yep. Keeping it cool with the nerds. Yep. ) Chris Pratt is not a big movie star. He’s going to be, but he isn’t yet ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/26 "2014-07-29T12:59:04Z")
And of course, this movie is the reason he’s going to be a big star, so he really can’t be a draw yet. _Coming this summer… From the producers of Guardians of the Galaxy, and the director of Guardians of the Galaxy, starring Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Zoe Saldana, we bring you… Guardians of the Galaxy_ As an aside, it seems like being named “Chris” really improves one’s prospects for starring in a Marvel movie. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/27 "2014-07-29T13:48:07Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > I know it’s cool for all the wimmens to love Benedict Cumberbatch and Ryan Reynolds in their secret love scrapbooks they won’t show anyone. > > But he’s in mine. With Paul Rudd. And Seth Rogen. And some Jason Segel. Marvel has been extremely clever with positioning its movies. _Captain America_ added WWII nostalgia to the comics genre. _Winter Soldier_ picked up spy action with the comics genre. They’re tacking on some genre crossover appeal to each (_Thor_ had its romance/bromance angle). _Guardians of the Galaxy_ is targeted dead-on at picking up the Rudd/Rogen/Segel (/Cooper/Reilly) audience. I think there is probably a large overlap between those fans and comicbook movie fans, but I think it is a smart move that is going to pay off. (although, not at a $120mil opening payoff.) ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/28 "2014-07-29T13:54:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And of course, this movie is the reason he’s going to be a big star, so he really can’t be a draw yet. > > _Coming this summer… From the producers of Guardians of the Galaxy, and the director of Guardians of the Galaxy, starring Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Zoe Saldana, we bring you… Guardians of the Galaxy_ > > As an aside, it seems like being named “Chris” really improves one’s prospects for starring in a Marvel movie. To be fair, Zoe Saldana has a couple of huge credits, in _Avatar_ and the _Star Trek_ reboots. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/29 "2014-07-29T15:15:44Z")
Chris Pratt also carried a huge blockbuster movie just a few months ago. It’s just that you don’t see his face on the poster and think “Hey! It’s Emmett from _Lego Movie_!” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/30 "2014-07-29T15:37:22Z")
Sounds fun, but could be another Green Lantern.Can Fanboys alone make it a blockbuster? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/31 "2014-07-29T16:02:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sounds fun, but could be another Green Lantern.Can Fanboys alone make it a blockbuster? Green Lantern reviews were awful – reviews for Guardians so far are stellar. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/32 "2014-07-29T16:13:04Z")
I’m sure it’ll do fine, but I’m wondering… I’m going to a press/promo screening tonight and was talking about it with a bunch of coworkers. All of them pretty much said “meh” to the thought of seeing it. None of them knew anything about the universe, most thought a wisecracking raccoon seemed stupid, and just generally weren’t excited. These are people who have been all over other summer blockbusters when they find out I’m going to a screening. So, have no idea how representative they are, but I’m not getting an “oh my god I’ve got to see it” vibe from the casual crowd. That said, friends who saw it at a Disney event over the weekend all loved it so maybe it’ll have legs even if it opens a bit weak. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/33 "2014-07-29T16:28:32Z")
I can’t see this opening for over $70M. And it could easily fall well under that. I’m getting a _Snakes on a Plane_ vibe here. A huger amount of interest from a very small segment of the audience. And more talk than action type stuff going on. The _GotG_ stuff just isn’t anywhere near as well known as other comic book characters. Not by a wide margin. Add in the August release date which suggests the studio isn’t that excited about it and I’m predicting $45M just to be contrary. Chris Pratt? C’mon. That’s no Robert Downey, Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/34 "2014-07-29T16:43:51Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Chris Pratt? C’mon. That’s no Robert Downey, Jr. Robert Downey Jr. was seen as a questionable choice at best for Iron Man. At that point he was doing supporting roles in indie flicks for the most part. Iron Man MADE him a bankable movie star again. GOTG doesn’t need to be well-known. It’s been promoted heavily as “FROM THE STUDIO THAT BROUGHT YOU \” Reviews have been good, there’s strong buzz around it, and it has strong cast. 120 million? Okay maybe not… but “Snakes on a Plane?” Really? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/35 "2014-07-29T16:59:01Z")
Yeah, it will be a good opening and not just because of fanboys. My wife is eager to see it, and we hardly ever want to see the same movies. But she has liked all of the Marvel studio movies she has seen (especially the _Thor_ and _Captain America_ movies), and she loves Chris Pratt from _Parks and Recreation_ and _Lego Movie_. If there are enough people like her in the audience it will do as well as those movies - so I can see $75-80M, especially considering the good reviews it’s getting. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/36 "2014-07-29T17:19:02Z")
I think GotG is going to open modestly ($45-50M) but will have sustained success that will lift it’s numbers up very very high. Trying to think of a movie that didn’t start super huge but sustained for a long long time as word of mouth spread. Can’t think of it right now. The only thing that could honk up this plan is TMNT. Doesn’t that open next week too? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/37 "2014-07-29T17:31:39Z")
[Boxoffice.com](http://Boxoffice.com) is predicting $70m opening, $210 total (US) [http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/long\_term\_predictions](http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/long_term_predictions) ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/38 "2014-07-29T17:45:33Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I think GotG is going to open modestly ($45-50M) but will have sustained success that will lift it’s numbers up very very high. Trying to think of a movie that didn’t start super huge but sustained for a long long time as word of mouth spread. Can’t think of it right now. > > The only thing that could honk up this plan is TMNT. Doesn’t that open next week too? GotG opens this week. Don’t know about TMNT - I wouldn’t go to see that one if it were mandated by law. The film with the longest “legs” that I can recall is _Titanic_, a movie that was #1 for 15 weeks and who had weekly box office totals like the following: Week 1: $53m 2: $71m 3: $45m 4: $37m 5: $42m 6: $32m 7: $32m 8: $29m 9: $38m 10: $26m That week 9 jump is amazing, but explainable… remember that _Titanic_ was the biggest date movie of the decade and week 9 fell on Valentine’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/39 "2014-07-29T19:00:10Z")
I think it’ll do well because of the buzz, but the no-names are gonna hurt it. Maybe a $50-60m weekend? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242/40 "2014-07-29T20:01:52Z")
I think it will open fairly strong. It has two things going for it. People trust Marvel, and it’s a _new_ Sci-fi property. I think people are getting sick of the same two franchises[sup]\*[/sup] being trotted out every couple of years. > [@Cubsfan](#): > > I think GotG is going to open modestly ($45-50M) but will have sustained success that will lift it’s numbers up very very high. Trying to think of a movie that didn’t start super huge but sustained for a long long time as word of mouth spread. Can’t think of it right now. Galaxy Quest is the first one that springs to mind. - Really? I spelt that correctly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-guardians-of-the-galaxy-makes-120-million-its-opening-weekend/694242.md?page=3)