As a Firefly fan, I am committed to seeing Serenity, and my faith in Joss is such that I’m confident saying now that I’ll probably see it again in theaters. If it’s really good I might go three or even four times. I’m assuming that it, like most films, will get at least a four-week run in the major theaters, and that after my first viewing on opening night, I will be committed to seeing it again.
One school of thought says I should make my second viewing during the opening weekend, so that it will have a big “opening gross”. Another school of thought says to hold off until the second weekend, so that it will demonstrate “staying power” or “good word of mouth”. You can extend this concept further and talk about going to see it on the third weekend, or during the second week, but at that point you’re basically talking about variations on the “staying power” theme.
After “total sales”, what characteristic of a film is most valued by studios in general?
…and what characteristic is most highly valued by the folks making Serenity?
If you want, I’ll even provide the first hijack: assume that the studio buys a second run of ads, to air during the Sci-Fi channel’s re-broadcast of Firefly. If you wait until that ad airs to go see the film, are you more directly supporting the “Big Cause” of returning Firefly to the small screen?
Agreed. This is particularly true if it’s opening against some stiff competition that weekend.
Rotten Tomatoes indicates that the following films are being released 9/30/05: Into the Blue (probably the biggest threat), Olliver Twist, The Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio, Mirrormask, The Greatest Game Ever Played and A History of Violence (the last 3 in limited release).
I like Firefly and all, but given a choice, I’ll have to go with the Cronenberg that weekend.
Opening weekend box office is key. It plays a major role in determining how many weeks a film will stay in cinemas. Besides, Serenity already has good word of mouth.
Cronenberg? Ugh!
Wow that’s a really tough lineup. Mirrormask looks visually astonishing, and Into The Blue has Jessica Alba. Both of those are going to be tough to overcome, especially with a bunch of the hordcore fans having already seen Serenity. Well I’m planning on helping out the weekend gross for Serenity
Plus, I gurantee you that almost all those hardcore fans will be standing in line September 30. I know that I will.
Mirrormask and A History of Violence are the toughest competitors, or would be, if they weren’t limited release. Also, Serenity has a major ad campaign, which Mirrormask doesn’t (History does).
Into the Blue is the one to beat, as well as probably something already in theaters, most likely The Corpse Bride.
I could watch Serenity and Mirrormask back to back. That way I’d have a Science Fiction Double Feature. Even if I started at 7pm, I wouldn’t really mind a late night double feature picture show.
I planned my vacation around the 30th. I fully intend to buy advance tickets to 4 or 5 screenings and just spend the day at the theater. I didn’t get a chance to see the advance screening, so I’m going to make the most of it.
