# The summer's biggest hit will be...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160 "2006-05-17T20:43:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/1 "2006-05-17T20:43:09Z")
May 17 [IMDb Daily Poll](http://www.imdb.com/poll/). I guessed (wildly) at _Superman Returns_. _Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest_ has a significant lead with 5100 votes. _The Da Vinci Code_ is in second with 3500 votes. _X-Men: The Last Stand_ has 2100 votes. Seems like kind of a slow movie summer this year, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/2 "2006-05-17T20:47:55Z")
With [The Da Vinci Code](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/da_vinci_code/) reviews looking poor so far, I have a feeling it will not do so well. I tend to think Superman or Pirates will win. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/3 "2006-05-17T20:59:31Z")
If there is any justice, X3 will win, but I’m betting on Pirates. Broader appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/4 "2006-05-17T21:30:10Z")
I think _PotC: DMC_ will be the biggest movie of the summer, by a very large margin. I’ve got a feeling that _Superman Returns_ will make more money than _X3_, and \*The Da Vinci Code \* will be the fourth-biggest earner. **a35362** , I agree that it’s a slow summer. I’ve usually got a slate of at least a dozen summer movies that keep me in the theater from May through September, and so far in summer 2006, there are four that I plan to see (not including M:I 3, which had been on my list, and I enjoyed). ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/5 "2006-05-17T21:53:56Z")
With the poor reviews of The Da Vinci Code coming in, it doesn’t really stand a chance I dont’ think. The obvious front runners have been said (X3, Superman Returns, and Pirates) but movies like The Break Up or Cars might end up doing pretty well. Without a Spiderman to vote for (which is always a lock) I am having trouble picking one. Perhaps the failure of The Da Vinci code might work in favour of X3, that’s my vote. I’m going with The Break Up in the number 2 spot and Superman sitting pretty at number 3. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/6 "2006-05-17T22:51:50Z")
I’m thinking PotC is probably going to top 'em all. I’ve yet to see the first one all the way through, or even Disney’s original, but I swear, every kid alive has watched the first installment with Depp seventeen times. The women loves the Depp-Bloom combo, and guys dig the Keef Richards schtick. It might even be a pretty good movie, too. Next is a tossup btw. X-Men and Superman. I’ve had my doubts about Sup. for a while, but greater doubts were raised by a recent X-Men trailer containing some of the lamest action and dialog I’ve seen in any summer popcorn flick in quite a while. Superman’s rather spent brand appears to have met its match in what must be the result of poor direction in the latest X-Men installment. I fear we’ll be missing Bryan Singer terribly before May is over. Cars is next. Dang they’re shiney. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/7 "2006-05-17T23:02:52Z")
I think Cars might be the safest bet to do well; Pixar has quite a good track record. The other big ones have more potential to be a disaster or be great, and it looks like the reviews for DaVinci Code are pretty bad, so it may not do so well. I’ll say: 1. POTC 2. Cars 3. X3 4. Superman ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/8 "2006-05-17T23:12:29Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > I’ll say: > > 1. POTC > 2. Cars > 3. X3 > 4. Superman I agree. I’ve yet to here _anyone_ IRL say they’ve even heard that there’s going to be a new superman movie, and very little about if online even, so it’s probably not going to be the biggest hit. I’ll add: 5. Monster House 6. A Scanner Darkly 7. The Omen And for a darkhorse entry that’ll preform better than expected: The Illusionist. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/9 "2006-05-17T23:33:10Z")
Just my guess: #1 Pirates of the Caribbean #2 Superman Beyond that, I am clueless. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/10 "2006-05-18T01:51:56Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I agree. I’ve yet to here _anyone_ IRL say they’ve even heard that there’s going to be a new superman movie, and very little about if online even, so it’s probably not going to be the biggest hit. I predict X-Men will make more than Superman. I guess people like Marvel movies more, look how Spider-Man 2 destroyed Batman Begins (even though I thought Batman was the superior movie). ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/11 "2006-05-18T02:01:21Z")
> [@drm](#): > > I’m going with The Break Up in the number 2 spot Wow, I’d not heard of that movie until this thread. And from what I see on the IMDB page, I have to ask: How would a formulaic situational romantic comedy movie starring a Box-Office also-ran like Jennifer Aniston\* and (to a significantly lesser degree with recent cult-type success like _Wedding Crashers_) Vince Vaughn beat _Superman_? \*_Along Came Polly_? _Rumor Has It_? Not a track record of big-money popcorn flick success. Jennifer Aniston will forever be “that least attractive of the three chicks from _Friends_,” and despite her efforts, little more. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/12 "2006-05-18T02:03:21Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > I predict X-Men will make more than Superman. I guess people like Marvel movies more, look how Spider-Man 2 destroyed Batman Begins (even though I thought Batman was the superior movie). I’d attribute that to Marvel’s franchises not having been horribly mismanaged. The Schumacher films nuked the Batman franchise from orbit, and it took doing a completely serious Batman to get any traction back. Superman hasn’t been on the silver screen since the laughable Superman IV: A Quest For Peace, and the Lois & Clark TV show didn’t really help. My guesses: 1. Pirates 2. Superman 3. Cars 4. X3 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/13 "2006-05-18T02:13:23Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > How would a formulaic situational romantic comedy movie starring a Box-Office also-ran like Jennifer Aniston\* and (to a significantly lesser degree with recent cult-type success like _Wedding Crashers_) Vince Vaughn beat _Superman_? Rumor has it that Aniston has a nude scene. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/14 "2006-05-18T03:03:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Rumor has it that Aniston has a nude scene. I’m in! … what was that movie again …? Johnny Depp is going to bring his movie to the top. The last PoTC, even tho hyped somewhat, far exceeded the expectations of many of us. With everyone already knowing just how cool this one could be, I expect it to be the clear runaway winner. I hope it doesn’t suck. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/15 "2006-05-18T04:04:31Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Wow, I’d not heard of that movie until this thread. And from what I see on the IMDB page, I have to ask: How would a formulaic situational romantic comedy movie starring a Box-Office also-ran like Jennifer Aniston\* and (to a significantly lesser degree with recent cult-type success like Wedding Crashers) Vince Vaughn beat Superman? There are a few reasons I think it’ll do well. Firstly, Wedding Crashers pulled in over 200 million last year domestically and ended up being the sixth biggest movie of last year proving comedies can be successful at the box office. Secondly, it has been advertised for about eight months (give or take) and reasonably heavily recently. Thirdly, it has been getting a ton of publicity thanks to the relationship of the two stars. The difference between this and the whole Lopez/Affleck bullshit is that Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Anniston seem to be tollerable human beings. I also don’t thinK vince Vaughns box office appeal can be underestimated. It also has a good release date. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether the movie is good or not. That is why it would be successful. Why will it beat Superman returns? I have no idea, who knows where feelings come from. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/16 "2006-05-18T11:28:15Z")
> [@drm](#): > > There are a few reasons I think it’ll do well. Firstly, Wedding Crashers pulled in over 200 million last year domestically and ended up being the sixth biggest movie of last year proving comedies can be successful at the box office. Secondly, it has been advertised for about eight months (give or take) and reasonably heavily recently. Thirdly, it has been getting a ton of publicity thanks to the relationship of the two stars. The difference between this and the whole Lopez/Affleck bullshit is that Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Anniston seem to be tollerable human beings. I also don’t thinK vince Vaughns box office appeal can be underestimated. It also has a good release date. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether the movie is good or not. > > That is why it would be successful. Why will it beat Superman returns? I have no idea, who knows where feelings come from. A good explanation. You’re banking on Vince Vaughn’s box office draw (which I don’t deny he can get). I’m banking against Jennifer Aniston’s (a US gross of $43mil for _Rumor Has It_; $36mil for _Derailed_; and I have to admit my surprise that _Along Came Polly_ hit nearly $88mil US in 2004). And I’m banking against romcoms having the broader appeal, the ability to reach across demographics, like the comic book movies can (sprinkle in a little Clark/Lois early romance, bring in the women for _Superman_). I challenge you, sir, to a race around the world! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/17 "2006-05-18T12:19:57Z")
I’m going to say _Da Vinci Code_. Tom Hanks. Ron Howard. An Indiana Jones style movie based on a massively popular book. POTC is going to go the way of MIB 2. What made the first one so enjoyable was the cptivating look and style. Now, all you’re doing is trying to cash in with a different plot and the same character. Wait and see how bored people are with this movie. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/18 "2006-05-18T12:22:44Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I agree. I’ve yet to here _anyone_ IRL say they’ve even heard that there’s going to be a new superman movie, and very little about if online even, so it’s probably not going to be the biggest hit. > > I’ll add: > 5. Monster House > 6. A Scanner Darkly > 7. The Omen > > And for a darkhorse entry that’ll preform better than expected: The Illusionist. If you think **A Scanner Darkly** will even SNIFF the Top Ten – much less do better than _Da Vinci Code_ – you’re crazy. I’d be surprised if it makes what DVC will make before next Monday. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/19 "2006-05-18T14:02:43Z")
What? No votes of confidence for “Snakes on a Plane”? 😃 VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160/20 "2006-05-18T14:18:23Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > I’m thinking PotC is probably going to top 'em all. I’ve yet to see the first one all the way through, or even Disney’s original… PotC:CotBP _is_ the original. The only other PotC from Disney was the ride. Unless that’s what you were talking about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-summers-biggest-hit-will-be/357160.md?page=2)