I loved the Batman Begins movie and thought Bale was the best Batman. I looked at Box Office Mojo and it was at about $162 million for week 3. At the same time, Spider-Man I and II both cleared $300 million.
Why is Batman getting destroyed by Spider-Man?
I’d guess it’s because Spiderman is aimed a little bit more at kids?
I certainly know a few guys at work won’t take their younger children to see Batman as it’s a little bit darker than Spidey meaning that they won’t see the movie themselves until it’s out on DVD.
The Scarecrow scenes in particular ensured that I only took the ten year old to see it and not the five year old.
Straight away that’s one missed ticket sale.
I’ll ignore the fact that I personally went and saw Batman twice thus doubling the amount of ticket sales I gave to it compared to Spiderman.
I expect the DVD sales of Batman will be very strong.
I expect it’s partly because there have been several previous Batman films, and the quality has varied wildly (as well as having different lead actors and presumably different directors).
Surely franchises do best if there is consistent quality e.g. the Lord of the Rings.
I think Arch Trout got it. I’m a little annoyed at the amount of toy merchandizing there is off Batman Begins as it is NOT a kiddie friendly movie. If I’d seen it when I was the age I saw the '89 Batman I would have been alternately freaked out and bored.
Batman’s a more adult movie & not SO action packed as to require multiple viewings to catch it all.
I intended to see SW III-ROTS at least a second time to catch things I’m unsure about (it ended its local run here before I could.) I intend to see WOTW again for the same reason. I MIGHT see BB again, but only to revel in what I already experienced & maybe just to show it some B.O. support. I don’t have to see it again for a while.
Actually, the only movies I did go out to see twice in the past six months were Hitchhikers Guide & Phantom- they were that good, plus I have different people I wanted to see the movie with.
Ticket sales in general are down this year as opposed to last year, that it’s not simply a case of this movie being in a slump, but the entire industry.
Batman Begins isn’t as good as Spider-Man 2. It’s about par with the first Spider-Man movie, though, in that both had a lot of annoying things bother me.
It could also have something to do with what other movies were playing at the time, competing for ticket sales.
Good point. It’s a weak year overall for movies, and most of the pent-up demand for a Big Hit was taken out early by SW-ROTS.
I’d put it above both Spider-Man movies in terms of sheer movie quality (though I am somewhat biased in that I like the Batman cast a lot more) - all three movies we’re talking about here are good movies that have a lot of things that bug me, actually. I would definitely say the audience isn’t as wide a target with Batman, though.
You also have it showing opposite Mr. and Mrs. Smith (not a great movie but a big draw in the “fluff-summer-movie” category), and now War of the Worlds, both of which are the type of things that would draw people who see, say, one movie a month. Both of the Spider-Man movies were virtually unopposed by anything big-budget/mass-market aimed at similar demographics, if I recall.
I can see this. I just didn’t expect the disparity to be so great; nearly 2:1.
I must say I’m also glad this hasn’t turned into a DC vs Marvel debate… yet 
It will. Just you wait.
breaks out the lawn chairs and iced coffee
Actually, the Marvel vs. DC era movies have two phase:
DC has big successes (Superman, Batman, Swamp Thing); Marvel produces crap (the unreleased Fantastic Four film) – if they can get their films produced at all.
DC produces crap (Batman and Robin); Marvel produces good films (X-Men, Spider-Man)
Now Marvel has been producing Daredevil, Elektra, and the Fantastic Four. DC comes roaring back with Batman Begins. It’ll be interesting to continue to follow the trend.
No kidding. Any predictions? What will be the next DC hit? When will they tank? When will Marvel rebound? Spiderman3?
Next DC hit is easy: Superman Returns.
Next Marvel hit will probably be Spider-Man 3, although Ghost Rider may be a moderate success.
Darker, less gaudy, more emphasis on character, chock full of “actor-y” acting, and the bad taste left in the collective mouth of the viewing public by the turd that was Batman and Robin.
Not completly true. Yes some studios are making less this year than last on their films but some are doing much better than last year. (like the one I work for)
But there is one particular studio that is really behind from it’s numbers of last year. Newmarket, (they changed their name recently but I can’t remember to what) is waaaaay off from last year numbers. Newmarket? Those are the guys who put out The Passion of the Christ. Combine that not being repeated with the fact that there is no 100 million dollar plus documentary (F 911) and you have over a half of BILLION dollars of box office that was there last year, for unusal sources, but not this year.
But yeah, this summer does seem kind of weak.
It ultimately depends on the quality of the movies. The original Superman and Batman films were both very well done (Batman especially, since it had to shake of the stigma of the old TV show, and fans were wary at first of Michael Keaton playing the part).
The problem is that the DC second-string superheroes are not as well-known. Also, they don’t have the dark and angsty edge that audiences like today. (It’s been grafted on, but doesn’t really fit.) I don’t know what you can do to make an interesting film about someone like Flash, Green Lantern, or Wonder Woman: straight heroics are passe, and they are not really tormented souls.
There is some possibilities with the Vertigo heroes, though, again, quality is everything (think Constintine). I doubt Sandman could be translated well, though the first story arc is a possibility; the main problem is it’s too episodic.
Marvel floundered in the beginning because the company’s main heroes were not part of the US mythology like Batman and Robin. For instance, my wife knew the general outine of Superman, but when the cheap crook robbed the wrestling promoter and Spider-man didn’t stop him, she said, “He deserved it,” not knowing what was going to happen.
As time went on, Marvel heros became as familiar as DC ones, so the films could succeed. Also, Marvel itself was strapped for cash (and close to bankruptcy at one point) for a very long time in the 80s and 90s. It couldn’t afford to wait, and thus was willing to take Roger Corman’s money to make the first, forgotten, Fantastic Four movie. Other studios, knowing that Marvel heroes were lesser known and that the company was desparate, probably lowballed them.
DC, of course, was owned by Warner Brothers, so they could make a movie of DC characters without having to negotiate any rights. That made it easier for them.
The question then becomes: Can Joss Whedon make a good Wonder Woman movie?
Because Batman was unprepared?
Can’t believe noone made that joke yet.
I think it’s a lot of reasons. Spider Man is certainly more kid friendly than Batman.
Spider Man also doesn’t have any crap in recent history dragging behind it. Batman had to be re-imagined to even be considered for another movie. Spider Man wasn’t dragging any nippled suits along for the ride. All he had was anticipation. Batman had a crappy reputation.
There were also a couple of movies coming around at the same time. Mr and Mrs Smith and War of the Worlds come to mind.
I think if Nolan, Bale, and the rest stick around for another film you will see spider man like numbers. Of course, Spider Man3 comes out next summer with a huge amount of anticipation in tow, so the numbers could take a jump right out of Batties reach.
And Spider Man is much cooler than Batman. There. I’ve said it, and I’m glad I said it. 