Its still not going to make money just by name. It needs to look good and Disney has to generate good buzz. You have to remember Disney doesn't really have much experience selling HUGE space adventure movies but if they make it click like what even Star Trek did then its obliterating the December OW record for sure.

let's make a Star Wars VII OD>Hobbit's opening weekend club

Yes Sir!

Also 3rd movie to top $200m OW after Avengers 1&2

I would join that club EP7 can beat $84.6 mill OD

If I had to put money on any marketing machine turning Star Wars back into a motion picture event, it would be Disney. It's in the best hands, I guess, for generating money, but not so good producing quality.

I think we may see very very early "preview" screenings with Star Wars, possibly setting a new trend.

What's the earliest we've seen? 7pm? For certain we've seen 8pm.

Wouldn't be shocked by preview screenings starting at noon for SW7.

That wouldn't even be a "preview" screening. Some theaters don't even open until Noon on Thursdays!

I remember seeing huge predictions for Ep 1 at another website. Some were predicting $200 mil over 5 days back in 1999.Others were confident the film would easily topple Titanic, because it was the first SW movie in 16 years.New theaters were built in anticipation of a new SW films, ticket prices were raised and other studios were afraid to open major films anywhere near Ep1. Then it made just over $100 mil in 5 days.

My brother and I went to see Ep 1 because we always went to see SW together.It was a tradition for us as we loved SW. We both thought Ep 1 was awful. I never watched Ep 1 again not on DVD not even on television.I'm someone who's seen the original SW at least 20 times. We also went to see Ep 2 just because it was SW and we always went to see SW. We thought Ep 2 was terrible too. I've never watched that film ever again. Neither of us bothered with Ep 3. Which I eventually watched on DVD. I ended up liking Ep 3 and think its the third best film of the six.Thanks to the prequels I don't think SW is anywhere near as beloved as it used to be. I don't expect the film to be that big because I've gotten out of the habit of feeling I have to go see SW. I suspect that other people who grew up loving SW have also gotten out of the habit of feeling its a must see event. Personally I'm not at all excited about yet another SW trilogy and I expect it to perform on the level of the LOTRs films.

That would be called "bringing its release date forward one day".

Which was a record.

I think you are talking about BOG forum that's archived. Entertaining read.

When a film is so beloved (almost to a brainwashed, deranged state), and another film is made (whether it's a prequel, a sequel or a spin-off), it is always going to get a huge backlash from "fans". They basically just want to see the original trilogy again on the big screen. They are not interested in seeing new stories, hence the hate for The Phantom Menace. The same will occur for Episode VII, but to a lesser degree because the prequel trilogy has already damaged the untouchable, Godly nature of the Star Wars franchise. People know that it's fallable now, so like Lucky said, expect a Lord of the Rings style opening and run.

300-350 domestic
+600 rest of the world

so about 900-1000 total

if it doesnt suck like Episode 1

But I dont think that Star Wars can make much over 1000 worldwide. Strangely I dont see it so strong anymore. If Avatar 2+3 are good they will kick Star Wars ass.

As a Star Wars fanatic, I am trying to keep expectations down. I realize that not everybody is a SW fanatic and Spidey did beat AOTC in 2002.

$505m DOM

You know what is the amazing thing about Episode 7-9?

They skin and gut Episode 4-6 again and Episode 1-3 (even though there is not much to get there) and now they do the same as well with Harrison Ford etc. even those stars are not dead yet.

Its savagery at its finest.

More DVD/Blu-Ray box sets for morons to buy?

There is a chance this doesn't break 400 million domestically, or even 350 million. If it follows the course of The Return of the King to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in admissions, it will make less than 300 million. Not that I think that will happen, but there is a chance that audiences just won't care as much about Star Wars this time.

I think Star Wars has translated well to modern audience unlike other franchises from the 70s and 80s, so you can look at it like another Harry Potter or Matrix sequel. The pent up demand for a seventh Star Wars movie is just not there, though, and that will cause problems. It can probably open to $90m, but after that it all depends on WOM and quality. Since Abrams is directing and people like to shit on whatever that guy does, I can see it having bad reviews and therefore having just a slightly better multiplier than Godzilla for a $230m finish.

The worst multiplier an Abrams film had was STID. And that was over 3.0... So...

Also, LOL.

I doubt it would do anything lower than $90-100m OW and $350-$375m total. That would be the floor.

I don't see any way this makes less than 100M opening weekend. Given the timing of the release, I'd think a 3.5 multiplier from opening weekend would be the floor. I would be really surprised if it ended up not hitting 400M.

My prediction would be take The Phantom Menaces' opening 5 day gross, 105.6M, and adjust it for inflation. That is what I think it will do opening weekend. I don't think the prequel trilogy will have any negative effect on Episode 7. If the movie generates good+ WOM, it could match The Hobbit's 3.6 multiplier despite being more frontloaded initially. Now it also will be in 3D, so there will be some boost from that as well. I think as much as 40% will see it in 3D opening weekend, and 25% overall. And the tally is...

189M OW
654M Total

With Disney marketing behind it, and all the positive aspects in play, I think this will turn out to be a case where previous box office trends don't matter. Everyone remotely interested in Star Wars will go see this. That may not be true of later installments, but I think it will be for at least Ep. VII.

When we get a trailer, I'll consider revising, until then, I remain optimistic.

I also think people may be against the film because the makers are so dicky they haven't even released the title yet.

600m+ yo