Under Shrek 2

This will be another Batman Begins/The Ring Two for you

Nope, I learnt my lessons from those. This one has everything going for it, from marketing, to moneyshots, to the most popular and widest appealing original film in 25 years.

Just name me one possible negative thing for this movie's BO.

Why should I? A gross of $350 million is not bad. There are several films that have no negative factors and they still don't pass $400 million.

Like what? I bet I could name you something for all of them.

What about Toy Story 2? Or The Matrix Reloaded...oh yeah, people were disappointed with that one which gave it bad legs. Ever considered that people might be disappointed with POTC2 as well?

Moving the topic back to the actual film for the thread:
Catholic moviegoers overseas defy Vatican and sell out Da Vinci Code in advance.

So much for neo_wolf's argument about Catholics boycotting the film...

Uh, they're Europeans, so they don't count, duhz.

Anyway, how should this do overseas? Obviously its a very American-center phenomenom, but the fact that its selling out in Europe makes me wonder if this has a shot at taking the overseas crown from Ice Age 2. $450M+?

Um, no. Even though I fail to understand why, this book topped the bestseller list here for like...forever. And now that it's out as softcover, it's back at #1. Everyone and their grandma has heard of it.

I disagree on MR's legs. They were expectly what I was predicting before opening weekend when I expected great WOM. the problem for Reloaded was that it appealed mostly to males over 17. It had the R rating, and less then 40% of the audience was female, which limited the potential audience. Plus, it couldn't get people wanting comedy. 280m is about the best we could ever see given those circumstances.

POTC can't have a multiplier below 2.8 even with worse then expected WOM. I highly doubt that though given that everything is still in place.

As for Toy Story 2, it didn't have that many adults without their kids or teens, at least compared to the likes of Shrek 2. While it had a, extremely popular original film, it was not nearly as much as POTC 2.

That's the main thing: POTC is the movie that somehow got every demographic.

Well, by American Centered Phenomenom, I mean it all started in the U.S., then spread overseas (To equal success, judging from your description). So in that regard, Harry Potter would be a UK Centered Phenomenom that spread overseas.

By that logic, National Treasure should have made $300+ million as well. It got all demographics as well.

What about Spider-Man 2?

National Treasure was like POTC. It didn't have a fanbase, so it had to build it's own. It had great legs, but that will only take you so far in the DVD era. The sequel will be huge.

Spider-Man had a minority that didn't like it, and didn't return.

In Australia, the only organisation that is boycotting DVC are the Anglicans. They've raised $50k AUD to combat the film. I don't know how.

But it's funny that Catholics are more open minded.

Good. Boycotting the film doesn't make sense. It's only giving power to the story (which is fictional). Boycotss create controversy, controversay creates awareness, awareness creates more moviegoers.

Pirates had a minority that didn't like it and won't return too, my mom walked out of the theatre. Lots of seniors and stuff, that were turned away by the cannonballs and action, won't come back.

Um...I am sure some minority didn't like POTC as well...

Official running time is 2 hours and 28 minutes.

I tell you now - this will fight to be the No.1 film of the summer.

Opening over $70m with a $300m finish

Alot of people here are underestimating it.

I think the difference between Spider-Man and POTC is that Spidey had a built-in fanbase, a huge one (given the record breaking opening), and couldn't really expand its audience that much more. POTC had to create its fanbase, and the enormous legs and DVD sales did so. So its fanbase is now bigger than Spidey's, I would argue. I don't see how Pirates 2 is going to make less than the original, since its fanbase has only gone up since then.

But we're really off topic...

The one problem I have with DVC is that I can't see it pulling in the kid/teen demo, which is really what would drive a big opening like this. Plus, I imagine a bunch of parents may get stuck dragging the little ones to Over The Hedge.

I'm positive teens would rather go to DVC than OTH. A lot of teens have read the book, and a lot enjoyed it. DVC is not just an 'adult' thriller. It's an adaptation of the biggest novel of our time. It'll be huge.

It should do between $40-$50m.
OTH WILL beat it though. $50 plus.

Blasphemy.