The Soccer/Football World Cup kicks off June 9th in Germany and audienced for this event are the biggest of any sporting event in the world.

What I'd like to know is how much of an effect people think it will have on the BO of summer movies?

What happened in 2002 and 1998? Did distributers steer clear and open their big blockbusters before and after the one month long event? How were films impacted?

I believe it will have a substantial effect in Europe and South America, a small effect in Asia and minimal effects in the US and Australia (bar a handful of nights).

How do you all think box office will be effected in your country? What films may suffer?

here in austria and germany, it will most certainly affect box office, so i'm glad CARS and SUPERMAN RETURNS open after the world cup

But here in the U.S., few people care about soccer and I doubt the box office will be affected at all.

Austria - the most naturally beautiful country in Europe!

Yes - I thibk DVC and X3 will be safe and make their money before the WC - so good Cars and SR have been delayed. Both open here in Oz during the WC but most games are on after 10pm here so its ok.

Goal is going to have a HUGE drop that weekend. Oh, wait.. it already did.

It will effect films overseas, especially Europe and Latin America.

OR a large increase. Do they have the cup during the day? Then all the fans might go to the theaters at night together.

Huge increase = $5

In U.S., it will probably affect a little bit more than 2002 since most games will be between 7am-1pm instead of 11pm-6am, but still negligible to the overall box office. In Europe, it will be huge. In Asia, it won't be affected directly since the games will be on late night there, but much more people are going to sacrifice sleep to watch it, so they probably won't have much energy to watch movies during the day, and the box office will be still affected indirectly.

it'll effect it alright. Indeed if an European country makes the Final itself you can write-off the Box office there for that weekend.

Studies have shown that when owns country is winning men have more sex with women....So.....That country that wins will have an increase population in about 10 months...well ad another six years and you will have an increase in kids and family Boxoffice....