Multiple industry articles have proclaimed the latest predator movie a big success after a “strong” opening weekend of… just $40 million domestic and $83 million global. Against a projected budget of over $100 million. With analysts saying it needs $262 million to break even.
By what metric is this a success? By straight comparison to the original, of course! The first predator only made $12 million domestic in its opening weekend!
In 1987.
As a completely new IP.
On fewer than half as many screens.
And then went on to make 80% of its total run after opening weekend.
On a budget of just $18 million.
Movie industry media are attaching Saturn V rockets to every goalpost and firing them into fucking space just to manipulate audiences into thinking this modern slop is popular and good. This shit will be lucky to lose $50 million.
> $100 million dollar budget.
> $262 million to break even
Wut?
For some reason Hollywood doesn't factor in advertising into the budget. Basically, "budget" figures factor in production but not advertising, distribution, or theater royalties. So the general rule of thumb for action flicks is take the budget and double it, and that's how much money they actually spent/will spend on a theatrical run.
That's absolutely retarded. Advertising is part of the cost of getting the movie to market and getting revenue rolling in. Of course it's part of the budget.
It is retarded but there's also a reason why they do it. There's the cost of making the movie, vs the cost of marketing it. The pre marketing budget gives a better idea of the production value. Even a garbage movie can have a 500m budget theoretically.