No matter what happened last weekend, you’ll likely have Tom Cruise to kick around for years to come. But what did happen exactly? And is a $48 million first-weekend gross really such a tremendous disappointment?
The average analysis notes that M:I3 opened softer than its predecessors, which earned the equivalent of $67 and $70 million on their opening weekends — and on fewer screens. The conclusion reached by the armchair handicapper: "Tom Cruise blew it." In other words, his Year of Weirdness killed his box office clout.
Maybe. But if that’s the case, then wouldn’t we have seen a steeper dropoff in female audience? Didn’t happen. Oh, and, by the way, M:I3 will almost certainly coast past $100 million — that makes seven straight $100 million pictures for Cruise. (Also: The picture opened $70 million-huge overseas, meaning Cruise is still one of the few global film stars.)
So is this a massive public relations flameout, a leggy Batman Begins-style slow-burn (as Paramount would have you believe), or just natural (and not exactly fatal) trilogy-itis? You tell me. Oh, and getting back to what’s really important: Doesn’t Katie Holmes look slender?
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Last year, there was a long, long streak of films not doing well… a ‘box office slump.’ Perhaps it has yet to fully recover?… Although I do know at least one female co-worker who said she used to buy all his movies on DVD, but now can’t stand him. I’m just trying to give credit to Abrams, Keri and PSH here.
It’s going to BOMB!!
If it only made 48 mil this weekend, I’m thinking that it will probably drop to 20 next weekend. It’s bizarre to say that 48 mil is nothing but when you tie it into the others; also that it opened in more theaters than others; and ticket prices are higher. It’s going to tank.
See you Tom Cruise, the Hollywood flood gates are going to open on you from now on.
Eh, he might be fine, but he’ll still have a tooth in the middle of his face.
I really want to see it cause I so love J.J. Abrams. I think he’s one of the top creators in hollywood right now. and Kerry Russell just looks awesome in it. But in a form of immature protest, my friends and I, meant to see MI3, but Tom’s face was so annoying to us, we decided to go and see STICK IT, instead, as a sort of STICK IT to he who we can no longer stand to see or hear about.
The reason I won’t be seeing this movie is that I am sick of Tom Cruise. I think he is an arrogant jerk. How dare he give advise to someone with post partum depression when he has had no medical training. Saying that Brooke Sheilds should take vitamins and excercise is just plain wrong. What happens if someone does take his advise and follows the Scientology way doesn’t seek help. What if that person either kills herself or god forbid her child. Then what would that little jerk think about his precious scientology. I think if you don’t have the training and knowledge to back up your opionion shut up and leave it to the experts.
Tom Cruise shut up and learn to act.
Didn’t bother with it since I won’t see sequels in a theater. But Tom Cruise generally keeps me away anyway. Can’t stand him, and he is downright intolerable these days. Seems like the opening weekend’s grosses would have been much lower if the Church of Scientology wasn’t buying up tickets to inflate the sales figures.
I can’t stand him or his brainwashed dopey girlfriend. He is an arrogant idiot. I don’t care what his religious beliefs are and he should keep them to himself. I hope this movie starts a backlash against him.
I can’t stand him or his brainwashed dopey girlfriend. He is an arrogant idiot. I don’t care what his religious beliefs are and he should keep them to himself. I hope this movie starts a backlash against him.
I’m tired of Tom Cruise, but I saw the movie because it looked exciting and I love J.J. Abrams’ stuff. I’d give it a B+, just like EW did. I haven’t talked to anyone about it, though, so I don’t know if it’s got legs or not. No word-of-mouth=low final gross.
I’m about as sick of Cruise as anyone here, but according to EW, the last two MI’s opened on three-day weekends. Given that this is only a two-day, shouldn’t we have expected the grosses to be a little less? It may still be a bit of a disappointment, but it’s not the death knell for the couch-jumper that this makes it out to be.
Robert–you stole my thunder. I used to dislike Cruise because I never thought he was much of an actor. Whenever presented with a serious dramatic role, you see all the gears shifting–he’s trying too hard. The past year, however, has made me hate the person, or at least the public persona. He may be a great dad, great potential husband and great co-worker–in private–but all we see now is the overbearing, publicity grubbing putz.
but compare Tom- Box Office King of all Movies to such a film as Spiderman – untested, unknown, and it opened to over a $100 million weekend…if we all still loved Tom, wouldn’t we have packed into the theatres and made his movie at least a $75million hit? spin the numbers however you wish, number spinners, but the truth is that more is expected of Tom than a $48 mill opening for a movie that’s a known…this is indeed a disappointment and I think it should be considered as such…
I will not see this movie, nor will I ever waste movie theater prices on him again. I guess we all get manipulated by movie stars and their agents/publicity teams, but his antics were too much for my tastes.
I don’t think the relatively low numbers had anything to do with the public’s distaste of Tom. I really think that by the time you get to a THIRD of anything people will think “oh it’s just more of the same.” (From the trailers, there wasn’t really any new angle to the story – his loved one’s would be threatened by Phillip Seymoug Hoffman – this is an OLD storyline that always gets resolved so why bother?) If the M.I movies were a continuing story then there might have been a bigger audience curious to see how it was going to end.
I specifically did not go see MI:3 because of Tom “I’m closeted but don’t you talk about it or I’ll sue!” Cruise.
Besides, Hollywood movies or at least the big budget, hollywood “blockbusters” have been anything but blockbusters so I see no point in going to see a movie that will cost me around $35+ to see ($9.50 x 2 + $15. in popcorn and soda expenses) not to mention extra for parking/commuting. It is really no wonder I see so many kids sneaking in sodas, potato chips and an assortment of snacks. It is ridiculous how expensive it’s become to go to the movies!
I personally cannot stand Tom Cruise and was quite frightened by the site of his huge, smiling face taking up the entire cover of this week’s EW magazine (bad EW!). However, even if I am in the minority, I think it is possible to separate the actor from the person and, so, I did go see MI3 this weekend. It was actually quite good, in my opinion, and I found it much more enjoyable than the last sequel…probably more to do with JJ Abrams than anything.
Perhaps his persona has resulted in a less than expected gross, but, I don’t think $48 million in one weekend is really a flop, especially considering it made more than four times the number two movie this week.
i’d like to see a dog do him in is bottom
I never much like Cruise as an actor before, but after his ridiculous and delusional, assinine behavior this past year I will never pay money to see a movie of his again. I am dissapointed because I am a huge Alias and Lost fan, sorry J.J!
Yes, it will coast to $100 million, but if it cost $140 million, given the cost of the film and the marketing, then it really is a bomb.
I saw it. I loathe Cruise’s recent publicity stunts, and would not have seen it, save for my partner’s desire to see it. Overall, I enjoyed the movie. Typical summer popcorn fluff.
Well, I am one of that female audience who stayed away because of Cruise. I really loved the first two MI movies and would have been there the first weekend for this one if it had not been for his “antics.” To me, he has clearly shown his lack of respect for women and women’s issues. He will never see another cent of my money.
I went to see MI-3 this weekend, and set aside my feelings about Tom Cruise’s personal exploits. I love JJ Abrams, and he did a great job, I loved Philip Seymour Hoffman as well. Is it the best movie of the summer? Oh no. But it was enjoyable.
The EW cover this week, gets a big thumbs down, what a scary horrible photo of Cruise!
People and analysts are overlooking a few things. Most notably, MI:III’s opening reflects a three day weekend tally OUTSIDE of Memorial Day weekend. How many MORE people go to the movies on Memorial Day weekend? Enough. Plus, I don’t know about the whole country, but the weather was beautiful on the East Coast and people want to spend beautiful days outside, not in a movie theater. I’m just tired of the criticism against a $48 million opening.
it is so ridiculous that people are not going to see this movie bc of tom’s “antics”. get over it. and by the way the movie is really good. much better that the others. it has jj abrams all over it, especially in the beginning. i honestly would go see it again. everyone needs to get over themselves and enjoy the movie for what it is…entertainment.
I think Tom has had his day and is now on the decline – all because he decided to jump up and down on Oprah’s couch – still think he was on something – and it wasn’t love. So how about these opening weekend numbers: Ice Age 2 made 68 million on 3964 screens – MI3 made 48 million on 4054 screens…. hmmm, I think the americen public has now spoken and are ready to put him on Exile Island for a few years.
Having read EW’s cover story attaché on Tom and M:i:III, one of the sticking points on the whole “he’s over, banish him” theory is that both M:I and M:I-2 opened the weekend of Memorial Day, which means that as much as it was an event movie, it was not an event weekend per se. The movie’s really good, I think the second best in the series (top honors, IMHO, go to the first one because it was the most spy-ish and came first). It probably won’t end up making War of the Worlds money because it’ll drop next weekend, as most summer movies do, and because it’ll have plenty of competition…and yes, because there are people out there who just can’t stand him right now. Maybe it’s time to get back on Cruise Control.
I refuse to support Tom Cruise anymore. Period. I don’t want my money going to him, so I won’t see his movies. If he begins to treat people with more respect, I may begin to see his movies again – but I doubt it.
Having said that, Keri Russell rocks. See what I wrote about her: http://www.moviemartin.blogspot.com
I thought the movie was the best of the three. Am I the only person who thinks the media just can’t wait to see Tom fall? The headlines about MI III seem to suggest that he has lost his touch. Please!! The film grossed 48$ million over the weekend!! That makes him a loser?? The guy has had a brilliant career – and when all figures are in, I’m sure he will be laughing his way to the bank – and laughing at the his critics as well (I take it back, he wouldn’t be as mean as they are to him).
i dont think its cruise i think it was the movie….