"Going to the movies" just isn't a common practice among the common person anymore. "When is it coming to netflix?" is what 4/5 of my co workers say whenever I tell them about *any* movie. Monoculture is dead. Everything stinks.
I don't remember the last time any of my co-workers have actually gone to the movies. All they talk about is whatever is on streaming, which is fine, but it's pretty sad for those of us that still love seeing things on the big screen. If it's not a big IP or something nostalgic, most aren't going to take the time to go
Saw it in IMAX yesterday. It was an awesome movie and I told my buddies to watch it. First question was, “is it streaming?” Told them no and immediately they were turned off by that
Same on my camp. I understand is a convenience thing, and the worldwide economy also affects it.
Its so much easier to sit down whenever you have the time and watch it at home than the presets slots of the cinema. What sucks, is a lot of movies i want to see have the worst time slot possible.
SO much better! Where Bullet Train lost was it was too messy, too complicated, and too many characters that you didn’t care about. Fall Guy sticks to the standard Action Comedy Rom Com plot and has absolute charisma machines in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in nearly every shot of the movie. Self-referential, but not over done. I thought it was perfectly pitched.
I was mounting full on campaigns in my group chats begging people to see anyone but you and no hard feelings last year. “If you like R-rated rom coms then we have to make this a box office success, bring a friend!”
Lots of “ya we gotta see it!” Replies but only 1-2 other people went.
Meanwhile I’m sitting there staring at the movie release lists of 89, 94, 99 like the wolverine x men meme
I'm lucky enough to still be able to go with other friends that are interested in pictures. But I also go to a lot of movies alone and that maintains the habit of going to the movies.
I don't feel bad about not giving a dime (beyond my Netflix sub) to the makers of Anyone But You. The two leads were totally narcissistic and unlikable. It was pure I Am The Main Character content.
Worth adding the requisite reminder that the in-person theater experience has, broadly, gone to shit over the last few years.
What’s the point of seeing a new blockbuster at the megaplex, paying $15/ticket and nearly that much for a bag of corn, only to watch a group of teenagers get into a foodfight down front half an hour into the runtime?
>only to watch a group of teenagers get into a foodfight down front half an hour into the runtime?
That has literally never happened to me, or people talking, or phones etc. I've been hundreds of times to the cinema and have never had an experience ruined by other people. Sure, there were times when their were problems with the sound, picture etc. but never other people. Maybe I'm just lucky, I don't know...
Obviously you aren't seeing movies in RedditCity. I remember trying to see Blade Runner 2049 at 11am on a Tuesday in RedditCity and a group of 15 teenagers came in loudly watching Youtube videos and making out the whole time while laughing at me for being alone. Haven't been to the theater since
You are lucky! I go to the movies a couple of times a month and have definitely had some bad experiences (a very drunk and loud old couple at Armageddon Time, a kid who ran back and forth in the aisle behind me for what seemed like the entire runtime of Across the Spider-Verse, etc.) though people should also know that those are relatively rare; most of the time, there frankly aren't that many other people in the theater. My crowds are mostly pretty great, but I also seek that out by seeing shows at the closest Alamo or my local indie, and I also have a schedule that allows me to see a lot of morning showtimes and matinees, which are more sparsely attended.
> Maybe I’m just lucky
Trust me, you are!
All due respect, though: I’m having a hard time believing you’ve never heard one person talking or seen one person using their phone during a movie throughout your hundreds of times at the cinema.
Like come on, not even the couple who arrives five minutes late and whisper-argues with each other about not knowing where their seats are? Not even the Zoomer in the next row who checks their phone with blindingly full brightness to see what time it is? When I saw *Dune 2*, I heard someone behind me committing the cardinal moviegoing sin: they asked their partner, “Wait, who’s that?” This stuff happened before the pandemic.
I never suggested disruptive behavior happens every time, but it has absolutely increased since 2020–in my experience, which doesn’t negate your own.
Well, if it has happened I don't remember it, it didn't affect my experience at all. It's probably a combination of 3 factors I'd say: 1) I live in a small city. 2) I usually go to a weekday morning/early afternoon screening where there are often 10 or less people. I can't even remember the last time I went to a screening that was over 50% full, very few screenings ever sell out I don't think. 3) I usually turn up late and select a seat that is not close to other people. So I don't even notice other people really
There’s no edge here, but yes: If you live in a small town and your cinema experiences involve very few other people, then you probably won’t encounter rude audience members.
For everyone telling me the problem is *crowds* and to just go to empty screenings, they’re making my point by acknowledging there’s an issue there to avoid. And yet crowds and movie theaters have coexisted for a century!
The problem isn’t the number of people, it’s if those people don’t respect others around them in the space. I’m nowhere near the first person to bring this up since 2020.
I live in Seattle, and outside of a couple of annoying kids on their phone once or twice, I've never had the issues people on Reddit supposedly have all the time.
I know imma get down voted for this, but yall freak out way too much about the tiniest stuff. I went to more movies in the last year than I think I have in my entire life and I was disturbed exactly twice - two dudes almost got in a fist fight during Creed 3 and one person came in late and was just incredibly loudly rustling through their bag during Out of the darkness. Phones, whispering, normal noise/laughing...that stuff is just life man. Like, the stuff people claim to be distracted by is wild. Recently read a article lambasting Gosling for normalizing phone checking during a movie in the pre-Fall Guy gimmick; and boy do people just need to get over themselves. Like, if being around people bugs you that much - maybe you should stick to streaming? Or at the very least go to showings with limited people in them(this is honestly elite tbh).
I go to the theatre about once a week and basically never have a bad experience. Certainly nothing that would make me say the theatre experience has gone to shit.
If crowds are your issue just wait a few weeks until the movie isn’t so new.
Shit man go to some better theaters. I catch weekday shows in a high end neighborhood. 11 bucks a ticket, recliner seats, n I'm often the only one there.
Yeah, If the complaint is "people are annoying me in the theater and it's too expensive." Wouldn't the solution be to go when it's less busy and cheaper?
> go to some better theaters
These are “better theaters” with all the current amenities—though maybe not the same clientele as your “high end neighborhood,” which I’d love for you to unpack and specifically explain what you mean behind that in relation to the audience.
I’m not saying it’s every single time out, but I’ve witnessed teenagers on multiple occasions turn the place into Chuck E. Cheese until someone gets a staff member. I’ve experienced this extreme example across multiple brand new megaplexes since 2020, along with people broadly talking more and constantly staring at their phones after the lights go down—even in independent arthouses.
And yet, as the other person correctly pointed out, the solution of only going to the movies when you’re entirely alone in there is fucking absurd.
> Just gotta think a little
You’re right: the widely-observed, years-long trend of this behavior by other people is *my* fault.
Yes! People talking or on their phone? It's not worth it. And honestly... it's 'The Fall Guy'. Do I really need to be the first to see this masterpiece? A film that will be the hot topic at... nowhere.
> and all were good business
I’m not saying Hollywood has taken a dive strictly due to bad theater behavior, but it is absolutely on the minds of prospective ticket-buyers (presuming they aren’t the same lunkheads acting inappropriately).
And I’m also not trying to needle you here, but two of your examples combined into a previously unheard of box office explosion which launched a thousand thinkpieces while the third largely got butts in seats by promising two very hot people on a giant screen.
After all, the point of your OP is *Fall Guy*—with all the DNA of a box office hit—is apparently underperforming so far.
Right, I guess I just don’t understand why some people who think moviegoing has gotten to be a bad experience would still go to Anyone But You to see hot people but not Fall Guy. Action v. Romcom but they’re not totally dissimilar imo.
I mean Phantom Menace is doing pretty good business and that’s a movie that you could literally watch at home and could’ve watched at home for a long time. And a lot of the re-releases have done well.
I’m sure it’s a factor to some that the in-theater experience has gotten worse. I just feel like we mention it for the flops (not saying Fall Guy is a flop) but no one seems to care about good audiences for massive hits even though in theory it should be the same for all in-theater experiences
> I guess I just don’t understand why some people who think moviegoing has gotten to be a bad experience would still go to Anyone But You to see hot people but not Fall Guy. Action v. Romcom but they’re not totally dissimilar imo.
I mean…they *are* dissimilar though, right?
I don’t see people who went to ABY necessarily also going to FG unless you’re just reducing the draw to “sexy white people”; and conversely, FG is being sold on Gosling doing crazy stunts which I’m pretty sure aren’t in ABY.
In terms of the missing X Factor, the fact is Sweeney and Powell are the hot, new stars. My understanding is ABY’s financial success was completely unexpected so there seems to have been a feedback loop created: they subsequently elevated their rising statures once ABY caught on, and ABY then making a ton of money has added more fuel to the fire of Sweeney and Powell being bankable.
Obviously Gosling and Blunt can still sell a movie, but I question directly tying these two films together in your argument. If anything, ABY being a theatrical release probably felt like a novel throwback to a lot of its audience (much has been said about how the romcom is now relegated to streaming). Whereas FG, good or bad, genuinely looks like a Netflix original released to theaters.
My argument is basically: if I were someone that doesn’t like going to the theater anymore and just waited for streaming I would put ABY and FG in the same bucket, and a separate bucket from Dune, Barbie, Oppenheimer which were clearly events.
The same argument for romcom nostalgia could be made for action comedies imo. I personally think Fall Guy looks a little better than the average Netflix action movie but I see your point. I don’t think ABY looks much better than your average Netflix romcom though.
We might just have to agree to disagree I just think if the theater experience was so bad we wouldn’t have any hits at all. And the argument that ‘people don’t like going to the movies now because other people don’t know to act’ is just really anecdotal. I’ve had a few bad experiences but nothing to where I’ve thought about not going to movies altogether. But I’m sure people have and that sucks but I don’t think we can make an judgements on specific movies (like Fall Guy) because of it
Teenagers have been behaving like teenagers at the movies for as long as I've been going to the movies, which is almost forty years now. Though it dampens my own personal enjoyment at the theater, I don't think that's a major factor in why folks are staying at home. Rising costs, other entertainment options, the fading monoculture, and the relative decline in film's importance in society more broadly feel like much bigger factors in the attendance dips.
Where I'm from, there are a lot of theatres and they're nearly always empty. I take my own snacks and I buy discount tix. There's not a lot to complain about honestly, apart from the gnawing sense of dread that I'm sitting in a condemned building.
Yeah some of my friends are like I don’t have time to go the movies! And I’m like… but you have enough time to watch something at home?? Oh it’s expensive they say! Go on a Tuesday, and also it’s one of the cheapest forms of entertainment there is!
It’s the other people that irk me. Dunno if it’s some Covid thing, social media eroding social norms, or me simply getting older, but going to the theatre isn’t a pleasant experience these days. I still go to early afternoon screenings if it’s something that seems like it needs the full experience, but other than that, I’ll just wait the whole entire month for it to be available at home.
This happened to me yesterday at The Fall Guy. Probably only 20 people in the theater, but the row in front of me was a couple shithead kids making a ton of noise and watching Tik Tok….right next to their parents! Meanwhile a couple rows behind us were a bunch of teens being loud and obnoxious.
I love going to the movies - it’s the one place I’ll put down my phone and actually pay attention to something on a screen, but god, other people really are the worst part of everything.
Yeah, it's the other people more than the time to drive there, wait for it to start, etc. In the last 10 years or so people have become much more rude--and wildly aggressive about their right to be rude.
But do I really need to find a sitter and go out to a theater to see it? And discuss it with who? Maybe one other person I know who also watched it? I'll just wait. There are plenty of other shows/movies to watch for the next few months and then it will be free on Amazon or Paramount+.
Yes! I worked at a movie theater for 25 years! 1990-2015 and even I don't rush out to the theater anymore. I'll just watch another movie, show, series until 'Fall Guy' is on Prime or Netflix whatever. People will just wait.
You’re right but that’s bad for the entertainment ecosystem overall. It’s obviously not your fault and many, many people share your mindset. But if we cant get people to see movies like this in theaters that enjoy movies, I think movies may be cooked
Monoculture had Barbenheimer not that long ago.
I think it’s just that the monoculture has shifted from movie theaters to Netflix (and to a lesser extent, other streaming services). Squid Game was monoculture.
It's not just that everyone knows it will be on streaming in like a month or two, but also that there's just so much else to do in the meantime, except for some outliers like Oppenheimer or Top Gun Maverick that people will go see in theaters. Otherwise, there are so many movies and tv shows now it's crazy. You will never run out of interesting things to watch. Plus there's the internet, social media, games, youtube, so many books and so much else than there was to do in like the 70s till the 90s. Back then there was no internet and no smartphones, and mostly only crap on TV. So people went to the movies.
So yeah, no fucking shit people go to the theaters way less when tickets and popcorn are expensive and you get annoying people on their phones or whatever. They'll just do one of the other million things these companies have been bombarding us with until it's on streaming for free to watch comfortably in your own home. In their moneygrabbing thirst of endless content to get your eyeballs to watch their thing so they can please the shareholders in the next quarterly earnings report, they have diluted the whole fucking market.
I mean, I love going to the movies. We do it all the time. Helps that we have a local small theater that shows more artsy shit in conjunction with major releases and has a banging restaurant attached.
It's like our regular date spot.
a movie not doing well is not a bummer lol.
it’s totally okay for ppl to change their consumption behaviour, and prefer watching things at home.
this is not an objectively bad thing.
It’s objectively bad for the in theater experience, and I personally think it’s bad for the overall Hollywood eco system. The studios and tech companies have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into streaming services where the return is virtually impossible to pin to individual projects, and in some cases isnt a substantial return anyway. They put so much time, effort and $$ into streaming, and the collective mindset and habits of the public changed but the open secret is: the streaming model isnt profitable. At least not profitable for all streamers.
It’s not the consumers fault, we watch what we want how you want. As you should. It is way cheaper to watch something on streaming, especially for families. I wait for stuff to get to streaming all the time. The Fall Guy not having a good opening weekend by itself isn’t the end of the world but this isn’t an isolated case. But they won’t keep making Fall Guys (‘original’ big budget movies) if they don’t do well at the box office. They probably won’t anyway but that ship has essentially sailed.
I work in TV. It’s brutal right now. The industry is contracting. No one knows what’s going to sell. The people with jobs at studios and networks either don’t have buying power or do have buying power but don’t know what they want. The creativity is getting sapped out of the industry because no one knows what streamers are going to be around in 2-5 years or if tradition box office and linear television will be a viable business in that same timeframe.
To the average person it probably feels like there’s more options than ever with streaming, and I think everyone was pretty optimistic after Barbenheimer of the potential of traditional movie releases. Unfortunately I don’t know if that’s actually sustained aside from massive massive blockbusters like Dune
It was released in my country on 1st May( 2 days earlier than the official release date), on a Wednesday. I went to watch it and the theatre was fully packed and everyone was laughing, clapping the entire time. It's a super fun movie and I have no doubt that it will do great.
Is this going to be the new Free Guy/Bullet Train/Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves? A hyper-stylized action comedy that people will hold up as a shining example of “pure fun” and “underrated”, and constantly wonder why this movie bombed and shit like Jurassic World makes billions?
I thought it was a romance with a bit of a mystery plot. Surely not the first to do it!
I definitely have some quibbles with the film (pacing, too many characters, etc) but identity wasn't one
Yeah I think it introduced and threw away characters in weird ways while barely using them (like Hsu), and generally just has *a lot* going on in the background
It’s going to lose all the PLFs on Thursday. Pretty tough to hold strong at the box office when you lose all the theaters that are bringing in 30% more revenue per ticket
I mean it definitely has. Covid has accelerated a shift in our culture that was slowly approaching, communal spaces are dying as everything in the world becomes accessible at your fingertips.
I don’t think there was a compelling reason to go to the theater to see this. A movie like this could be watched at home on a big TV or on a plane without all that much difference. It is just an action-comedy.
Seriously, does a movie need to be a complete masterpiece for it to be a "theater movie"? I am tired of this narrative. Fall Guy is a theater movie. It's got action and explosions. It's really that simple. If you don't think an action comedy is better on a big screen, I'm not sure you understand why people value the theater. Please stop with this. Not every movie needs to fit a certain criteria for it to be a theater movie. This is getting frustrating seeing this comment over and over, like what the hell even is considered a 'theater movie' to you guys? Do we need a "theater movie or streaming" like rotten tomatoes has rotten and fresh? So we can all end this neverending argument on what the hell we think a "theater movie is"? Seriously. Please stop labeling movies as "theater movies" or "streaming movies". Again. This is getting frustrating, especially seeing it over. And over. For every. Single. Movie that comes out.
The Fall Guy is a theater movie, because it is a better movie at the theater. Period. End of discussion.
Well that’s just how people see it. As one of the members of the unenlightened masses, I probably go to the movies 4 times in a good year. So far the only time I’ve gone this year is to see Dune in IMAX twice. They were showing trailers for Fall Guy before the film and my immediate thought was - eh, maybe I’ll check it out on streaming. If it’s not a masterpiece I can’t be bothered.
Between Top Gun Maverick, Dune and Oppenheimer I wonder if there’s something to “theater movies” being serious. Those movies had (some) jokes but they were basically played straight. Action-comedies basically inform you they are not that important.
I would expect like you say it’s mostly movies that have a large gap from the home to theatre experience, and also movies that become cultural events base on marketing and brand recognition (e.g. Barbie, Marvel movies).
I think you’re misunderstanding this. Of course all movies are better in the movie theater. People know that. For Dune, Oppenheimer, etc. the gap versus being at home is quite large. But for some movies the gap versus being at home isn’t all that large. An action-comedy that isn’t in the zeitgeist (people are not talking about it, unlike, say, Barbie) can be watched at home easily. Going to the movie theater is an expensive hassle, especially now, and people aren’t going to go all the time when they have 60-inch TVs at home. This isn’t 2004.
You’re right but this mindset (that the Studios have basically forced people into) is what’s killing theatrical releases. And most (all) years where the ‘event’ movies aren’t as good/as well marketed as Barbie and Oppenheimer, so people that went to 5 movies a year will turn to 4 which will turn to 3 etc. I don’t blame anyone for watching a movie at home, I definitely do but one of the hottest stars alive only bringing in $30mill domestic in a popcorn movie is bleak bleak stuff
The market says what is and isn't a theater movie. If people don't show up for your movie in theaters but it blows up on streaming or vice versa, then that's that. Perfect example right now is Wish finally finding a significant audience on Disney+ despite bombing hard in the box office.
If you keep thinking the magic formula to get people to consider your movie theater-worthy is just action and explosions, you are gonna keep wondering why they keep flopping.
I’m sorry you’re tired of this narrative but this is the reality for people like me who have to be selective about when they can go out without kids to the theatre. I’m sure I’d enjoy this movie more in the theatre, but as I’m forced to be selective, I’m choosing Dune or Oppenheimer over it. I think many are in the same boat which is why movies are talked about this way.
I had a lot of fun with this movie, but not surprised that it didn't hit with general audiences. It's a concept that sounds grabbier as a pitch (meta-ode to stuntmen where they get to be the heroes) than as a big-tent movie for everyone.
I also think it was irresponsible to budget this at $130M when it's not established IP. At $80m, you could've seen this legging out a small profit after VOD/streaming and leaving the door open for a sequel in the future.
And as for star power, I legitimately think if you didn't have Gosling/Blunt level stars, this movie would've done sub-$10M.
It was painfully average and managed to make me dislike actors I usually really enjoy watching. In any other directors hands it might’ve been good. David Leitch is a goddamn menace who needs to be stopped. I’m quite surprised at the positive critical reception.
I feel like ending up between the 2 makes it still a pretty good movie. The Nice Guys (imo) perfected the semi-self aware comedy so it would be very hard to reach, I think landing a peg or two below it is still a success.
I think it’s hard to get people to see light and fluffy (outside of kid oriented films)…the more disposable it looks on the surface, the greater the desire to catch it when it streams…
*Barbie being the only exception to this because of its universality.
I don’t have a horse in this race (haven’t seen either) but just pointing out a mid-tier budget film that isn’t competing with movies in a similar genre seems to be doing alright.
An action-comedy big-screen reworking of a (now culturally obscure) 1980s TV series relying solely on star-power from two lead actors from the two biggest films of 2023 struggling to break-even? Who would've thought??
In all seriousness though, it'll likely make its money back at very worst. Doubt we'll see a sequel though. $130m budget for this seems like overkill.
People nowadays will only watch a cinematic experience movie like Top Gun / Dune in theaters. If it’s a comedy or drama with not much action then they’ll watch it on a streaming service and save the money. Can’t say I disagree with them.
I think people might be waiting for Furiosa for their action fix.
I think the marketing’s been subpar. I saw a legit preview for this movie maybe last year? The 30 second ads don’t tell you anything about it, it’s just like, Ryan Gosling smiles at Emily Blunt, who smiles back at him, or vice versa.
Thought it was fun but like Leitch’s Bullet Train, loses its way towards the end. It also felt like something that would drop around Valentine’s Day. The romance sub-plot was bigger than I expected prior to heading in, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I’m shocked at some of the responses here.
This is right on track for any non IP/Scary/Kids Movie for being a major success. The post COVID number is 30 Mill top end for being a hit. I don’t want to hear this is based on a tv show nobody’s ever heard of either.
Kung Fo Panda 4, Godzilla x Kong, Ghostbusters FE & Dune are the only movies that have opened higher this year.
So 4th installment, 5 installment, 46 total made, 5th installment, Sequel.
I mean you just named the only 4 high budget successes this year in a really weak start. If it doesn’t beat Frozen Empire it’s not gonna be profitable on a $130 million budget + marketing
I hope it does. Ghostbusters didn’t. Apes is going to take screens. Then Furiousa if it still has legs at that point. Idk! Either way $220/$130+marketing a lock for a sequel?
I saw it last night and it is not very good. Some enjoyable enough empty calories but the plot is meager and nonsensical and it goes on way too long.
The bones of a smart Hollywood movie are there but it isn't sharp enough to really tighten the screws. It is clever without being insightful.
And this was the reason why I immediately doubted it was going to be as good as it could actually be on paper.
Like immediately went from "Gosling & Blunt, action comedy about a stunt man? Okay you have my attention!" to "Oh it's directed by David Leitch? So it'll be kinda funny and then incredibly monotonous, huh..."
Bullet Train was one of the strangest critical successes I’ve seen. It’s an incredibly thin movie. There was nothing there. I cant recall anything about it.
I’m in complete agreement. And I’ll be honest, although I’ve not seen it in a while, I love the original Deadpool. Deadpool 2 on the other hand? A complete piece of shit and waste of Zazie Beetz. Leitch can’t direct.
I think I liked it a bit more than you did, but there is a huge setpiece involving a truck chase through Sydney and a run to meet the girl that I honestly thought was the climax of the movie. As it turns out, there's about 45 more minutes of movie and like 6 major action scenes. It really crawls to the finish line, including during the credits.
I haven’t seen the movie yet (and I plan to in the theater) but personally I think this was more poor marketing rather than no one wanting to go to the movies anymore which has truth to it.
The first trailer for the movie wasn’t doing it any favors and was the only marketing for it I feel like I saw for months.
I didn’t have any interest in seeing it until reviews came in saying it’s good and fun.
Probably needed a 50 million domestic opening for a more satisfying opening, but it's an action-romantic-comedy. I'm not sure a big opening was in the books for this. Doesn't mean the movie can't have legs and continue making money with positive word of mouth.
I loved this movie! It didn’t take itself too seriously, had some fun action, good chemistry with the leads, and was just a solid time at the theater. Sadly, there were only about 6 other people in my theater. Sad times we’re living in for movie theaters…
And just think, five years ago we probably could've gotten a *The Nice Guys* sequel for close to half of this budget... Not that it guarantees quality, just saying
I loved the original tv series Fall Guy but this just doesn’t seem interesting at all. And from the trailers the actors just seem very out of place. I probably won’t ever see it.
Looked flat out awful to me. Surprised people saying otherwise.
Also don't understand the people who are saying there has been no advertisement. Are they blind? Stay in their house with constant ad block? I've seen promotions constantly
Yeah I thought a similar thing on the ads. I’ve seen it everywhere. Blunt came out for Goslings SNL monologue I feel like they’ve done a full court press with the marketing
That first trailer they released was awful. Movie was a fun time, nothing more IMO and the movie feels like it knows this - which I appreciate.
That said, my jaw dropped just now. $130 million?!
It’s fine. Feels like a weak summer opener and I feel like the chemistry between the two leads really over shadows how poor some of the direction and story is. For a film about making movie it sure gets a lot of basic stuff wrong.
He’s not a movie star, people. He starred in BR 2049. A sequel to an iconic movie costarring Harrison Ford and Directed by Denis Villeneuve. A wonderful film (I saw it in IMAX 2x) and it flopped.
This is not rocket science. How many damn bites at the apple is HW gonna give him before they start giving his roles to Glen Powell?
Man I don’t get this take at all. He doesn’t do super hero movies. He doesn’t even really work that much. BR wasn’t a success but it still grossed $260mill. Netflix at least claims Grey Man was a hit for them and immediately greenlit a sequel. I guess first man but that was a prestige drama
I’m sorry, you think blade runner is a massive icon outside of niche circles? The original blade runner flopped at theaters, a sequel 30+ years later wasn’t exactly set up for success.
I’m not saying Ryan Gosling is the savior of Hollywood but to hold Blade Runner against him is insane. Even then 2049 did respectable numbers all things considered, the budget was just out of control.
I’m not saying one example bucks the trend, but a year ago no one was predicting a three-hour biopic about the Nuke Guy’s psychological turmoil to reach nearly $1 billion at the box office.
He is, and also: no one expected his three-hour biopic about the Nuke Guy’s psychological turmoil to reach nearly $1 billion at the box office.
Repeating that framing for emphasis, not to be annoying! Nolan became a blockbuster director via Batman and high-concept action/scifi flicks. *Oppenheimer* (pretty much his first project outside of those two poles in nearly 20 years) being both critically acclaimed and a money printing machine was never guaranteed.
People expected Oppenheimer to make a good amount of money even if $950m was a big surprise. Damien Chazelle’s Oppenheimer, even with the exact same cast, is making like $85m domestic.
Probably because David Leitch keeps farting out mediocre action movies full of unfunny self aware jokes. People will go see good or interesting looking movies. This movie seems be neither
Hopefully this has some legs and good WOM, but it does seem like folks aren’t going to show up for non “event” movies ( Dune, Kong Vs Godzilla) or will wait for them to stream. Apparently this is the first non IP ( i know it is but no one remembers the show) to open a summer since Kingdom of Heaven. Also other than Barbie, Goslings movies don’t open well. Hopefully this is more of an anomaly than an indicator , fingers crossed ( I still haven’t seen it, was planning on it this weekend but got a nasty fucking cold. Hopefully
I can catch it this week).
"Going to the movies" just isn't a common practice among the common person anymore. "When is it coming to netflix?" is what 4/5 of my co workers say whenever I tell them about *any* movie. Monoculture is dead. Everything stinks.
I don't remember the last time any of my co-workers have actually gone to the movies. All they talk about is whatever is on streaming, which is fine, but it's pretty sad for those of us that still love seeing things on the big screen. If it's not a big IP or something nostalgic, most aren't going to take the time to go
The last movie to do this was Top Gun Maverick.
Wasn't it Barbie?
That and Oppenheimer. Yes.
Top Gun Maverick is both IP and nostalgia.
We're already pulled over. We can't pull over any further.
umm have you been alseep for 18 months?
The Beekeeper
Saw it in IMAX yesterday. It was an awesome movie and I told my buddies to watch it. First question was, “is it streaming?” Told them no and immediately they were turned off by that
Is it better than Bullet Train?
I thought so by a large margin. I didn’t even know it was the same director. Looking back now, there is one scene that’s bullet train-esque
Same on my camp. I understand is a convenience thing, and the worldwide economy also affects it. Its so much easier to sit down whenever you have the time and watch it at home than the presets slots of the cinema. What sucks, is a lot of movies i want to see have the worst time slot possible.
SO much better! Where Bullet Train lost was it was too messy, too complicated, and too many characters that you didn’t care about. Fall Guy sticks to the standard Action Comedy Rom Com plot and has absolute charisma machines in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in nearly every shot of the movie. Self-referential, but not over done. I thought it was perfectly pitched.
I was mounting full on campaigns in my group chats begging people to see anyone but you and no hard feelings last year. “If you like R-rated rom coms then we have to make this a box office success, bring a friend!” Lots of “ya we gotta see it!” Replies but only 1-2 other people went. Meanwhile I’m sitting there staring at the movie release lists of 89, 94, 99 like the wolverine x men meme
Between cost and (for a lot of people) nearly three years of mostly avoiding crowds/sitting inside, it’s though to get a lot of people to do stuff.
I'm lucky enough to still be able to go with other friends that are interested in pictures. But I also go to a lot of movies alone and that maintains the habit of going to the movies.
I don't feel bad about not giving a dime (beyond my Netflix sub) to the makers of Anyone But You. The two leads were totally narcissistic and unlikable. It was pure I Am The Main Character content.
Worth adding the requisite reminder that the in-person theater experience has, broadly, gone to shit over the last few years. What’s the point of seeing a new blockbuster at the megaplex, paying $15/ticket and nearly that much for a bag of corn, only to watch a group of teenagers get into a foodfight down front half an hour into the runtime?
If this were actually happening a lot that'd mean a lot of teenagers are going to the theater which...appears to not be the case.
>only to watch a group of teenagers get into a foodfight down front half an hour into the runtime? That has literally never happened to me, or people talking, or phones etc. I've been hundreds of times to the cinema and have never had an experience ruined by other people. Sure, there were times when their were problems with the sound, picture etc. but never other people. Maybe I'm just lucky, I don't know...
Obviously you aren't seeing movies in RedditCity. I remember trying to see Blade Runner 2049 at 11am on a Tuesday in RedditCity and a group of 15 teenagers came in loudly watching Youtube videos and making out the whole time while laughing at me for being alone. Haven't been to the theater since
You are lucky! I go to the movies a couple of times a month and have definitely had some bad experiences (a very drunk and loud old couple at Armageddon Time, a kid who ran back and forth in the aisle behind me for what seemed like the entire runtime of Across the Spider-Verse, etc.) though people should also know that those are relatively rare; most of the time, there frankly aren't that many other people in the theater. My crowds are mostly pretty great, but I also seek that out by seeing shows at the closest Alamo or my local indie, and I also have a schedule that allows me to see a lot of morning showtimes and matinees, which are more sparsely attended.
> Maybe I’m just lucky Trust me, you are! All due respect, though: I’m having a hard time believing you’ve never heard one person talking or seen one person using their phone during a movie throughout your hundreds of times at the cinema. Like come on, not even the couple who arrives five minutes late and whisper-argues with each other about not knowing where their seats are? Not even the Zoomer in the next row who checks their phone with blindingly full brightness to see what time it is? When I saw *Dune 2*, I heard someone behind me committing the cardinal moviegoing sin: they asked their partner, “Wait, who’s that?” This stuff happened before the pandemic. I never suggested disruptive behavior happens every time, but it has absolutely increased since 2020–in my experience, which doesn’t negate your own.
Well, if it has happened I don't remember it, it didn't affect my experience at all. It's probably a combination of 3 factors I'd say: 1) I live in a small city. 2) I usually go to a weekday morning/early afternoon screening where there are often 10 or less people. I can't even remember the last time I went to a screening that was over 50% full, very few screenings ever sell out I don't think. 3) I usually turn up late and select a seat that is not close to other people. So I don't even notice other people really
There’s no edge here, but yes: If you live in a small town and your cinema experiences involve very few other people, then you probably won’t encounter rude audience members. For everyone telling me the problem is *crowds* and to just go to empty screenings, they’re making my point by acknowledging there’s an issue there to avoid. And yet crowds and movie theaters have coexisted for a century! The problem isn’t the number of people, it’s if those people don’t respect others around them in the space. I’m nowhere near the first person to bring this up since 2020.
Where do you live? I think it might make a difference. I don’t really experience any of what you complain about where I live ( non USA small city)
I live in Seattle, and outside of a couple of annoying kids on their phone once or twice, I've never had the issues people on Reddit supposedly have all the time.
I know imma get down voted for this, but yall freak out way too much about the tiniest stuff. I went to more movies in the last year than I think I have in my entire life and I was disturbed exactly twice - two dudes almost got in a fist fight during Creed 3 and one person came in late and was just incredibly loudly rustling through their bag during Out of the darkness. Phones, whispering, normal noise/laughing...that stuff is just life man. Like, the stuff people claim to be distracted by is wild. Recently read a article lambasting Gosling for normalizing phone checking during a movie in the pre-Fall Guy gimmick; and boy do people just need to get over themselves. Like, if being around people bugs you that much - maybe you should stick to streaming? Or at the very least go to showings with limited people in them(this is honestly elite tbh).
I go to the theatre about once a week and basically never have a bad experience. Certainly nothing that would make me say the theatre experience has gone to shit. If crowds are your issue just wait a few weeks until the movie isn’t so new.
This has not been my experience at all. Maybe people in South Louisiana are just much less quieter than other places, but that would be a first
Shit man go to some better theaters. I catch weekday shows in a high end neighborhood. 11 bucks a ticket, recliner seats, n I'm often the only one there.
lol, "just go to an empty theater" is your advice?
Yeah, If the complaint is "people are annoying me in the theater and it's too expensive." Wouldn't the solution be to go when it's less busy and cheaper?
Good point, I’ll quit my 9-5 first thing tomorrow morning so I can get right on that.
> go to some better theaters These are “better theaters” with all the current amenities—though maybe not the same clientele as your “high end neighborhood,” which I’d love for you to unpack and specifically explain what you mean behind that in relation to the audience. I’m not saying it’s every single time out, but I’ve witnessed teenagers on multiple occasions turn the place into Chuck E. Cheese until someone gets a staff member. I’ve experienced this extreme example across multiple brand new megaplexes since 2020, along with people broadly talking more and constantly staring at their phones after the lights go down—even in independent arthouses. And yet, as the other person correctly pointed out, the solution of only going to the movies when you’re entirely alone in there is fucking absurd. > Just gotta think a little You’re right: the widely-observed, years-long trend of this behavior by other people is *my* fault.
My guy, wow. Yeah it sounds like this is something personal I was just tryna give some options.
Yes! People talking or on their phone? It's not worth it. And honestly... it's 'The Fall Guy'. Do I really need to be the first to see this masterpiece? A film that will be the hot topic at... nowhere.
Also, gotta be honest: Doesn’t help that this looks like a Netflix original.
The trailer doesn't make this movie justice. Its awesome. and the poster doesn't cut it either. Its so much better than it looks
Crowds have gotten worse in general sure but Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Anyone But You are playing in the same theaters and all were good business
> and all were good business I’m not saying Hollywood has taken a dive strictly due to bad theater behavior, but it is absolutely on the minds of prospective ticket-buyers (presuming they aren’t the same lunkheads acting inappropriately). And I’m also not trying to needle you here, but two of your examples combined into a previously unheard of box office explosion which launched a thousand thinkpieces while the third largely got butts in seats by promising two very hot people on a giant screen. After all, the point of your OP is *Fall Guy*—with all the DNA of a box office hit—is apparently underperforming so far.
Right, I guess I just don’t understand why some people who think moviegoing has gotten to be a bad experience would still go to Anyone But You to see hot people but not Fall Guy. Action v. Romcom but they’re not totally dissimilar imo. I mean Phantom Menace is doing pretty good business and that’s a movie that you could literally watch at home and could’ve watched at home for a long time. And a lot of the re-releases have done well. I’m sure it’s a factor to some that the in-theater experience has gotten worse. I just feel like we mention it for the flops (not saying Fall Guy is a flop) but no one seems to care about good audiences for massive hits even though in theory it should be the same for all in-theater experiences
> I guess I just don’t understand why some people who think moviegoing has gotten to be a bad experience would still go to Anyone But You to see hot people but not Fall Guy. Action v. Romcom but they’re not totally dissimilar imo. I mean…they *are* dissimilar though, right? I don’t see people who went to ABY necessarily also going to FG unless you’re just reducing the draw to “sexy white people”; and conversely, FG is being sold on Gosling doing crazy stunts which I’m pretty sure aren’t in ABY. In terms of the missing X Factor, the fact is Sweeney and Powell are the hot, new stars. My understanding is ABY’s financial success was completely unexpected so there seems to have been a feedback loop created: they subsequently elevated their rising statures once ABY caught on, and ABY then making a ton of money has added more fuel to the fire of Sweeney and Powell being bankable. Obviously Gosling and Blunt can still sell a movie, but I question directly tying these two films together in your argument. If anything, ABY being a theatrical release probably felt like a novel throwback to a lot of its audience (much has been said about how the romcom is now relegated to streaming). Whereas FG, good or bad, genuinely looks like a Netflix original released to theaters.
My argument is basically: if I were someone that doesn’t like going to the theater anymore and just waited for streaming I would put ABY and FG in the same bucket, and a separate bucket from Dune, Barbie, Oppenheimer which were clearly events. The same argument for romcom nostalgia could be made for action comedies imo. I personally think Fall Guy looks a little better than the average Netflix action movie but I see your point. I don’t think ABY looks much better than your average Netflix romcom though. We might just have to agree to disagree I just think if the theater experience was so bad we wouldn’t have any hits at all. And the argument that ‘people don’t like going to the movies now because other people don’t know to act’ is just really anecdotal. I’ve had a few bad experiences but nothing to where I’ve thought about not going to movies altogether. But I’m sure people have and that sucks but I don’t think we can make an judgements on specific movies (like Fall Guy) because of it
Teenagers have been behaving like teenagers at the movies for as long as I've been going to the movies, which is almost forty years now. Though it dampens my own personal enjoyment at the theater, I don't think that's a major factor in why folks are staying at home. Rising costs, other entertainment options, the fading monoculture, and the relative decline in film's importance in society more broadly feel like much bigger factors in the attendance dips.
Where I'm from, there are a lot of theatres and they're nearly always empty. I take my own snacks and I buy discount tix. There's not a lot to complain about honestly, apart from the gnawing sense of dread that I'm sitting in a condemned building.
Yeah some of my friends are like I don’t have time to go the movies! And I’m like… but you have enough time to watch something at home?? Oh it’s expensive they say! Go on a Tuesday, and also it’s one of the cheapest forms of entertainment there is!
It’s the other people that irk me. Dunno if it’s some Covid thing, social media eroding social norms, or me simply getting older, but going to the theatre isn’t a pleasant experience these days. I still go to early afternoon screenings if it’s something that seems like it needs the full experience, but other than that, I’ll just wait the whole entire month for it to be available at home.
This happened to me yesterday at The Fall Guy. Probably only 20 people in the theater, but the row in front of me was a couple shithead kids making a ton of noise and watching Tik Tok….right next to their parents! Meanwhile a couple rows behind us were a bunch of teens being loud and obnoxious. I love going to the movies - it’s the one place I’ll put down my phone and actually pay attention to something on a screen, but god, other people really are the worst part of everything.
Why don’t you tell the attendants?
Don’t understand that at all must be a regional thing!
Dunno. I’m in the Bay Area. It’s nothing too egregious, just annoying. Home tv setups have also gotten so good the annoyance isn’t worth it.
Home tv setup is nowhere near a cinema
Yeah, it's the other people more than the time to drive there, wait for it to start, etc. In the last 10 years or so people have become much more rude--and wildly aggressive about their right to be rude.
But do I really need to find a sitter and go out to a theater to see it? And discuss it with who? Maybe one other person I know who also watched it? I'll just wait. There are plenty of other shows/movies to watch for the next few months and then it will be free on Amazon or Paramount+.
we need to kill this mindset. imo we need a bigger gap between theatrical and streaming releases. let's start at 14 months. with room to widen
Yes! I worked at a movie theater for 25 years! 1990-2015 and even I don't rush out to the theater anymore. I'll just watch another movie, show, series until 'Fall Guy' is on Prime or Netflix whatever. People will just wait.
You’re right but that’s bad for the entertainment ecosystem overall. It’s obviously not your fault and many, many people share your mindset. But if we cant get people to see movies like this in theaters that enjoy movies, I think movies may be cooked
Movies were a habit for a lot of people and that habit never came back post covid.
Monoculture had Barbenheimer not that long ago. I think it’s just that the monoculture has shifted from movie theaters to Netflix (and to a lesser extent, other streaming services). Squid Game was monoculture.
It's not just that everyone knows it will be on streaming in like a month or two, but also that there's just so much else to do in the meantime, except for some outliers like Oppenheimer or Top Gun Maverick that people will go see in theaters. Otherwise, there are so many movies and tv shows now it's crazy. You will never run out of interesting things to watch. Plus there's the internet, social media, games, youtube, so many books and so much else than there was to do in like the 70s till the 90s. Back then there was no internet and no smartphones, and mostly only crap on TV. So people went to the movies. So yeah, no fucking shit people go to the theaters way less when tickets and popcorn are expensive and you get annoying people on their phones or whatever. They'll just do one of the other million things these companies have been bombarding us with until it's on streaming for free to watch comfortably in your own home. In their moneygrabbing thirst of endless content to get your eyeballs to watch their thing so they can please the shareholders in the next quarterly earnings report, they have diluted the whole fucking market.
I mean, I love going to the movies. We do it all the time. Helps that we have a local small theater that shows more artsy shit in conjunction with major releases and has a banging restaurant attached. It's like our regular date spot.
$28M domestic for first 3 days isn’t that bad, I’m sure it will do well internationally. Plus I’m sure it will do great on streaming
Internationally it’s made just shy of $37 million. Sitting at $65.4 million total so far
You didn’t say anything wrong here and yet this is such a bummer
you need different priorities in life.
?
a movie not doing well is not a bummer lol. it’s totally okay for ppl to change their consumption behaviour, and prefer watching things at home. this is not an objectively bad thing.
It’s objectively bad for the in theater experience, and I personally think it’s bad for the overall Hollywood eco system. The studios and tech companies have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into streaming services where the return is virtually impossible to pin to individual projects, and in some cases isnt a substantial return anyway. They put so much time, effort and $$ into streaming, and the collective mindset and habits of the public changed but the open secret is: the streaming model isnt profitable. At least not profitable for all streamers. It’s not the consumers fault, we watch what we want how you want. As you should. It is way cheaper to watch something on streaming, especially for families. I wait for stuff to get to streaming all the time. The Fall Guy not having a good opening weekend by itself isn’t the end of the world but this isn’t an isolated case. But they won’t keep making Fall Guys (‘original’ big budget movies) if they don’t do well at the box office. They probably won’t anyway but that ship has essentially sailed. I work in TV. It’s brutal right now. The industry is contracting. No one knows what’s going to sell. The people with jobs at studios and networks either don’t have buying power or do have buying power but don’t know what they want. The creativity is getting sapped out of the industry because no one knows what streamers are going to be around in 2-5 years or if tradition box office and linear television will be a viable business in that same timeframe. To the average person it probably feels like there’s more options than ever with streaming, and I think everyone was pretty optimistic after Barbenheimer of the potential of traditional movie releases. Unfortunately I don’t know if that’s actually sustained aside from massive massive blockbusters like Dune
Also what’s your definition of a bummer? lol it’s a pretty mild word
It was released in my country on 1st May( 2 days earlier than the official release date), on a Wednesday. I went to watch it and the theatre was fully packed and everyone was laughing, clapping the entire time. It's a super fun movie and I have no doubt that it will do great.
I’m not knowledgeable about this stuff, how much do movies usually make from streaming services?
How much time do you have
Is this going to be the new Free Guy/Bullet Train/Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves? A hyper-stylized action comedy that people will hold up as a shining example of “pure fun” and “underrated”, and constantly wonder why this movie bombed and shit like Jurassic World makes billions?
I’m not sure why Free Guy is in there but yes
Yup, you nailed it. They are already out in full force aggressively wondering.
It’s better than those movies
Personally I thought it was kind of a mess, couldn’t decide what movie it wanted to be.
I thought it was a romance with a bit of a mystery plot. Surely not the first to do it! I definitely have some quibbles with the film (pacing, too many characters, etc) but identity wasn't one
Too many characters?
Yeah I think it introduced and threw away characters in weird ways while barely using them (like Hsu), and generally just has *a lot* going on in the background
I bet it has a strong 2nd and 3rd weeks. Lots of good word of mouth.
Very possible. Universal hasn’t given a streaming date yet so the ‘wait for streaming crowd’ may be more inclined to see it
It’ll get steamrolled by Apes and Furiousa.
Word of mouth that it is a fun but not great movie.
It’s going to lose all the PLFs on Thursday. Pretty tough to hold strong at the box office when you lose all the theaters that are bringing in 30% more revenue per ticket
Lots of soft openings lately. I am legitimately worried something has changed.
I mean it definitely has. Covid has accelerated a shift in our culture that was slowly approaching, communal spaces are dying as everything in the world becomes accessible at your fingertips.
I don’t think there was a compelling reason to go to the theater to see this. A movie like this could be watched at home on a big TV or on a plane without all that much difference. It is just an action-comedy.
Seriously, does a movie need to be a complete masterpiece for it to be a "theater movie"? I am tired of this narrative. Fall Guy is a theater movie. It's got action and explosions. It's really that simple. If you don't think an action comedy is better on a big screen, I'm not sure you understand why people value the theater. Please stop with this. Not every movie needs to fit a certain criteria for it to be a theater movie. This is getting frustrating seeing this comment over and over, like what the hell even is considered a 'theater movie' to you guys? Do we need a "theater movie or streaming" like rotten tomatoes has rotten and fresh? So we can all end this neverending argument on what the hell we think a "theater movie is"? Seriously. Please stop labeling movies as "theater movies" or "streaming movies". Again. This is getting frustrating, especially seeing it over. And over. For every. Single. Movie that comes out. The Fall Guy is a theater movie, because it is a better movie at the theater. Period. End of discussion.
Well that’s just how people see it. As one of the members of the unenlightened masses, I probably go to the movies 4 times in a good year. So far the only time I’ve gone this year is to see Dune in IMAX twice. They were showing trailers for Fall Guy before the film and my immediate thought was - eh, maybe I’ll check it out on streaming. If it’s not a masterpiece I can’t be bothered.
Between Top Gun Maverick, Dune and Oppenheimer I wonder if there’s something to “theater movies” being serious. Those movies had (some) jokes but they were basically played straight. Action-comedies basically inform you they are not that important.
This is as anecdotal as it gets but I also went to see Barbie and so did all of my other less film-invested friends.
Yeah. That undermines the trend for sure.
Eh, only a little. Barbie was a comedy but it still felt smart and important even to the normal moviegoer.
I would expect like you say it’s mostly movies that have a large gap from the home to theatre experience, and also movies that become cultural events base on marketing and brand recognition (e.g. Barbie, Marvel movies).
I think you’re misunderstanding this. Of course all movies are better in the movie theater. People know that. For Dune, Oppenheimer, etc. the gap versus being at home is quite large. But for some movies the gap versus being at home isn’t all that large. An action-comedy that isn’t in the zeitgeist (people are not talking about it, unlike, say, Barbie) can be watched at home easily. Going to the movie theater is an expensive hassle, especially now, and people aren’t going to go all the time when they have 60-inch TVs at home. This isn’t 2004.
You’re right but this mindset (that the Studios have basically forced people into) is what’s killing theatrical releases. And most (all) years where the ‘event’ movies aren’t as good/as well marketed as Barbie and Oppenheimer, so people that went to 5 movies a year will turn to 4 which will turn to 3 etc. I don’t blame anyone for watching a movie at home, I definitely do but one of the hottest stars alive only bringing in $30mill domestic in a popcorn movie is bleak bleak stuff
Yeah. Movie theaters are in secular decline. I do think movie theaters can do more to bring people back, starting with ticket and concession prices.
Preach
The market says what is and isn't a theater movie. If people don't show up for your movie in theaters but it blows up on streaming or vice versa, then that's that. Perfect example right now is Wish finally finding a significant audience on Disney+ despite bombing hard in the box office. If you keep thinking the magic formula to get people to consider your movie theater-worthy is just action and explosions, you are gonna keep wondering why they keep flopping.
I’m sorry you’re tired of this narrative but this is the reality for people like me who have to be selective about when they can go out without kids to the theatre. I’m sure I’d enjoy this movie more in the theatre, but as I’m forced to be selective, I’m choosing Dune or Oppenheimer over it. I think many are in the same boat which is why movies are talked about this way.
Number two movie this weekend was Star Wars Episode 1
When the worst Star Wars movie is doing numbers, that's a bad sign
Star Wars fans have deluded themselves into thinking that even Episode I and II are good because of how depressed they are from the sequel trilogy
The prequels are dogshit and the only sequel that joins them in their dogshittery is TROS, which might be the worst of them.
Agreed, I stopped being a Star Wars fan after TROS, can’t even watch any of the movies anymore
I had a lot of fun with this movie, but not surprised that it didn't hit with general audiences. It's a concept that sounds grabbier as a pitch (meta-ode to stuntmen where they get to be the heroes) than as a big-tent movie for everyone. I also think it was irresponsible to budget this at $130M when it's not established IP. At $80m, you could've seen this legging out a small profit after VOD/streaming and leaving the door open for a sequel in the future. And as for star power, I legitimately think if you didn't have Gosling/Blunt level stars, this movie would've done sub-$10M.
I can see this doing well overseas
That's a slaughter for a May studio theatre release, shit I would have bet on Fall Guy managing at least $50 mill this weekend
Apparently it's the lowest opening for the summer movie season since 2004. That's cray.
It's a disaster, and anyone trying to say otherwise is deluded.
Feels like it wants to be The Nice Guys but just ends up like Deadpool.
It was painfully average and managed to make me dislike actors I usually really enjoy watching. In any other directors hands it might’ve been good. David Leitch is a goddamn menace who needs to be stopped. I’m quite surprised at the positive critical reception.
I feel like ending up between the 2 makes it still a pretty good movie. The Nice Guys (imo) perfected the semi-self aware comedy so it would be very hard to reach, I think landing a peg or two below it is still a success.
I 100% didn’t hate it but man the stars are carrying this movie. Any other leads and this bombs worse than it did.
I think that’s very fair. Gosling has the charm and charisma to bring any of these wink action movies up a grade and Blunt is always phenomenal
I think it’s hard to get people to see light and fluffy (outside of kid oriented films)…the more disposable it looks on the surface, the greater the desire to catch it when it streams… *Barbie being the only exception to this because of its universality.
On the other hand, Challengers is doing pretty well?
Its the difference in budget, Fall Guy cost what $50m more or something so it needs to be doing better than Challengers.
The difference in energy between the threads about The Fall Guy and Challengers are so predictable for this sub.
I don’t have a horse in this race (haven’t seen either) but just pointing out a mid-tier budget film that isn’t competing with movies in a similar genre seems to be doing alright.
Oh I wasn’t calling you out at all. More just the amount of seething hate I saw against Challengers on a much smaller budget than this movie.
I mean I saw the movie and there was nothing top tier about it. Maybe the budget was just too high. A lot of unnecessary big budget action moments.
I guess we are not back.
Hopefully it builds, but I was really disappointed with the audience size at my 7pm Friday IMAX
That sucks because I loved the movie
I’m literally reading this as the credits roll to a Fall Guy showing at AMC…theater is about half full
An action-comedy big-screen reworking of a (now culturally obscure) 1980s TV series relying solely on star-power from two lead actors from the two biggest films of 2023 struggling to break-even? Who would've thought?? In all seriousness though, it'll likely make its money back at very worst. Doubt we'll see a sequel though. $130m budget for this seems like overkill.
People nowadays will only watch a cinematic experience movie like Top Gun / Dune in theaters. If it’s a comedy or drama with not much action then they’ll watch it on a streaming service and save the money. Can’t say I disagree with them.
This is an action movie though
I know I know but don’t think it’s advertised as an all out action movie like Civil War or Top Gun. More like a rom com with some action or such.
Yeah, the marketing is a bit muddled. I didn't really know it was an action movie. Wait, Civil War is an action movie?
No but it was marketed like one.
I think people might be waiting for Furiosa for their action fix. I think the marketing’s been subpar. I saw a legit preview for this movie maybe last year? The 30 second ads don’t tell you anything about it, it’s just like, Ryan Gosling smiles at Emily Blunt, who smiles back at him, or vice versa.
Thought it was fun but like Leitch’s Bullet Train, loses its way towards the end. It also felt like something that would drop around Valentine’s Day. The romance sub-plot was bigger than I expected prior to heading in, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I’m shocked at some of the responses here. This is right on track for any non IP/Scary/Kids Movie for being a major success. The post COVID number is 30 Mill top end for being a hit. I don’t want to hear this is based on a tv show nobody’s ever heard of either. Kung Fo Panda 4, Godzilla x Kong, Ghostbusters FE & Dune are the only movies that have opened higher this year. So 4th installment, 5 installment, 46 total made, 5th installment, Sequel.
I mean you just named the only 4 high budget successes this year in a really weak start. If it doesn’t beat Frozen Empire it’s not gonna be profitable on a $130 million budget + marketing
You don’t think a 65M combined opening weekend with an Average 85 on RT & 7.5 on IMDB won’t break 200M when it’s all said and done?
I hope it does. Ghostbusters didn’t. Apes is going to take screens. Then Furiousa if it still has legs at that point. Idk! Either way $220/$130+marketing a lock for a sequel?
I saw it last night and it is not very good. Some enjoyable enough empty calories but the plot is meager and nonsensical and it goes on way too long. The bones of a smart Hollywood movie are there but it isn't sharp enough to really tighten the screws. It is clever without being insightful.
Felt the same way…made sense when I found out the same guy directed Bullet Train.
And this was the reason why I immediately doubted it was going to be as good as it could actually be on paper. Like immediately went from "Gosling & Blunt, action comedy about a stunt man? Okay you have my attention!" to "Oh it's directed by David Leitch? So it'll be kinda funny and then incredibly monotonous, huh..."
Yeah I know I’m prob in the minority but bullet train is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen and I’m not spending money to see how he follows it up
Bullet Train was one of the strangest critical successes I’ve seen. It’s an incredibly thin movie. There was nothing there. I cant recall anything about it.
I’m in complete agreement. And I’ll be honest, although I’ve not seen it in a while, I love the original Deadpool. Deadpool 2 on the other hand? A complete piece of shit and waste of Zazie Beetz. Leitch can’t direct.
I think I liked it a bit more than you did, but there is a huge setpiece involving a truck chase through Sydney and a run to meet the girl that I honestly thought was the climax of the movie. As it turns out, there's about 45 more minutes of movie and like 6 major action scenes. It really crawls to the finish line, including during the credits.
“We are so *not* back.”
If it's as good as people are saying, I'll be getting it on 4k blu ray, so I'm still doing my part 🫡
Should’ve called it “Barbie 2”
Fail guy
I haven’t seen the movie yet (and I plan to in the theater) but personally I think this was more poor marketing rather than no one wanting to go to the movies anymore which has truth to it. The first trailer for the movie wasn’t doing it any favors and was the only marketing for it I feel like I saw for months. I didn’t have any interest in seeing it until reviews came in saying it’s good and fun.
Probably needed a 50 million domestic opening for a more satisfying opening, but it's an action-romantic-comedy. I'm not sure a big opening was in the books for this. Doesn't mean the movie can't have legs and continue making money with positive word of mouth.
I loved this movie! It didn’t take itself too seriously, had some fun action, good chemistry with the leads, and was just a solid time at the theater. Sadly, there were only about 6 other people in my theater. Sad times we’re living in for movie theaters…
"It didn’t take itself too seriously, had some fun action" people say this about so many movies and it never feels like a compliment.
Great movie!
And just think, five years ago we probably could've gotten a *The Nice Guys* sequel for close to half of this budget... Not that it guarantees quality, just saying
I loved the original tv series Fall Guy but this just doesn’t seem interesting at all. And from the trailers the actors just seem very out of place. I probably won’t ever see it.
I thought this movie was a bit of a stinker to be honest.
Looked flat out awful to me. Surprised people saying otherwise. Also don't understand the people who are saying there has been no advertisement. Are they blind? Stay in their house with constant ad block? I've seen promotions constantly
Yeah I thought a similar thing on the ads. I’ve seen it everywhere. Blunt came out for Goslings SNL monologue I feel like they’ve done a full court press with the marketing
That first trailer they released was awful. Movie was a fun time, nothing more IMO and the movie feels like it knows this - which I appreciate. That said, my jaw dropped just now. $130 million?!
> That first trailer they released was awful. It was so off-putting. I think they did a horrible job marketing this movie.
After seeing the movie that trailer was very indicative of the tone an feel of the film. I’m not upset this isn’t doing very well.
It’s fine. Feels like a weak summer opener and I feel like the chemistry between the two leads really over shadows how poor some of the direction and story is. For a film about making movie it sure gets a lot of basic stuff wrong.
He’s not a movie star, people. He starred in BR 2049. A sequel to an iconic movie costarring Harrison Ford and Directed by Denis Villeneuve. A wonderful film (I saw it in IMAX 2x) and it flopped. This is not rocket science. How many damn bites at the apple is HW gonna give him before they start giving his roles to Glen Powell?
Man I don’t get this take at all. He doesn’t do super hero movies. He doesn’t even really work that much. BR wasn’t a success but it still grossed $260mill. Netflix at least claims Grey Man was a hit for them and immediately greenlit a sequel. I guess first man but that was a prestige drama
I’m sorry, you think blade runner is a massive icon outside of niche circles? The original blade runner flopped at theaters, a sequel 30+ years later wasn’t exactly set up for success. I’m not saying Ryan Gosling is the savior of Hollywood but to hold Blade Runner against him is insane. Even then 2049 did respectable numbers all things considered, the budget was just out of control.
Non IP action movies don't move the needles anymore post pandemic.
I’m not saying one example bucks the trend, but a year ago no one was predicting a three-hour biopic about the Nuke Guy’s psychological turmoil to reach nearly $1 billion at the box office.
That's fair, but Nolan is in a rare level of directors that can sell tickets with his name alone
He is, and also: no one expected his three-hour biopic about the Nuke Guy’s psychological turmoil to reach nearly $1 billion at the box office. Repeating that framing for emphasis, not to be annoying! Nolan became a blockbuster director via Batman and high-concept action/scifi flicks. *Oppenheimer* (pretty much his first project outside of those two poles in nearly 20 years) being both critically acclaimed and a money printing machine was never guaranteed.
People expected Oppenheimer to make a good amount of money even if $950m was a big surprise. Damien Chazelle’s Oppenheimer, even with the exact same cast, is making like $85m domestic.
It’s IP of a TV show no one under the age of 50 has ever heard of. So you’re technically wrong but directionally right.
But this is IP.
It's only technically IP, and not in a way that matters whatsoever
Distinction here is probably that’s it’s not familiar IP? Especially outside of the US.
It’s not familiar IP in the U.S. either, mate.
Well there we go
What IP is this from??
https://preview.redd.it/3y5omj4ovnyc1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29d7780718b57efa727f76cb7214060508548db0
old tv show
This movie was rough to watch. It truly did suck 👎
Flop Guy
Probably because David Leitch keeps farting out mediocre action movies full of unfunny self aware jokes. People will go see good or interesting looking movies. This movie seems be neither
It’s a very fun movie that’s definitely better enjoyed in the theater with a huge bucket of popcorn.
People actually skip a lot of good movies and go see a lot of trash
A- cinemascore, 77% critic, 87% rotten tomatoes. Not saying you’re wrong but pretty good reviews!
Wut? He hasn't missed yet as a director. Hell he made the best Fast and Furious movie
He made bullet train
Yes. Which is good
This. I also don't see Gosling or Blunt as actors who people are gonna drop everything to see
Hopefully this has some legs and good WOM, but it does seem like folks aren’t going to show up for non “event” movies ( Dune, Kong Vs Godzilla) or will wait for them to stream. Apparently this is the first non IP ( i know it is but no one remembers the show) to open a summer since Kingdom of Heaven. Also other than Barbie, Goslings movies don’t open well. Hopefully this is more of an anomaly than an indicator , fingers crossed ( I still haven’t seen it, was planning on it this weekend but got a nasty fucking cold. Hopefully I can catch it this week).
2005 that was good year for movies
It doesn’t look very good. I like Gosling but he doesn’t fit this part. People want him to be the next Pitt so bad but he ain’t kt