'Star Wars' Breaks Box-Office Records

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:
'Star Wars' Breaks Box-Office Records
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: May 23, 2005

LOS ANGELES, May 22 - "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" became the year's first movie blockbuster while setting some historic benchmarks, as it rode a record-breaking debut on Thursday to the biggest number ever for a four-day opening, $158.5 million....

***

"We set records domestically, internationally and intergalactically," said Bruce Snyder, Fox's distribution president. "A big part of the success, and the continuing amazing grosses, is that people are coming out of the auditorium and are getting back on line to buy more tickets for future shows."

"Episode III" benefited from a ubiquitous marketing campaign, huge anticipation from generations of fans and reviews that were far better than for the last two episodes. (And the film's performance didn't appear to be measurably hurt by the fact that a copy quickly became available on the Internet and was downloaded by thousands of file-sharers.)

In the United States, the movie took in an estimated total of $158.5 million in 3,661 theaters, a figure that bested the last four-day record, set for "The Matrix Reloaded" in 2003, of $134.3 million. "Episode III" also opened almost everywhere around the world, and took in and additional $144.7 million overseas. International box-office records are difficult to calculate because of the myriad countries involved, but the figure was certainly a huge success for the film, whose total box office was $303.2 million for the first four days....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/23/movies/23boff.html

[whistle]

1. Good for George Lucas, this picture may become his...

...box office billion dollar baby. Hard core fans will go back several times to see this movie in the deluxe digital auditoriums.

[Stand and Fight]

3. I've already seen it twice myself...

The political implications alone are compelling -- the similarities are daunting.

[Coexist]

2. so the boycott is working then...

[seriousstan]

4. What boycott?

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Here you go --

Politics creates a disturbance in the Force
By César G. Soriano, USA TODAY

Since early screenings of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith began last month, film critics, commentators and Internet bloggers have been debating whether filmmaker George Lucas is comparing President Bush and the Iraq war to the Dark Side of the Force. The conservative film site Pabaah.com has called for a boycott. The topic even made NBC's Today show....

***

....some see echoes of Bush in the film.

In one scene, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader tells his onetime mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, "If you're not with me, you're my enemy." The line is seen as a reference to Bush's post-Sept. 11 threat "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."...

***

Even a perception of bias could hurt a film's bottom line, some say. The crucial summer moviegoing season usually makes up 40% of a year's box office revenue; this year, ticket sales are down 7% from 2004.

"If people feel Lucas is pushing a parallel between the Galactic Empire and present-day America, I think people will be turned off," says filmmaker Jason Apuzzo, co-editor of the conservative film blog Libertas (libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas)....

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-17-sith-politics_x.htm

[Coexist]

6. Here is some info from the freepers

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1403968/posts

Boycott Star Wars

PABAAH
Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti-American Hollywood

Boycott Star Wars And George Lucas

When will Hollywood learn? George Lucas and his
intergalactic empire have now been added to our official
boycott list. Sad...but necessary. A bigger Star Wars
fan you'll never find...until now. Our country is at war
and Lucas spouts off this crap?
http://www.groupsrv.com/movies/about36268-0.html

[Catchawave]

13. ROFL....good one....

We all know how well boycotts worked for Michael and Mel too :)

[Coexist]

16. those poor persecuted filmmakers

it's a shame they got all that free publicity!

[Catchawave]

21. Lucas out of pocket was only 113 million......

I know he's smilin' all the way to the bank, good for him :)

:kick:

[qanda]

7. Ah, doesn't this just make Rubert Murdoch richer

Just asking!!!!!!! :shrug:

[whistle]

10. How does Ruppert Murdock fit in with George Lucas....

...I Lucas is using neo-conservative money to thrash one of their own? I love it!

[qanda]

12. I guess...

My kids saw the movie on Friday and absolutely loved it. I just hate that Murdoch will be gaining anything from this. jmho

[AP]

15. Bill Mechanic of Fox complained on NPR that Fox's deal with Lucas sucks.

Lucas keeps all merchandising rights and has Fox over a barrel on the theatrical grosses.

[Coexist]

17. good news all around then!

[whistle]

18. Does Fox get to shred the film through editing after a period...

...or does Lucas retain exclusive cutting rights? I hope the latter.

[bdot]

8. I won't be contributing to the record.

I won't give any money to the boring Star Wars crap.

[Coexist]

9. you and three or four others, apparently!!!

[whistle]

11. Are you also abstaining from sex until you get married

[Catchawave]

14. "A disturbance in the Force, I feel " :}

So, what kind of movies do you like ?

[Coexist]

19. still waiting on that reply, Catchawave?

[Catchawave]

20. Well he had his little crankypants chance, eh?

I'll probably have Anakin's child first :woohoo: