That's quite an enjoyable and hopeful read. Thanks.

IMForeman | October 04, 00:53 CET

I agree, I saw a lot of good comments that Serenity still has a very good chance of a sequel.

Firefly Flanatic | October 04, 00:59 CET

I've heard all sorts of opinions about what the weekend Box Office take means from all over the spectrum. (Personally, I believe debuting in the number 2 position for the week isn't bad, even if the amount of money is modest)

This really gave a good bit more insight. I'm still hopeful! One thing we can be certain of - Serenity at the least will break even, factoring in international and DVD sales. And I'm fair confident that it will make Universal a profit - always a good thing in the movie business.

AnotherFireflyfan | October 04, 01:07 CET

There's no need for gloom and doom this weekend, that's for sure. We're holding. Joss is holding. It's all good.

April | October 04, 01:27 CET

I think that Whedon's ability to handle a set and bring in a film on time and at cost impressed a lot of people. That's why you're seeing his name kicked around a lot more these days.

No matter what happens in the next few weeks box office wise, and I think it will have legs, there is no one on this planet, and in Hollywood, that can say Joss didn't deliver the goods. The writing ability of an artistic genius AND the safe hands of a director who can bring a movie in on time and on budget.

zz9 | October 04, 01:31 CET

Very upbeat. Hope these guys optimism pays off. I'd love to see the film hang in multiplexs for awhile. Slowly building up a solid BO number before the inevitable huge DVD number. I don't think this is going to happen but I would love to be wrong.

I was just thinking on my lunch hour that it's been a pretty tough year for the mid-range action film (which is what Serenity kinda is) with The Island & Stealth opening at about the same rate despite a lot more money thrown at them & cushier summer spot to boot. I may be getting tougher to sell an action film without huge stars or massive pre-awareness. Than again, the utterly confounding success of Transporter 2 would seem to confound this theory.

Unitas | October 04, 01:37 CET

Yeah that one stuck out to me too. That is the type of stuff studios indeed love to hear and see. Very enjoyable conversation to read. They summed up about every single thought I've had on the 'serenity at the box office' subject, both positive and negative.


Yeahhh, I was thinking that yesterday.....I suppose it did have reasonably succesful first movie but still....20m on opening? Whoda thunk it?? That's actually what made me too optimistic about Serenity.

EdDantes | October 04, 02:05 CET

I am wondering why Universal didn't make an effort to get some of the actors on Letterman, Leno, and/or Conan to plug the movie. Seems like a wasted opportunity. Heck, even Regis and Kelly.

trekkerj | October 04, 02:12 CET

EdDantes - The Transporter success had the same effect on me. I was thinking how that film found it's audience on DVD just like Firefly/Serenity so maybe we would see a stronger opening. Oh well, just goes to show how you canover think these things.

[ edited by Unitas on 2005-10-04 00:20 ]

Unitas | October 04, 02:20 CET

I was hoping to catch a crew member or two on a late show as well.

April | October 04, 02:25 CET

trekkerj & April - Seriously ! All the actors (and Joss too) have more than what it takes to really charm the cash out of people's movie going pockets, so I don't understand why they're not being trotted out all over the place. Plus, I feel deprived, I wanna see them in my living room :-)

t r a c y | October 04, 03:44 CET

I would have loved to see them on the late shows too. I actually thought Nathan would have been a great guest on The Daily Show.

Amyx4 | October 04, 03:53 CET

The cast will be all over Europe for a good deal of October, I understand, so don't count on many TV appearances.

Fact is, the most famous person on Serenity was the pirate in Dodgeball. They aren't going to go on big TV shows.

gossi | October 04, 04:14 CET

That's why Robert Rodriguez can resign from the writers and directors guilds and still get a million jobs.

para | October 04, 04:51 CET

For those who missed Sundays numbers (which were estimated for the BO reports);
Movie - # screens - gross $ - $ per screen
1. FLIGHTPLAN - 3,424 - 3,565,000 - 1,041
2. CORPSE BRIDE, THE - 3,204 - 2,785,000 - 869
3. SERENITY - 2,188 - 2,396,000 - 1,095
4. HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, A - 1,340 - 2,060,000 - 1,537
5. INTO THE BLUE - 1,625 - 1,773,000 - 1,091

RavenU | October 04, 05:09 CET

I hear ya... Man it's just impossible to call. It's a project that can't really be compared to anything.


Yeah, Sin City was another reason I was optimistic for Serenity. That was a risky project too and was quite successful. But then I guess the well-known actors made all the difference there.

And of course, we don't ever WANT other actors for Serenity so that's a moot point.

EdDantes | October 04, 08:05 CET