Despite a fantastic marketing campaign, and moderately positive reviews, Team America: World Police had an very disappointing opening weekend. The film only managed to rake in a touch over $12 million, less that half of what they were expecting to make and only good enough for third place on the box office list behind Shark Tale and Friday Night Lights.
With The Grudge opening next weekend, which will probably appeal to the same basic demographic, I doubt Team America will pick up much steam unless a HUGE word of mouth campaign mounts up. The Box Office can be a funny creature. I figured Team America would hit $75 million easy… I guess I was wrong (like that never happens). Still, I doubt the movie will lose money. I mean, how much could a puppet movie really cost to make? Seriously, I’ll bet you that more money was spent on the marketing than on the actual production. What did you think of it?
I’m sure John will be reviewing this movie, but for now you can read my review of Team America at my site.
Short version: 3 out of 5 stars.
Vic
Any type of theatrical release is coveted because it allows for much better negotiations on part of the producer in ancillary markets; the bigger the box office totals the better the cut on Video/DVD rentals, Premium Cable, etc. But since the Video/DVD rental market is actually MUCH MUCH more profitable than box office that sector really hypes itself with it’s specialized versions, outtakes, interviews so movie-goers have been sort of programmed to wait for the DVD.
Unfortunately, to me anyway, the side effect is a lot of money gets put into schlocky, no-story, “event” movies to try and pull people into the theatres.
I don’t get why they would compromise a movie by rushing such an important stage as editing, not matter what they have to do afterwards.
Interesting though to think that a movie can be rushed but a TV show can’t be delayed…considering the scale of economies it’s all down to scheduling – you can rush a movie, you have to have a TV series ready for your schedules.
Anyway, I’m all over the place. That’s another thing that bugs me, the growing practice of “leaving” things for DVD deliberately. I can understand offering different versions, or restoring cuts due to time\budget etc, but deliberately holding back?
I’m gonna see this movie regardless. The trailers made me smile and I hope the whole film will too.
i worked on this movie, it was not animated, it was a total puppet- movie. it cost about 20 million to make. the movie suffered because matt and trey had very little time to edit and finish it before leaving themselves a couple of weeks to come up with another season of south park.
also, the funniest stuff was cut, of course, so most people I know are waiting for the dvd.
South Park was animated not a puppet-movie. Team America’s assumed subject matter and/or a lack of understanding about it’s subject matter may have not been appealing and kept people away.
It’s a great flick. I hope it catches fire by word-of-mouth but if not I’m sure it’ll RENT like crazy.
How can you not love a movie where Kim Jung Il is played by Cartman — if this does not strike you as insanely brillant and funny — or — if you don’t know who Cartman is, this is not your movie.
Ciao
Actually over at Box Office Mojo I read that they were expecting low teens for the opening weekend, but of course that could be putting a happy face on the take.
An R-rated puppet movie? Of course their previous South Park movie was also R-rated and went on to earn over 80 mil. but production and marketing on that was only about 50M. On this one production alone was 32M…
I’m going to go see it when I can find the time…
Vic