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Movie Monday: Underworld Awakens Box Office

Posted by Paul_Asay on Jan 23, 2012 9:49:26 AM
underworld.JPGThe setup of the Underworld franchise sounds like something that a couple of 12-year-old boys would plot during a lazy Saturday afternoon.

 

"So what if, like, vampires and werewolves hated each other?" one might say.

 

"Yeah, and they, like, had a secret war! And used grenades made of silver and stuff!" His friend would opine.

 

"And then, maybe they'd create some huuuuge werewolf hybrids! And they'd be immune to silver!"

 

"And then the vampires, to fight 'em, would turn into dinosaurs!"

 

Well, Underworld: Awakening didn't have any dinosaurs in it. We'll have to wait for the next sequel for that. Given the film's box office victory, we'll likely see another one soon.

 

Awakening bit the box office for an estimated $25.4 million—the second-best opening chomp in the franchise's history (Underworld: Evolution earned $26.9 million its opening weekend in 2006). The win didn't surprise anyone—except for maybe me, who can't quite figure out how this R-rated franchise (the rating would seem to bar at least most 12-year-old boys from seeing it) attracts so many people. Now, if the folks from Mystery Science Theater 3000 were involved somehow, that I could get my head around.

 

Red Tails, George Lucas' take on World War II's Tuskeegee Airmen, flew into second place with $19.1 million—way above the $10 million some industry analysts expected. It trumped Contraband, which collected another $12.2 million in its second week in theaters.

 

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, a long-shot Oscar hopeful in its first week of wide release, finished fourth with $10.5 million—holding off yet another newcomer, Haywire. In a weekend when everything seemed to be making money (theaters grossed 32% more than they had this time last year), Haywire—starring mixed martial artist star Gina Carano—fell flat, earning just $9 million. As Time movie critic Richard Corliss said, "Call Haywire a technical knock-out—not by the movie but of it."

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Comments (7)
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Jan 23, 2012 11:14 AM Guest YetAnotherTeen  says:
Red Tails sort of interests me, but probably more because it's by George Lucas than because of the movie itself, I must say. The rest... Not interested.
Jan 23, 2012 11:33 AM kate kate    says:
The 12-year-old boys who saw Underworld Awakening were probably more interested in Kate Beckinsale in a fitted lycra bodysuit than the story itself.
Jan 23, 2012 12:26 PM Guest Lisbeth  says:
Y'all are the third or fourth media group I've seen use the title "Underworld Awakens Box Office" or something along those lines.  In this economy and with several consecutive years of declining ticket sales, we really do need something to "awaken" the box office.  Something tells me that The Hunger Games is gonna be the first big movie of 2012.  My college is holding a field trip to go to a midnight screening of that movie.  I wouldn't be surprised if that movie ends up with lots of sold-out midnight screenings.  By the way, I'm looking forward to reading y'all's review of that movie.  Too bad I have to wait another two months before that moment arrives.
Jan 24, 2012 9:03 AM Guest Hithwenur  says:
Actually, when I first heard about it I thought the idea of secret warfare between two magical species in modern times wasn't a half bad one. I just wish it had been executed differently.
Jan 25, 2012 10:54 AM Guest Andrew  says:

I agree that The Hunger Games could very well be the first big film of the year at the Box-Office.  I've been disappointed in the previews I've seen for it thus far, as it does not seem to have the artistic merit I would have hoped for.  The action sequences seem rather choppy, the acting seems rather melancholy (I'd have liked to see a little more smiling in the trailer), and there was no interesting camera work in the trailer.  Plus, the lighting and cinematography of the film seems unexciting. However, it seems as though the film-makers were at least very attentive to following the novel on which the film is based very closely, and for that alone, I am thankful.  The story is very emotional and intricate and even a mediocre film version that follows it closely will surely capture a sizable audience.

 

I'm slightly surprised that Lizbeth believes that "we really need something to "awaken" the boxoffice.  I personally do not care at all if Hollywood does well.  I believe that if Hollywood loses enough business, they will change their course and start making more of the types of films that families actually want to see and fewer of the very crass and lewd films that they currently push out with regular frequency.  In other words, why should we care how much the immoral people in Hollywood earn for making awful movies.  I am happy to see films like The Help and The Hunger Games when it finally arrives, do well, but do not care if Hollywood in general succeeds in gaining cash.
Jan 25, 2012 12:54 PM kate kate    says in response to Andrew:

Given that The Hunger Games is not a happy story to begin with, I'm wondering why you'll expect any smiling in the trailer. The movie cost almost $100 million to produce so maybe they're choosing not to unveil the 'wow' moments in the trailer. Perhaps, we'll get to witness all of that in the actual movie.

 

I don't believe Hollywood is making crass R-rated movies for immorality's sake. Those movies make a ton of cash and Hollywood is never one to turn away from a cash-cow. If people keep paying to see these movies, they'll keep getting made; if they don't, they'll be scraped. What Hollywood cares about is its bottom line.
Jan 26, 2012 10:23 AM Guest Charity  says:
I get why your reviewers don't like the Undworld franchise -- but I love it (and am neither a boy nor a teenager). For the vampire film genre, it's terrific: high action, female empowerment, and just plain cool. Yes, it's violent. But that's what a ClearPlay is for. I haven't seen this one yet (sadly) but will go next week when I have time off (even though I'm sad this film doesn't have Viktor or Lucian in it).

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