On the heels of a record-breaking Memorial Day frame, two new releases enter the market this weekend: After Earth and Now You See Me. I intend on seeing both movies and of course post a review.
After Earth
PROS:
- The combined appeal of Will Smith
and his son, Jaden, could help target both older and younger viewers.
- The sci-fi genre has become more
accepted by general moviegoers in recent years.
- Twitter, Facebook, and Flixster
activity compare well against this year's Oblivion.
CONS:
- For a would-be summer blockbuster
featuring Will Smith, buzz is noticeably lacking.
- Early negative reviews could curb
audience desire to catch the film after a busy holiday weekend.
- The over-crowded marketplace with
already well-received films in play (Fast & Furious 6 and Star Trek Into
Darkness).
- As the third sci-fi flick to open
in the past month, are audiences over-exposed to the genre?
- M. Night Shyamalan's directorial
efforts have been at the center of criticism for almost nine years. However,
his name has been mostly absent from marketing.
Now You See Me
PROS:
- The ensemble cast featuring Jesse
Eisenberg, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman could help the film stand out
among both teens and adults.
- 2008's 21 opened well with a
similar premise, on its way to becoming a sleeper hit.
- 2003's The Italian Job opened with
nearly $20 million (before inflation) on the same weekend following a similarly
busy holiday.
- Flixster and Twitter activity are
encouraging.
CONS:
- Following a busy holiday frame with
a still-crowded marketplace won't be easy and could make it more about the legs
for this.
- Movies about magic have hard a time
finding success with mainstream crowds.
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