Why CHRISTMAS DAY? Why? What possible reasoning?

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Other than Christmas EVE I can't think of a date on the calender where people are less likely to be inclined to go to a movie...

Moms, Dad's and kids and grandparents are going to be pretty well spent by afternoon evening.

Football fans are going to be on the couch with turkey digesting in their stomachs.

And even us Star Trek geeks have families that would keep us out of the theatre that day.

So why on earth pick this day as the day to relaunch the crown jewel of the Paramount Corporation...even a monkey in a tree would know better than to make the decision!

 

[Haytil]

Yeah, I've been seeing the Star Trek movies on opening night, ever since I was old enough to go to the theatre.

Sadly, this shall be the first time I won't be able to make it.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'll be there opening day.

The reason for Christmas would be that it's a holiday which falls on Thursday. Opening day may not be huge - though it will be big enough as lots of folks who don't celebrate Christmas have the day off anyway - but they don't really expect that with a midweek opening. This kind of thing often pumps up the first weekend's grosses, though.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

I agree... the EXACT day isn't really the issue... it's the first WEEK'S grosses that really count... with the first weekend's grosses being much more "headline-worthy."

The time that this is going to be premiering, people will be back home, seeing people they haven't seen in ages... having lots of free time... or, alternatively, people will be sad and alone.

In either case, the Christmas holidays are probably the heaviest "movie-goin'" time of the year.

 

[Dale]

Actually, my family and I often go to a movie in the afternoon on Christmas Day... Dinner together and church on Christmas Eve, church and presents Christmas morning, and then the celebration is pretty much over... and we're all sitting around wondering what to do for the rest of the day...

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Cary L. Brown said:
I agree... the EXACT day isn't really the issue... it's the first WEEK'S grosses that really count... with the first weekend's grosses being much more "headline-worthy."

The time that this is going to be premiering, people will be back home, seeing people they haven't seen in ages... having lots of free time... or, alternatively, people will be sad and alone.

In either case, the Christmas holidays are probably the heaviest "movie-goin'" time of the year.

I wouldn't mind seeing Trek returned as a summer event movie like TREK II-V were. After FINAL FRONTIER bombed in the summer of Batman Trek was permanently sent to Winter Release dates.

 

[Jayson]

I think it's a great day to open. Everyone is off work and for one day of the year everyone is semi-happy. Except prudes who are never happy but they aren't the target audience I suspect. Nothing will be on tv and it's a chance to take the family out for some fun or get away from the family after to much "fun."


Jason

 

[DBR]

My family has gone to a movie on Christmas Day for the last 8 or 9 years -- it has become somewhat of a tradition.

Christmas is pretty much the only time we're all together now, and... well, what the hell else do you do on Christmas Day after 30 Christmases? We do the eating on the 24th and 26th and 1st

Anyway... I can pretty much guarantee you that nobody but me will want to see this movie.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Movie theaters are mobbed on Xmas day. Gotta do something with the brats after all the prezzies are opened and broken...

 

[Sec31Mike]

That day sucks, I would have to spend like $70 to take my family out to the theater for this outing. I don't believe I will have that kind of cash lying around that weekend.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

The answer to the OP is easy.

Christmas Day is often the busiest day of the year for movie theaters (in the U.S.). Christmas weekend is the busiest weekend of the year for movie theaters. And, as UWC Defiance pointed out, Christmas 2008 will be a Thursday, so they will get an early jump on the Christmas weekend at the box office.

The bottom line is this: they are opening Christmas Day because they will make much more money by doing so than if they didn't.

 

[Opus]

I know lots of people who open presents, have lunch with family and are done by 3:00 in the afternoon, so they end up at the movies. And this becomes part of their yearly tradition.

 

[seigezunt]

because the Jews run Hollywood, and we all go to the movies after going out for Chinese food. My favorite part of the season.

And in 2008! Bam! B"H" !!!

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

^
^^And do you eat "Chinese Turkey" -- a.k.a. peking duck -- like at the end of 'A Christmas Story'?

 

[Balthier the Great]

well seig beat me to it, but

What exactly are all the nonchristians supposed to do on Christmas? They're off, true, but Chrismas isn't their holiday. I don't think Buddhamas is 12/25.

 

[rmkwebdesign]

Yep, XMAS day is very busy at the theaters, and I, for one, will be there opening day to see ST:XI!

 

[Turd Ferguson]

It's pretty much a tradition for my family as well, going to see a movie on Christmas Day. Last year, it was A Night At the Museum, this year it'll probably be Fred Clause. Next year, for sure, it's gonna be Star Trek

 

[Lumen]

I'll be there opening day.

If there's a midnight premiere the night before, even better.

 

[cardinal biggles]

DBR said:
My family has gone to a movie on Christmas Day for the last 8 or 9 years -- it has become somewhat of a tradition.

It's a tradition for my brother and I ever since I was old enough to drive; Dad wants to pass out in the recliner, and Mom wants to make dinner, so we go catch whatever's playing.

Besides, if we all hung around the house all day long interacting with each other, it would start to ruin that feeling of love and togetherness Christmas creates.

 

[Kirby]

I've seen all the Trek movies on opening day since TSFS (I saw Kahn on the 2nd day due to a huge thunderstorm and my parents would let me ride my bike to the theater).
Sadly, because of the volume of family we have to see on Christmas, I'll have to see this one on the 2nd day.