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Why didn't Beyond do better at the Box Office?

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Most movies are formulaic. It's all in the presentation. Beyond was really quite good. Paramount messed up on the marketing, much as Warner Brothers did with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
 
Maybe it's time for Paramount to take a step back, stop trying to cater to a focus group market, and just make a Star Trek Movie.
That's exactly what they did with ST2009 - but that said, as soon as they see decent Box Office; upper management gets involved for the sequels.
 
In my town, I have no doubt the lack of non-3D showings may have contributed to lower turn outs. Back when Into Darkness came out, both 3D and non-3D screenings were running simultaneously. Fast forward to 2016 and the showtimes were 3D only with a single non-3D showing at 3:30 in the afternoon. My wife gets nauseous at 3D movies, but the only time our friends could join us was for the evening 3D shows. Thankfully I was able to fashion a pair of anti-3D glasses to help her enjoy the film better.

All that to say, I think the cinemas are pushing people away by trying to force them into the 3D seats. I did not enjoy the 3D screening, so I went by myself on a Sunday afternoon to the non-3D and had a much better time. Beyond isn't the only film experiencing lower Box Office. It's a damn fine film, and deserved a much better box office take than it's getting.

The Marketing didn't help.
 
An early post showing the progression of the formula I feel might be interpreted wrongly in that it suggests the formula began with the first reboot movie. It actually began with Star Trek: Insurrection.
 
It started with TSFS.

Kruge, Chang, Soran, RO'FLO, Shinzon, Nero, nuKhan, Krall

All cut from the same shade of cloth.
 
It started with TSFS.

Kruge, Chang, Soran, RO'FLO, Shinzon, Nero, nuKhan, Krall

All cut from the same shade of cloth.

Well, Kruge didn't have an axe to grind. He was just trying to get power for himself. I'd say it all started with The Wrath of Khan.
 
Most movies are formulaic. It's all in the presentation. Beyond was really quite good. Paramount messed up on the marketing, much as Warner Brothers did with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
Maybe there are only so many ways to show peril, but despite the movies being three distinct stories these similarities are quite interesting:
-- All three stories had a villain with super strength, no redeeming values, and evil motives. All three are defeated by brute force violence.
-- Kirk takes an incredible beating more than once in each movie. (Then again, he got into his share of fights in TOS.)
-- In all three there are scenes where at least one of our heroes is hanging on by his fingernails to keep from falling to his death.
-- When there was a time our hero could've used a phaser, it falls away from him or he otherwise can't reach it (OK, that happened a bit in TOS, too).
-- The transporter is problematic (OK, that's a TOS one, too).
-- We see the perils of failing gravity on the Enterprise in two, including shuttle bay scenes of crashing shuttles in each.
-- Kirk gets picked up with one arm by Ayel in ST09 and also by Krall in STB as a way to intimidate Kirk and show strength.
-- Nero and Krall are willing to bide their time to get what they need, laying low until all is ready. Khan bided his time as he carried out his plan, too, but he was found out.
-- Harrison and Krall are not who they seem to be.
-- STID and STB have a climactic fist fight at the end.
-- STID had a rogue admiral and STB had a rogue former captain -- both were warmongers bent on starting a conflict.
-- The entire Federation is in peril in all three.
-- The Beastie Boys are in two of them. ;)

I could do without most of these in the next Trek movie.
 
I considered the use of Sabotage in STB good continuity. It would be funny, if Fox would allow Paramount to do it, to have "Robot Hell" from Futurama in 4.
I can hear Kirk now... "Okay, so why were they in this show?"
 
Maybe it's time for Paramount to take a step back, stop trying to cater to a focus group market, and just make a Star Trek Movie.

They didn't learn their lesson from Generations, I doubt it'll sink in now.

It's quite remarkable listening to the commentary on the blu-ray and hearing all the different things Paramount made them squeeze into it. It explains a lot.
 
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Sorry to go piece by piece but there are some interesting points that I would like to discuss.
Maybe there are only so many ways to show peril, but despite the movies being three distinct stories these similarities are quite interesting:
-- All three stories had a villain with super strength, no redeeming values, and evil motives. All three are defeated by brute force violence.
Actually of interesting note is the fact that Edison/Krall actually has a moment wear Kirk tries to reason with him. It's brief moment between him and Kirk that shows he might change. Of more interest is the fact that Krall is defeated by his own weapon, which is a bit of a twist on it.
-- Kirk takes an incredible beating more than once in each movie. (Then again, he got into his share of fights in TOS.)
That is part of Kirk's character and has been for a while.
-- In all three there are scenes where at least one of our heroes is hanging on by his fingernails to keep from falling to his death.
I do agree with this one. It strains suspension of disbelief.
-- When there was a time our hero could've used a phaser, it falls away from him or he otherwise can't reach it (OK, that happened a bit in TOS, too).
Annoying but kind of a film trope in general. I could do without it but it isn't problematic for enjoyment.
-- The transporter is problematic (OK, that's a TOS one, too).
I would thoroughly enjoy it if the transporter worked right for once. At least in this film they had a plot point of using older tech.
-- We see the perils of failing gravity on the Enterprise in two, including shuttle bay scenes of crashing shuttles in each.
I actually like this point because it shows the corridors from a different angle, but could stand not to see it now.
-- Kirk gets picked up with one arm by Ayel in ST09 and also by Krall in STB as a way to intimidate Kirk and show strength.
A bit of a movie trope overall. Could stand to loose it.
-- Nero and Krall are willing to bide their time to get what they need, laying low until all is ready. Khan bided his time as he carried out his plan, too, but he was found out.
I liked that Krall and Khan manipulated others to get what they wanted.
-- Harrison and Krall are not who they seem to be.
Yep, could loose this without issue.
-- STID and STB have a climactic fist fight at the end.
The one thing I liked about STB's final battle was that the film really led up to it. It at least felt like they saved the best for last.
-- STID had a rogue admiral and STB had a rogue former captain -- both were warmongers bent on starting a conflict.
Apparently being a Starfleet leader means going crazy.
-- The entire Federation is in peril in all three.
Ain't that always the way ;)
-- The Beastie Boys are in two of them. ;)
Stupid classical music.
 
guys, I probably missed the middle twenty pages of this thread, but it seems like STB did reasonable box office. a sequel is in the offing. it actually felt (to me) like the first standalone movie that doesn't require any knowledge of who the hell these people are. the next one might be the last with this cast, but i wouldn't bet on it. break-even box office might not set any records, but studios have a lot of shit that's not star trek that gets green lit. I expect beyond to build some interest in future movies. frankly, the TV series element is the missing link here. more TV. more market saturation. don't expect a grand slam. get several doubles and win the game.
 
Early projections are in for the weekend, and they are not good. Star Trek Beyond tumbled another 59% to bring in $10.2 million for the weekend for a total cumulative take of $128 million domestically. This film is going to struggle to make $150 million in the US.
 
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