X-Mas relese = Paramount uncertain?

[darkwing_duck1]

Why not put Trek XI out in "prime time" (summer/fall)? Maybe not toe to toe with Indy 4, but Christmas?

Is Paramount hoping to play a modest opening box as a "breakout hit" because no one is in the theaters then?

 

[number6]

Says who?? I nearly always see films on x-me$$. And I'm certainly not the only one there!

 

[Skywalker]

Christmas is one of the biggest weekends for movies.

 

[RoJoHen]

Went to see AVP tonight, and the theater was packed.

Christmas is definitely a big movie-going day.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Well, maybe I'm wrong then. I was under the impression that the "money season" for films was mid-spring through Labor Day, the "summer blockbuster season" and all that...

 

[James Bond]

All the Lord of the Rings were released during Christmas time.

 

[PowderedToastMan]

Firstly Paramount did want a summer release, but abrams wanted winter for more time.

But I really do not understand where this notion of christmas/winter movies being low box office came from.

Here are the total worldwide grosses for the big christmas movies for the last 4 years
2006 Night at the Museum: $573,625,411
2005 King Kong: $550,238,930
2004 Meet the Fockers $516,642,939
2003 Return of the King $1,118,888,979

This year National Treasure: Book of Secrets has an xmas weekend of around $65 milion domestically.

So to answer your question...no

 

[Cyrus]

Christmas thru new year is the most lucrative boxoffice time of the year. The 3 most successful Trek movies at the boxoffice were released during Thanksgiving/Christmas time.

 

[Matt]

Lots of Star Trek has debuted in the winter.

Star Trek TMP: December 7th
Star Trek IV: November 26th
Star Trek VI: December 6th
Star Trek Generations: November 18th
Star Trek First Contact: November 22nd
Star Trek Insurrection: December 11th
Star Trek Nemesis: December 13th
Star Trek: December 25th

Eight of eleven Star Trek films have November-December release dates.

 

[ralph]

Abrams and Paramount know what they are doing.
A friend of mine said me that in USA, many people like to go with their children, girlfriend (wife) or a group of friends to see a movie in Xmas day.
In Brazil it will release in the middle of January. Summer, holidays, crowded movie theaters. I and two friends (and a thousand of trekkers) will be there.

 

[Kpnuts]

There's a difference between releasing films in Nov/Dec and releasing a film on CHRISTMAS DAY.

Shocking decision by Paramount, who the hell goes to the cinema on xmas day?

Thanfully being in the UK, we'll get in in January sometime.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Kpnuts said:
There's a difference between releasing films in Nov/Dec and releasing a film on CHRISTMAS DAY.

Shocking decision by Paramount, who the hell goes to the cinema on xmas day?

In the United States? Millions of people. It's a very big day for movies.

 

[Kpnuts]

North Pole-aris said:

Kpnuts said:
There's a difference between releasing films in Nov/Dec and releasing a film on CHRISTMAS DAY.

Shocking decision by Paramount, who the hell goes to the cinema on xmas day?

In the United States? Millions of people. It's a very big day for movies.

You honestly think that there would be more people in the cinema on xmas day, than say if the film was released a week later?

Paramount better not release it worldwide on xmas day because it won't sell out anywhere. The cinema on xmas day? Strange.

 

[ViveLaFrance]

Kpnuts said:
Thanfully being in the UK, we'll get in in January sometime.

In the UK it will probably be released the day after Christmas

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/releaseinfo

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Kpnuts said:
You honestly think that there would be more people in the cinema on xmas day, than say if the film was released a week later?

That's the track record, yes.

Christmas day is a legal holiday in the United States, which is always the best time to release a film. In 2008 it will be a Thursday, which is damned near perfect (Wednesday would be the only better thing) - based on past performance, releasing on Christmas will almost certainly pump up the opening week box office by ten million dollars or so.

A week after Christmas? That's New Year's Day - probably the most lethargic holiday of the year in America. People are broke and hung-over.

Paramount better not release it worldwide on xmas day because it won't sell out anywhere. The cinema on xmas day? Strange.

What makes the news and drives the business on opening weekend for American commercial film is the reported domestic box office - and Christmas day is a great day to release a movie in the U.S.

It'll be interesting to see how "Alien Vs. Predator" does - it's a movie with a lot of buzz among a hyped-up core audience, but it doesn't look very good. It's a little over 90 minutes long, and they're not screening for critics - neither are generally good signs. They're trying to maximize its first-week take by releasing it on Christmas day, though.

 

[John Picard]

Kpnuts said:

North Pole-aris said:

Kpnuts said:
There's a difference between releasing films in Nov/Dec and releasing a film on CHRISTMAS DAY.

Shocking decision by Paramount, who the hell goes to the cinema on xmas day?

In the United States? Millions of people. It's a very big day for movies.

You honestly think that there would be more people in the cinema on xmas day, than say if the film was released a week later?

Paramount better not release it worldwide on xmas day because it won't sell out anywhere. The cinema on xmas day? Strange.

Just like Thanksgiving, a lot of people break with conventional tradition in the US and go out, rather than stay cooped up indoors. Sorry, but you're trying to judge us Americans without really having an understanding of how we think and act.

 

[starburst]

ViveLaFrance said:

Kpnuts said:
Thanfully being in the UK, we'll get in in January sometime.

In the UK it will probably be released the day after Christmas

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/releaseinfo

Probably, I think I am Ledgend came out (today) Boxing Day here, its possible they may release Trek the same here to avoid too many people finding things out after the Americans see it day before.

Different country different way of living, something I learnt about the US when I read the film would come out the 25th is that you dont have to stay in...nice option for people without familys although feel sorry for those working.

On another note, under a year till release

 

[VOODOOXI]

X-Mas day is about as prime time as you get with the exception of Memorial Day and July 4th weekend.

In my eyes a 12/25 release date shows me that Paramount has very high hopes for the re-launch of the franchise.

 

[Captain Craig]

Has it has been pointed out the release date of Dec is not because of an uncertainity. The OP is confused about the importance of this as a release date.

May - Sep(Labor Day) is the biggest money time for the theaters. With Memorial/Independece and Labor Days as the tent pole dates.
November - New Years Day is the second biggest, with Thanksgiving and Christmas being the two big dates within this span.

 

[Cyrus]

Kpnuts said:
You honestly think that there would be more people in the cinema on xmas day, than say if the film was released a week later?

As I mentioned above, more people go to movies in the Christmas-new year week than any other time of the year. Releasing it a week later makes absolutely no sense.