'Speed Racer' Crashes at the Box Office
Filed under: Action, Box Office, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek
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According to early estimates from Box Office Mojo, this summer's second big-budgeted extravaganza failed to pick up more than $20 million at the box office this weekend, with the poorly-reviewed comedy What Happens in Vegas finishing right behind in third. Of course, Iron Man took the top spot for a second week in a row with roughly $50 million, while Speed Racer -- which some projected to take home at least $30-40 million -- came in second with $20.2 million, as What Happens in Vegas slid into third with $20 million. Rounding out the top five were Made of Honor ($7.6 million) and Baby Mama ($5.7 million).
So what happened to Speed Racer? Part of the reason had to do with its targeted audience, which, supposedly, was kids, though kids weren't very familiar with the cartoon the film was based on. That, and the flick clocked in at over two hours -- a running time that's been mentioned a lot this weekend, as well as one that's way too long for a PG-rated kiddie adventure. That said, its PG-rating scared away those adults who grew up with the cartoon; people who, most likely, were looking for something a bit more skewed toward adults (especially when Iron Man came out the weekend before and kicked a whole lot of ass). Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure we can rule out that Speed Racer franchise at this point.
Coupla questions for ya: Why do you think Speed Racer failed to power across the finish line in spectacular fashion? Also, what happens to the Wachowski Brothers now? Will folks think twice before giving them $150 million and free reign?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-11-2008 @ 1:45PM
Jim said...
Quite simply, they made a cheesy movie. Of course, it can be said that the original Speed Racer was cheesy as well, but look at the time period. The original Batman was also cheesy, but that doesn't mean Batman films ALWAYS have to be cheesy. I've seen a few Speed Racer fans say that this movie is great and it sticks to the original feel. So what? That doesn't mean it's any good. I would never even rent something that looked to ridiculous, colorful, and over the top hammy. The Wachowski brothers messed up the Matrix trilogy as well, with an absurd finale that, if approached differently, could have left that trilogy as a classic (though the second one was already wearing thin with the cave dance scene and turning Morpheous into some low man on the totem pole compared to the first). Anyway, Speed Racer literally only appeals to a very, very narrow audience, and Warners was silly to ever expect anyone over 12 to go see it (unless they were bringing their 8 year old with them).
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5-11-2008 @ 2:04PM
MCW said...
It failed because you wanted it too. The popular agenda has been to stifle this movie before it even entered theaters. Congratulations, you succeeded.
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5-11-2008 @ 2:48PM
Mr.R said...
Even the worst of press attacks cannot keep a good product from killing when people see it, sorry, you should be angry at the Wachowsky brothers instead. Of all the great ideas out there, they had to do a plastic version of an old cartoon that means little to the collective memory.
5-11-2008 @ 4:16PM
Oneiroi said...
I agree that most of the comments before it came out have been negative, and that influences people a bit I assume...
but at the same time...what do you expect a movie blog to do? Not discuss new movies coming out? Not to give opinions on the trailers? I mean no one has an incentive for a movie to fail, especially blogs.
5-11-2008 @ 7:15PM
MosquitoControl said...
Funny that you say that, as I was telling people that this movie's failure was being cheered by people everywhere; that it was a movie people willed to fail.
Chalk me up as one of those people. The movie looked terrible, the reviews picked out flaws I felt would be bothersome, and I have an active dislike for the Wachowski Brothers. Blame it on the Matrix 2. Blame it on the Matrix videogames. Blame it on all the bravado they released both of those with despite how awful they were.
Strong distaste in my mouth for them. Maybe it was the media coverage and not actually them, but it seemed as if they felt they were bigger and more important than they actually were, and as spiteful and arguably irrational as it is, it's nice to see a failure hopefully ground them in reality.
People do better when feeling they have something to prove, anyway.
5-11-2008 @ 7:58PM
indecks said...
Actually it failed because it was obviously terrible (as it's opening weekend's receipts prove) and because it was based on an equally terrible show that *somehow* garners warm fuzzy memories from people. I was born in 77 so I didn't really 'grow up' with Speed Racer but I did view it when it was on TV - and I turned the channel EVERY TIME. It was a HORRIBLE show.
If the Wachowski's were aiming for a true-to-the-source movie - they must have succeeded and that's why it failed.
5-11-2008 @ 9:18PM
eugene said...
That's funny.. I remember a movie called Transformers last year and everyone was panning it. Fanboys hated the new "bayformers" critics and film snobs were bemoaning that Michael Bay was making yet another movie... and I remember it bombing... wait.. what was that? It was one of the most successful movies of 2007?
Hmmm, I guess you're "if you think it, it will bomb" theory works not at all.
5-12-2008 @ 7:27AM
Jim said...
Yes, it was my fault. Just like Passion of the Christ was a box office disaster because I have a strong dislike for Mel Gibson. Just like Spider Man 3 was a disaster because I thought they totally screwed up that movie after a nearly perfect Spider Man 2. Just like Transformers did horribly because I can't stand Michael Bay or Shia Labeouwooafof. Just like War of the Worlds flopped at the box office because I think Tom Cruise is an ass clown.
Yeah.....I think you get how silly your conclusion is now.
5-11-2008 @ 5:42PM
Ed Payan said...
Speed Racer was AWESOME!!!! The cinemetography was unbelievable and the story was just like the original cartoon. I highly recommend it. I agree the PG rating probably scared off parents with younger kids. We took our little league t-ball team and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. The parents were glad they took their kids to see the movie. The length of time was not a factor for either the kids or the parents, it was very entertaining. We will definitely see it again and can't wait for the DVD to come out.
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5-11-2008 @ 6:11PM
Ponce said...
This movie is nothing like the cartoon! And anyone who claims otherwise does not know what they're talking about. In the cartoon, Speed raced to find his older brother Rex who ran away from home over a dispute with the father, Pops. The meta theme of the cartoon was about reuniting family. This movie is garbage, more evidence that the Wachowski brothers are not good film makers.
5-11-2008 @ 2:18PM
Dave Lister said...
I was a huge "speed" fan when I was young and years ago when there was talk of a Depp Speed Racer movie, I was very excited. I had thoughts of a dark obscure adventure movie (without a fricking monkey). Like a lot of other people I was dissipointed in hearing about the Wachowski brothers involvment and this is the result. Honestly after seeing the first stills a few months ago did anyone really expect this thing to make any money?.. What the Hell, ya' don't fool around with the Mach 5, that's really the main character. The sad part is we'll now will never see a Speed Racer movie made the way it should have been. Mabe Toby Maguire will learn somthing befor bringing his Robotech Opus to the big screen.
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5-11-2008 @ 2:27PM
Jason said...
Well said Jim
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5-11-2008 @ 3:06PM
Naf said...
I think it failed because of its running time. Kids don't want to see though a 2 hour film unless it's Harry Potter, and I'm sure this film would have done much better if it ran 1 hour 30 minutes. I doubt it had to do with the fact that kids didn't know the cartoon, it's not like kids know what Underdog and Alvin and the Chipmunks are, but those seem to do alright at the boxoffice. Even if this movie is total crap, kids don't pay attention to reviews, so that probably has little to do with it. I, personally, can't wait to see it. Cheesy fun with loads of explosions and cars! Can't wait!
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5-11-2008 @ 3:40PM
uforeader said...
poor marketing. the marketing seemed to promote it to the 18-35 market, while the rating and the critics called it a children's movie. i was looking forward to it after seeing the trailers, but once i heard it was PG, i was out.
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5-11-2008 @ 4:31PM
hunterart_2000 said...
The look of the film is worse than 'the flinstones', yet similar.
Their first mistake was having kids as a target audience. Everyone would love to see this world come alive if they only made it more of a mature film. Kids aren't dumb either, don't insult them by making a kitty film for kids.
The other problem is that nothing is believable. I know the director is taking us into a whole new world with all it's cornucopia of flash and color, but none of the a basic realism elements such as the cars' motion is realistic. I immediately can't relate to it; I don't buy it. Video games are more believable.
And thirdly, anytime you have a movie with a monkey, it's bad.
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5-11-2008 @ 5:12PM
Ryan said...
"And thirdly, anytime you have a movie with a monkey, it's bad."
Pirates did pretty well for having a monkey in the movie. ;-)
5-11-2008 @ 9:20PM
eugene said...
undead > monkey.
5-11-2008 @ 5:27PM
Mark-SEA said...
I don't know how it qualifies as a "kid" movie..unless bloody beatings and giving the finger, and enough swear words to keep it interesting is what it takes to qualify as a childs movie. Why you would bring anyone under 12 to see it, I don't know.
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5-11-2008 @ 5:59PM
fred said...
i tried to get people to be into seeing this, but as soon as you say the letters 'PG', and you don't follow it with 13, people basically laugh at you (and not everybody cares about reviews, since that awful other movie made $20mil on a weekend when Iron Man was in theaters).
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5-11-2008 @ 10:39PM
Brian Kirchhoff said...
The movie failed because it's just plain mediocre fair at best...
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