'The Rocker' Gets a New Release Date ... Again
Filed under: Comedy, New Releases, Distribution, 20th Century Fox, CineVegas
Twentieth Century Fox has changed the release date on the Rainn Wilson comedy The Rocker again, but I think this move might be for the best. Maybe. We'll see. What do I know?The flick, in which Wilson plays a former rock drummer who gets a new chance at stardom when he joins his teenage nephew's band, was originally slated for Friday, Aug. 1. Then they decided a Wednesday was better, so it became July 30. But now Fox has announced that it's been pushed back three weeks to Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Why the shuffle? Fox didn't say, but I would guess it's to avoid the raucous comedies Step Brothers (due on July 25), Pineapple Express (Aug. 8), and Tropic Thunder (Aug. 13). A July 30 release would have put it in the middle of a comedy war zone, and The Rocker -- which got so-so reviews (including my own) when it played at CineVegas and doesn't have nearly as much star power as those three -- would have gotten trampled. It would have been a PG-13 David against three R-rated Goliaths.
By Aug. 20, Step Brothers and Pineapple Express will have already done most of their box office damage, leaving Tropic Thunder as the only big-name comedy competing with The Rocker. I think it's smart to stick with a Wednesday, too, as three more comedies -- The House Bunny, Hamlet 2, and The Longshots -- open on Friday, Aug. 22.
What do you think? Is there too much comedy competition between now and Labor Day? Or are the films different enough that they won't be stealing each other's audiences?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-16-2008 @ 11:36AM
GL said...
I actually thought The Rocker had come and gone already.
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7-17-2008 @ 4:13PM
Amanda said...
I think this is the best idea, because most people during summer, go to the movies a lot. so if they decided to push it back to when all the other ot-so-popular comedies come out, The Rocker might have more of a chance to capture the audience with more previews. Since Mama-mia is coming out tomorrow, a lot of people just might realize to see it the week after so they don't have to hit the crowd. and if the do it the week after, that would be causing much trouble for the rocker; it might not get many views. I'm glad it is pushed, even though I've been waiting to see it for a very very long time now. it looks great!
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7-27-2008 @ 5:18PM
TEDhead said...
All of the above listed films are sugary, produced, crap. The Rocker is a new idea, and stars an amazing singer and actor: Teddy Geiger. It would have made headlines and come first at the box office no matter what DATE IT WAS RELEASED. So fox, stop changing the date, July 30 would have been perfect!! SO WOULD MARCH. First it's March 1st, then it's July 30th, then it's August 1st, and now it's August 20th???!!!! CHOOSE A DATE AND STOP CHANGING IT. WE WANT TEDDY!!!
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