Given that many of these films are still in some level of theatrical release, all final grosses are projected.
1. THE AVENGERS - $623m
So a year ago, I predicted this to do mid 200's. Ouch. I think looking at this film's performance, you can see the summer that might have been.
2. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - $445m
About $80 million less than Dark Knight, the film's performance will be forever viewed with an asterisk explaining that as much as 25% of its potential was knocked off given the Colorado shooting that has affected almost every film's performance since.
3. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN - $262m
A decent performance. Nothing more, nothing less. This would've been more potent if it had been released in 5 years or so when audiences might have been craving a reboot.
4. BRAVE - $234m
With Pixar's Golden Age over, I think the studio will still be pleased if their films from here on out do these numbers.
5. TED - $218m
The box-office surprise of the year (non-stripper edition), I hope you liked it America. You're probably getting at least 2 sequels. The success of one 'immature male'-aimed film is enough to ensure two dozen will be made and go nowhere.
6. MADAGASCAR: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED - $217m
I don't even know what the last one made. Or the first. No one will remember any of these in a few years. But expect at least 2 more.
7. MEN IN BLACK 3 - $179m
A slightly underwhemling opening yielded some decent legs, but not enough to ensure another installment. (Thank God.) Though given how bad the production of this was, we should be impressed it earned the moderately decent reviews it did.
8. ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT - $159m
(See #6.) Though this is a noticable step down from the last installment. These films are MONSTERS overseas. Wow, non-Americans have horrible taste in animation.
9. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN - $156m
It may not have been the sleek revisionist adventure the stellar marketing promised, but this is a decent recouper. But, Universal, please please please drop any plans for a franchise. It's not going anywhere. (Hey, give me points for not making any jokes about the affair that developed. I'm sure Universal is happy it happened after the release, not before.)
10. PROMETHEUS - $127m
I haven't seen this so I can't comment on the divisive nature of the film, but its hard to consider this a success. For something a lot of people considered a masterpiece before anyone, you know, saw it, it really free-fell after opening weekend. It's worth nothing that sci-fi movies that receive a mixed reception upon release do usually age better than ones that are generally well received.
11. MAGIC MIKE - $114m
Hollywood will probably learn nothing from the massive success of this film. Other than putting Channing and Matthew in a bunch of stuff, of course. It cost the studio $7 million, and made that much. I could go on about how films that aimed at women and gay men have become the secret ingredient to making a modestly budgeted film a box-office success, but I sound like a broken record. Enjoy making your Ted sequels/knockoffs, executives.
12. THE BOURNE LEGACY - $110m
It could've been a smooth transition a la the Bond series, but it's quite clear that what needed the film to work was Matt Damon calling Tony Gilroy and telling him that the script is shit and he'll never work again if this goes into production. An underperformer, but not much is lost.
13. THE CAMPAIGN - $85m
About the standard for this type of movie.
14. THE EXPENDABLES 2 - $82m
I think what hurt the film more than anything was the buzz that it might have been shooting for a PG-13.
15. DARK SHADOWS - $80m
One of summer's biggest bombs, as we knew it would be. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp need to go back to the drawing boards and come up with something like what made us love them back in the early 90's. Their schtick of the past decade has officially worn thin.
16. TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION - $66m
Made the studio a pretty penny because of how cheap it is, but these are now the Ernest movies of this generation.
17. BATTLESHIP - $65m
The bomb of the summer, as we hoped it would be. Howabout rather than slapping a famous boardgame name to a Transformers rip off and somehow dropping $200m+ on it, we go back and make about 10 films and concentrate on the scripts? Nope, we're not going to do that. All right. Enjoy being in the red.
18. HOPE SPRINGS - $62m
I think this might have done better had it just been marketed honestly. Again, this is the type of film that studios should be working on. 10 of these cost < 1 Battleship.
19. THE DICTATOR - $60m
Pretty much something no one will remember at the end of the year. Any goodwill Baron Cohen got from Borat is pretty much gone.
20. TOTAL RECALL - $59m
Another one of summer's biggest bombs and proof it might not be time yet to remake 90's films. How many bombs can Jessica Biel star in before Hollywood realizes something's up?
21. PARANORMAN - $54m
Focus has found a nice niche with these darker-themed family movies and I hope they keep it up.
22. THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN - $50m
I'm not sure how much this cost, but it's turned into a tiny sleeper. And a sleeper is just what is missing from this summer. I'm still wondering if the studio thinks it was worth it to start marketing it a year ago???
23. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS - $48m
The strangely frontloaded franchise continues.
24. SAVAGES - $47m
The Taylor Kitch bombs continue. All things considered though, this film's performance might show there is an audience for some drama.
25. THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL - $47m
26. MOONRISE KINGDOM - $46m
The closest we have to genuine sleepers. Both did huge art house business that translated nicely into the mainstream, the Midnight in Paris's of the year. I'd be happy if this is what Hollywood focuses on next year. While Moonrise will probably translate to some Oscar noms, don't count on that old Brits.
27. THE POSSESSION - $45m
Probably the ceiling for what we can expect for Labor Day weekend releases.
28. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING - $41m
To think, 20 years ago the best-sellers that became movie hits were based on John Grisham. This era, it's how-to books???
29. ROCK OF AGES - $39m
In terms of star power, this is probably the biggest bomb of the summer. I always felt like this would've done better toward the end of summer, but that's taking into account it would have to be a decent film. Which it wasn't.
30. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER - $38m
Sadly, no film with that title was going to be a hit. I guess we won't be getting Pride and Prejudice and Zombies anytime soon.
31. THAT'S MY BOY - $37m
Adam Sandler is seemingly invincible, which is frustrating.
32. STEP UP REVOLUTION - $35m
Even though this went nowhere, there will probably be another one in 2 years time.
33. THE WATCH - $35m
I'd say the film was cursed, but it wasn't supposed to be any good.
34. 2016 OBAMA'S AMERICA - $34m
A mini-Fahrenheit 9/11, it could continue to do brisk business and gross even more. So will we get a sequel showing how (in)accurate the film is when 2016 comes?
35. LAWLESS - $32m
These decent, slight prestige films will continue to please adult audiences on Labor Day Weekend and make no more than $35m.
36. SPARKLE - $26m
I think the marketing just wasn't there, as Whitney's swan song was barely a blip on the radar.
37. KATY PERRY: PART OF ME - $25m
She can break all the music chart records, but she can't open a movie. Keep this in mind, Hollywood! I hope this marks the end of these stupid fucking concert 3D movies, but there's unfortunately a One Direction movie coming next year.
38. PREMIUM RUSH - $20m
I still love you, Joe. Looper will do better, I'm sure.
39. CHERNOBYL DIARIES - $18m
This was a movie that was released?
40. TO ROME WITH LOVE - $17m
So this is the ceiling for lower tier Woody?
41. HIT AND RUN - $14m
Open Road probably won't exist in 2 years time.
42. PEOPLE LIKE US - $12m
Apparently, people don't. Sadly, proof that small dramas will only exist in the art houses during the summer. It didn't help that the film looked like a love story between brother and sister.
43. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD - $12m
A small art-house breakout. Next stop, award season.
44. THE INTOUCHABLES - $10m
I'm surprised Weinstein didn't try and expand this further. Whatever theatre number it went to, it was able to do stable business and even slightly improve.
45. SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD - $7m
I thought this looked fun, but you know. Ted. And shit.
46. THE APPARITION - $5m
Apparently, there are horror movies that are so awful that studios won't try to get an opening in the teens before steep drop-offs takeover.
All in all, too many bombs. Too many non-starters. No word of mouth blockbusters like Bridesmaids or The Help. I think art house films will continue to prosper in the summer with more stuff like last year's Midnight in Paris and this year's Moonrise Kingdom. It does seem like audiences aren't biting like they used to. Otherwise, Battleship would have made $300 million. It helps to have stuff that other movies don't. Like male strippers.
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