How Badly Is Hancock Gonna Flop? [Archive]

Neverending

06-30-2008, 12:05 PM

When the trailer premiered I said, "it looks okay...I guess. Let's wait till more footage is released." Well...the movie comes out this week and I keep seeing the same footage. Secondly, what exactly is this movie about? I understand that it's about a drunk superhero...but who's the villain, what does Hancock do to save the day, why isn't Charlize Theron in the trailers, etc?

:confused:

Oh, and...

KvUcdlQtpX8

shained

06-30-2008, 12:19 PM

I actually think its really good and a few of my m8s have said they'll come watch it when its released on Wednesday....but they normally can't be trusted lol

Tornado

06-30-2008, 12:24 PM

Will Smith is a big name and it's the 4th of July weekend, so I imagine it's first five/six-day total will be pretty huge. But I think we're going to see a tremendous drop-off after the bad word-of-mouth spreads.

RedVader 2004

06-30-2008, 12:26 PM

Um its Will Smith so it will do well and its the 4th of July Weekend movie but Wanted could steal some of its money but i see an atleast 5 day total of 80 million opening weekend numbers.
The story is about this guy who wakes up with superpowers but along teh way he didn't give a **** about being the next superman man and has drinking and attitude problems. He is the most hated super hero. Basically i think he is suppose to loose his powers slowly and become mortal and maybe could die not sure more then that.
It has wanted and Hellboy 2 to deal with so i agree a drop off will happen.

JBond

06-30-2008, 12:41 PM

We don't know what it's about? There's no cookie-cutter comicbook villian? Oh, no! Let's stay away from it!

DragnFire22

06-30-2008, 12:43 PM

Will Smith + 4th of July + Action/Comedy = $$$

Dracula

06-30-2008, 01:28 PM

MasterChief117

06-30-2008, 02:11 PM

Will Smith=Mr. July. Ever movie in the summer, during July that has his name on it is usually always good. Not nearly excited for this movie as I should be though.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 02:14 PM

Will Smith=Mr. July. Ever movie in the summer, during July that has his name on it is usually always good. Not nearly excited for this movie as I should be though.

Oh yeah...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/31/Wild_wild_west_poster.jpg

sshuttari

06-30-2008, 02:16 PM

I was pretty excited for it... But now it seems like from the early reviews the movie is a real mess.

I will still check it out, but I don't have hope that the film will be as good as everyone was expecting it to be.

MasterChief117

06-30-2008, 02:17 PM

Oh yeah...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/31/Wild_wild_west_poster.jpg

The movie still made its fair share in the box office.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 02:19 PM

The movie still made its fair share in the box office.

It didn't make its money back domestically, and it sure as hell wasn't any good

halo7

06-30-2008, 02:23 PM

But it had a giant mechanical spider! How could it go wrong?

SnoBorderZero

06-30-2008, 02:28 PM

I don't have any interest in this. I'll go watch Wall-E instead.

MasterChief117

06-30-2008, 02:28 PM

But it had a giant mechanical spider! How could it go wrong?

and a guy in a freaking steam powered wheel chair.

Scorpio82

06-30-2008, 02:33 PM

I've heard lots of people talking about seeing it while standing in line at the theater. I think they like the fact that it's about Will Smith drinking, flying, smashing stuff, and throwing whales. There's definitely more positive hype around it than Wanted, even if the reviews don't comply. Bad word-of-mouth may take it down in the second week, but it's definitely not going to flop.

Knerys

06-30-2008, 02:38 PM

I like the concept. Though early trailers made it out to be like a comedy and now it seems much more dark. I'm wondering if this is a case of misguided expectations.

moviebuff801

06-30-2008, 03:01 PM

Despite my trepidation concerning the measly running time of 92 minutes and the bad reviews so far, I'm still looking forward to this. It certainly looks better than the mediocre I Am Legend, and I find its apparent tonal shift throughout its three acts pretty interesting.

Plus, it's Will Smith as a superhero; they had me hooked when I first read that they were making it. There's no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this will make money, plus I think some people may be overestimating Hellboy II a little.

I'll be seeing this either Wednsday or Friday.

Knerys

06-30-2008, 03:14 PM

Hellboy is greating some great reviews. And never underestimate the power of Ron Pearlman. ;)

Doomsday

06-30-2008, 03:23 PM

I don't wanna see this but I figured it would do really well. I never thought it wouldn't.

Knerys

06-30-2008, 03:52 PM

As for seeing it...I'm kinda on the fence. I like Smith but have to admit it's not terribly high on my list. But that concept tugs at me a little.

Neverending

06-30-2008, 04:23 PM

We don't know what it's about? There's no cookie-cutter comicbook villian? Oh, no! Let's stay away from it!

Oh, come on. :( The fact that we only know that it's about a drunk superhero doesn't alarm you? Don't you think the studio realizes that the movie sucks are trying to show as little footage as possible?

shained

06-30-2008, 04:45 PM

I'm mostly looking forward to it

EDIT
Just looked through Rottentomatoes and... maybe not so much...

I still think it will make money though, if Will Smith can make I Am Legend a huge hit this should work out fine.

Lol i find it quite funny that you can suddenly go from looking forward to a film and then being instantly turned off by what people say. I always think a person should make their own judgments and not be influenced by critics

Dracula

06-30-2008, 04:45 PM

Oh, come on. :( The fact that we only know that it's about a drunk superhero doesn't alarm you? Don't you think the studio realizes that the movie sucks are trying to show as little footage as possible?

or that they're finally trying to put out a trailer that doesn't give away everything before anyone sees it.

Fanible

06-30-2008, 04:48 PM

I could tell you pretty much how the entire movie goes down - and I've been trying to avoid most of it's trailers and TV spots.

I thought it was playing it smart avoiding most of the plot in the first trailer. I felt that changed quite a bit with the later trailers and tv spots.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 04:50 PM

Lol i find it quite funny that you can suddenly go from looking forward to a film and then being instantly turned off by what people say. I always think a person should make their own judgments and not be influenced by critics

If I were a richer man with more time on my hands I'd make up my own mind about every movie that came out, but I just can't afford to go see everything Hollywood puts out. I already went to The Happening against the critics advice, and with this I don't have The Incredible Hulk to sneak into if it sucks. I'm still kind of curious and will probably end up going, but I'm not as excited as I was. I would like to wait for more reviews.

Neverending

06-30-2008, 04:51 PM

or that they're finally trying to put out a trailer that doesn't give away everything before anyone sees it.

This trailer is the opposite of that. It doesn't tell you anything. So...in an age where tickets cost 10 dollars it would be nice to have an idea of what the movie is about.

Fanible

06-30-2008, 04:55 PM

What trailers have you guys been seeing? I'm mad they've given away as much as they have.

*Minor spoilers for those who have avoided everything*
The movie is about the drunken, fallen out of touch "superhero" Hancock, who somewhat tries to do the right thing through the pressure of his "friends," but is usually drunk and out of it during his attempts of help. The authorities want him for his destruction and chaos, which they feel probably worsens the situations more than it helps. After his friend and his friend's girlfriend (presumed) do some coercing, he decides to give himself up. While in jail, and while sobering up, he realizes some of the errors in his ways.

All the while, an evil villain, whom if you really don't know who it is by now, I'll not say who it is, is plotting some evil plan to do something.... well, evil - while Hancock's in custody, and out of the way because no one wants his "help" anymore. The evil villain, who also was one of the ones to coerce him to give himself up, so he'd be out of the way, since no one wanted him to be "helping."

So, with the new trouble at hand, and the authorities realizing the only one who can stop it is Hancock, they request that he help and be released, and try to additionally clean up his act.

AT LEAST, that's what I'm assuming goes down. I got all this from the couple trailers I've seen alone.

shained

06-30-2008, 04:56 PM

If I were a richer man with more time on my hands I'd make up my own mind about every movie that came out, but I just can't afford to go see everything Hollywood puts out. I already went to The Happening against the critics advice, and with this I don't have The Incredible Hulk to sneak into if it sucks. I'm still kind of curious and will probably end up going, but I'm not as excited as I was. I would like to wait for more reviews.

The Happening did look awful lol I now have even less interest in seeing it after a friend ruined the twist on me. I will be seeing Hancock sometime this week i think as it looks pretty funny. Have the reviews been that bad?

This trailer is the opposite of that. It doesn't tell you anything. So...in an age where tickets cost 10 dollars it would be nice to have an idea of what the movie is about.

I agree with Drac on this aspect, its quite refreshing not having the majority of a film ruined by a trailer. Nothing annoys me more when the whole story and ending can be ascertained just by watching a trailer

Neverending

06-30-2008, 05:02 PM

What trailers have you been seeing? I'm mad they've given away as much as they have.

All the trailers have shown is that Hancock is a drunk, goes to jail, and returns to save the day. You may think that's enough but it's not. Look at it this way...imagine in 2002 if the trailer for Spider-Man was just "Peter Parker gets spider powers, he uses it to buy a car, his uncle dies, and now he uses the powers for good." That's it. No MJ. No Green Goblin. Nothing. Just that. Wouldn't you be like, "um...what exactly is this movie about?" All they are doing is giving you a character description. That's it. That's all the trailer is. A character description.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 05:05 PM

The Happening did look awful lol I now have even less interest in seeing it after a friend ruined the twist on me. I will be seeing Hancock sometime this week i think as it looks pretty funny. Have the reviews been that bad?

With 23 reviews in it's currently at 30% on RT with comments like "A clumsily executed, forgettable mess that's too dark for kids, too dull for teens and too dumb for adults" and "If Will Smith can pull off this hodgepodge of a movie, an ill-conceived poorly executed effort that tries to be all things to all people, then he really is Hollywood's most bankable star."

It sounds like this may have been test screened to oblivion in post production, it should also be noted that most of the more prestigious print reviewers have yet to weigh in. I'm still on the fence.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 05:06 PM

Fanible

06-30-2008, 05:06 PM

All the trailers have shown is that Hancock is a drunk, goes to jail, and returns to save the day. You may think that's enough but it's not. Look at it this way...imagine in 2002 if the trailer for Spider-Man was just "Peter Parker gets spider powers, he uses it to buy a car, his uncle dies, and now he uses the powers for good." That's it. No MJ. No Green Goblin. Nothing. Just that. Wouldn't you be like, "um...what exactly is this movie about?" All they are doing is giving you a character description. That's it. That's all the trailer is. A character description.

So you, like, just skipped everything else in my post then? I know much more than that.

And I agree with Dracula. Trailers that don't give away too much is FAR better. Trailers nowadays piss me off with how much detail they give. I don't want to see a condensed version of the movie itself. I just need a light taste, preview.

The first trailer for Hancock sold me, because it peaked my interest enough, but also didn't give anything away.

But let's flip the coin here. Can YOU imagine what Fight Club would have been like if it showed far more into the movie, other than it simply being about a "Fight Club"? One of the best parts of Fight Club was how little you knew about it going in. It was one of the first movies that made me realize even more how much I hate overly descriptive trailers.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 05:08 PM

So you, like, just skipped everything else in my post then? I know much more than that.

not sure what trailers you've been seeing, all I've really seen in the advertising is him destroying a train, tossing a whale, and flying through an overpass sign.

shained

06-30-2008, 05:09 PM

With 23 reviews in it's currently at 30% on RT with comments like "A clumsily executed, forgettable mess that's too dark for kids, too dull for teens and too dumb for adults" and "If Will Smith can pull off this hodgepodge of a movie, an ill-conceived poorly executed effort that tries to be all things to all people, then he really is Hollywood's most bankable star."

It sounds like this may have been test screened to oblivion in post production, it should also be noted that most of the more prestigious print reviewers have yet to weigh in. I'm still on the fence.

I'll still be going to see it but some of them comments are what i feared could be the films downside. I hate it when a film decides to sit on the fence, only one at the minute that springs to mind is The Cave, and tries to get more money out of a pg13/12a rating. Even if released on dvd as the more darker 15/r rated film the damage will have already been done

Fanible

06-30-2008, 05:12 PM

not sure what trailers you've been seeing, all I've really seen in the advertising is him destroying a train, tossing a whale, and flying through an overpass sign.

Well I certainly didn't pull all of that stuff out of my ass.

What you just described, that's all I saw in the first trailer alone.
I've seen far more than that in the following trailers and TV spots.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 05:14 PM

Well I certainly didn't pull all of that stuff out of my ass.

The fact that I probably haven't seen a commercial sponsored TV show in the last month might have something to do with my ignorance.

Fanible

06-30-2008, 05:16 PM

If you're still in the dark on most of those points, don't read it. You're probably better off, if you plan to see the movie.

I want to see it, and have wanted to since the first trailer, but the early reviews have made me a bit weary. Like your reply to shained, if I were a rich man, I wouldn't care and would just go see it anyway. But I'm not, so I try to pick the movies I see in the theatre carefully. Especially with gas prices as well these days.

Unless I can see a movie for free, I can't just "go see it anyway and judge it for myself." The only time I can do that is when movies are out on DVD.

shained

06-30-2008, 05:16 PM

The only trailer i've seen is the first released one and i'm happy to stay away from any others. I haven't read your post Fanible as it looked as if you was gonna go on about the trailers and i'd rather not know lol.

Neverending

06-30-2008, 05:17 PM

But let's flip the coin here. Can YOU imagine what Fight Club would have been like if it showed far more into the movie, other than it simply being about a "Fight Club"?

Fight Club didn't need a trailer. All it needed was text saying, "Brad Pitt & David Fincher".

shained

06-30-2008, 05:18 PM

Fight Club didn't need a trailer. All it needed was text saying, "Brad Pitt & David Fincher".

From a box office perspective all Hancock needs is text saying, "Will Smith"

Neverending

06-30-2008, 05:20 PM

From a box office perspective all Hancock needs is text saying, "Will Smith"

Not after Wild, Wild West.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 05:20 PM

Fight Club didn't need a trailer. All it needed was text saying, "Brad Pitt & David Fincher".

and all this really needed was an executive saying "Bad Santa meets Spider-Man with Will Smith"

Fanible

06-30-2008, 05:20 PM

Fight Club didn't need a trailer. All it needed was text saying, "Brad Pitt & David Fincher".

The point still remains.

And my post regarding the plot does as well. I know who the villain is, and I know how the story plays out.

Tornado

06-30-2008, 05:24 PM

Not after Wild, Wild West.

Which came out nine years ago; I think it has been largely forgotten by the majority of the movie-going public.

Dracula

06-30-2008, 05:26 PM

Which came out nine years ago; I think it has been largely forgotten by the majority of the movie-going public.

Not after Men in Black 2

shained

06-30-2008, 05:28 PM

Not after Wild, Wild West.

I Am Legend Worldwide: $584,137,442
TPOH Worldwide: $307,069,059 Budget $55 million
Hitch Worldwide: $368,100,420 Budget $70 million
Shark Tale Worldwide: $367,275,019 Budget $75 million
I, Robot Worldwide: $347,234,916 Budget $120 million
Bad Boys 2 Worldwide: $273,339,556 Budget $130 million
MIB 2 Worldwide: $441,818,803 Budget $140 million
Ali and Bagger Vance the 2 immediate choices after WWW failed to recoup there budget but since then look at the figures. The man is box office gold, WWW was awful and a complete was of my time and money but he's been forgiven by me and by the looks at the B.O figures by everyone else. The WWW argument is non-existent anymore

Ewok Droppings

06-30-2008, 05:37 PM

I'm looking forward to this actually. Maybe because I don't care if it's completely pointless and not some oscar attempt. It is what it is, and my guess is that it will do fine in it's own respect.

jbailey84

06-30-2008, 06:08 PM

when i first saw the trailer it looked iffy to me. still does.

i'll only see this if someone pays for my ticket. i like Will Smith, but im not sure about this one.

Where's my elephant?

06-30-2008, 09:35 PM

It won't flop even if word of mouth hurts it next weekend. Sony will make probably twice what it makes overseas so I wouldn't cry for the torch lady here.

Scorpio82

06-30-2008, 11:29 PM

Will Smith's immortal. No bad movie can kill him.

sshuttari

07-06-2008, 02:13 PM

104 Million box office return... yeah he is the king of B.O. and it seems like he won't stop from having people come too see his movies either anytime soon.

MasterChief117

07-06-2008, 08:53 PM

Yeah, movie was okay and it pulled in enough numbers to probably pass its budget easily.

Diablo

07-06-2008, 09:08 PM

Wait, people thought this was going to flop? You might think it's a bad movie. But come on, Will Smith, in the summer, action movie? People will go. Everyone loves Will Smith.

MasterChief117

07-06-2008, 09:18 PM

A lot of people thought this would flop. I didn't think it would flop, I mean Will Smith is Mr. July.

SnoBorderZero

07-06-2008, 09:25 PM

It may be another box office success for him, but it's also another crap movie for him to add to his resume. If I'm Smith, I'm thinking I've already made loads of money, maybe I should focus on making an actually good movie?

CitizenSteel

07-06-2008, 09:25 PM

the thread creator looks like an ass now.

yeah a crap movie that made the studio alot of money. I'm pretty sure thats the only thing the studios are looking for.

having it on hisresume ain't going to do anything but mkae studios more money.

Diablo

07-06-2008, 09:30 PM

SnoBorderZero

07-06-2008, 09:34 PM

I liked it. :meanie:

That's fine, I'm knocking Smith here. The man can act, his performance in I am Legend is a sure sign of that. So why does he pick stupid movies still? The guy needs to take on some real roles in quality movies.

CitizenSteel

07-06-2008, 09:41 PM

so go watch Ali,yeesh.

Diablo

07-06-2008, 09:45 PM

That's fine, I'm knocking Smith here. The man can act, his performance in I am Legend is a sure sign of that. So why does he pick stupid movies still?
No I know what you meant. I just think it's a matter of opinion. I mean, sure you probably didn't like the movie, and most of the critics didn't like it either. But to me it was a good movie and there are others who think it was a good movie as well, so like I said a matter of opinion.

The guy needs to take on some real roles in quality movies.
I don't know where it says that you HAVE to come in dramas if you are a good actor. He has had his share of dramas. (Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness come to mind) I just think this makes him even that more versatile.

SnoBorderZero

07-06-2008, 09:48 PM

so go watch Ali,yeesh.

I have which makes me wonder why he doesn't make more like it.

CitizenSteel

07-06-2008, 11:25 PM

pursuit of happyness.

Hitch was also a good film.

sshuttari

07-07-2008, 12:09 AM

so I was wrong it's actually 107 million... yeah i know big difference

RedVader 2004

07-07-2008, 12:15 AM

I Robot was a good performance fromhim if ask me.

Knerys

07-07-2008, 12:52 AM

Will Smith can sell anything.

Kitty

07-07-2008, 12:58 AM

It was obvious that this was going to be a hit, since Smith is such bankable commodity with these blockbuster-esque movies. Personally I believe that after Hellboy II and even more importantly The Dark Knight spawn out into the theaters its history. Not only because people will want to see those movies in the geek crowd but because the bad word of mouth will finally spread onto the masses and they'll end up avoiding it like the plague

Neverending

07-07-2008, 01:01 AM

the thread creator looks like an ass now.

It made money. Fine. Let Will Smith have his fun till Dark Knight is released and everyone forgets about Hancock (or realize how bad it was in comparison).

SnoBorderZero

07-07-2008, 01:05 AM

It made money. Fine. Let Will Smith have his fun till Dark Knight is released and everyone forgets about Hancock (or realize how bad it was in comparison).

My thoughts exactly. In the end this is just another I, Robot. Yeah it made money, but in 5 years from release no one will remember it.

Knerys

07-07-2008, 01:49 AM

I know I'm in the minority but liked I, Robot, though I am curious as to what Asimov's take on it was....And I believe in Smith as an actor. Now if we can get Smith the actor into a good summer blockbuster, a la ID4 or Men in Black, that be something to write home about.

But I have'nt actually seen Hancock so I guess I shouldn't be talking...

FranklinTard

07-07-2008, 02:42 AM

i robot was 3 separate stories, the movie has 0 to do with the book.

DAN!

07-07-2008, 02:53 AM

the three robot laws were part of the book, but yea, that was about it from what i heard. there was another movie that came out about the same time that i kept getting mixed up with this one, i forget the name atm

JBond

07-07-2008, 03:14 PM

Will Smith can sell anything.

He sold me a Sno-cone and I'm an eskimo.

Knerys

07-07-2008, 03:59 PM

i robot was 3 separate stories, the movie has 0 to do with the book.

Did I say anything about it having to do with the stories? I wanted to know Asimov's take on the movie.

And in my defense it was based off the Laws of Robotics which he did create.