Don't Fall for the Backlash Hype: The Last Jedi is Huge Hit

I do not think it has the staying power of TFA. The financials support that assessment.

To be honest Star Wars movies are unique. TFA was a solid film. As long as it was solid it was going to rock box offices because it was the first Star Wars film in over a decade.

TLJ is what it is... the numbers will not match TFA. After everything is said and done TLJ will be profitable.

BUT what impact will TLJ have on Episode 9?

 

Sequels in trilogies usually make more profit than the first lol. Haven’t met anyone who disputes this general statement.

 

Can we get a 'Shill' rating? With a pic of Watto?

It's so easy to say you like a film, the second you come out of the cinema..

 

This film is in fact very polarizing. As box office numbers continue to decline it is becoming clear that this is not the Star Wars film fans wanted to see.

Latest update: 77% decline compared to the same day in TFA’s run.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2017/12/2...ng-77-wednesday-difference-from-force-awakens

Two years ago, on its first Wednesday past opening weekend, “The Force Awakens” made $38 million.

Last night, on its first Wednesday, “The Last Jedi” made just $16.8 million. That’s a 77% difference, and a little shocking, frankly.

I’m not sure what’s going. Some say it’s because more schools had already broken for holiday vacation back in 2015. Could be.

But there’s some kind of indifference or hostility to “Last Jedi” that I don’t get. I loved it. For true “Star Wars” fans, it’s a must see movie, a really big moment of closure for original fans. It’s also a beacon for the next generation.

Something is definitely wrong, however. Even kids still in school would be at 5 or 6pm shows. And now there are reports that the merchandise is doing so-so business. Me, I want a Porg!

But you can see the discrepancies: by now, “Force Awakens” had banked $363 million. “Jedi” has $278 million. And the gap is widening every day.

“Last Jedi continues to struggle with a shocking 77% Wednesday difference from Force Awakens”

The film is clearly a hit, but 77% drops compared to TFA are not a good sign anyway you look at it. In my opinion the film is going to underperform (in reference to it’s lofty expectations) because it is very polarizing and the numbers are staring to bare this out...In my humble opinion both the way the character of Luke Skywalker was handled combined with his fate left the audience feeling betrayed and sad. Nobody wanted to go to a funeral and the general audience cares far less about characters such as Finn, Po and Rose than they do for Han, Luke and Leia.

 

Empire strikes back had a higher opening weekend. But not many at the the time liked it which is understandable.

ROTJ outperformed Empire.

 

Worldwide Box Office
4 - $786,598,007
5 - $534,171,960
6 - $572,705,079

1 - $1,027,044,677
2 - $656,695,615
3 - $848,998,877

 

Sequel to empire and attack of the clones outperformed the previous film in the franchise sooo I win

 

I hate to play Devil's Advocate, but as much as I hated the movie TLJ, I have no issue with those who like or love it. I don't think it makes someone a "true fan" one way or the other.

To me, I found the movie didn't follow the rules of the universe as we had been described through 6 movies, plus books and cartoons. That said, maybe someone else thinks it was close enough and is willing to accept modifications or can justify the events. That's great for them, on some level I envy them. I wish I could like this movie and this new direction, because by not liking it I won't have a vested interest in upcoming movies, and that's kind of sad.

I don't think that most of the backlash is made from trolls, it's made by fans who used the GFFA to lose themselves for a time and escape reality. Now that illusion has been shattered for them. They didn't want it shattered, but for whatever reason, they're (our) mind didn't allow us to follow along with RJ's vision.

SW will live on, and new fans will get material that they enjoy. The fans like me who are turned off by this new direction will be forced to enjoy the old movies and some of the legends books plus cartoons. At some point, there might be spin off movies that fit into what we like too and some who like this new direction might hate on those.

As far as I'm concerned, people will write their opinions so that people can make an informed decision. I'd wonder what was wrong with me if I was the only person who disliked it, just as I'd feel a bit odd if I was the only person who liked it. However, it wouldn't change my opinion. We're entitled to our opinions, more than that, we're entitled to sharing them so others can make a choice and know they're not alone in making that choice. SW is a pretty grand universe, there's room for all sorts of fans and their opinions.

 

Even if you don't like the film? Odd.

 

Absolutely. I've walked out of a lot of mediocre or even bad movies but being high on the moment. There are aspects of a movie that could go over really well with you, while others throw you off, but sometimes the effects and action sequences leave you pumped when you get out.

My example is TFA. I walked out of that movie energized, I thought it was awesome (minus the jedi mind trick, that brought me out of the movie for a few seconds).

After 3 attempts to re-watch it, I haven't been able to even finish the movie once. It's not glaringly bad, but there are things that bug me or get bored.

I don't even want to watch TLJ again. It won't get a second chance, but I have to admit it had a strong finish. If you were able to get immersed in the story after those scenes that bugged or irritated you, then maybe you walk out giving it a positive score. Only afterward after thinking about all those cringe worthy moments does the movie really sour.

 

How do you even compare TLJ's financial success to TFA. TFA was SW making it's return after 10 years and 32 years since a well received one. I don't expect any SW film to ever hit or exceed the mark set by TFA, but episode 9 could prove me wrong.

 

The problem isn't the fact that people dislike the film it's the disproportionate ratings that cause the issue. As much as people may hate the direction TLJ went with, there is no way it is worth 0-2/10. Look at the films on the IMDb bottom 250 list and TLJ belongs nowhere near the dross that is in that list.

I hated the PT but even they don't deserve that sort of rating.

 

I cannot imagine that this phenomenon is something that happens enough to skew exit polls.

 

in the previous articles being posted here, i think the most alarming sign is that sentence

And now there are reports that the merchandise is doing so-so business. Me, I want a Porg!

 

I'm not falling for any "backlash hype". I decided all on my own while watching it that I wasn't impressed.

But my opinion won't have any effect on whether it is a huge hit or not. It's Star Wars (or supposed to be) - it's bound to be a huge hit.

 

Silly.

 

We have a saying over here which roughly translates to 'even defamation is a kind of advertising' (but it sounds a lot better in Greek since the two words have only two letters difference). So even if there are a lot of bad reviews, there are still way too many of them. As hard as they try the movie can't possibly be a box office failure since whatever TLJ is related to, either good or bad criticism or complete random facts or easter eggs or tinfoil hat theories, it turns out first on news feeds and search results. That's obviously an indication, that at least financially, things are going pretty good.

 

Personally I want a Luke skywalker figurine carrying a fish and when you press a button it turns into a blanket.

 

That's why we have critics. 8.6 on Metacritic, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

I remember this documentary on the BBC, were Mark Hamill offered some prophetic words on the possible divisive reception of Empire Strikes Back. And it was divisive at that time (31:09 mark):

He now said that TLJ is the best Star Wars movie since Empire Strikes Back and that it again would be divisive. Again he is right.