Solo "bombs", so what happens next?

Beside all the problems every one of this instrument has, the point is that every site, channel, magazine, even social media itself, etc..
appeals to a specific segment of the audience/public. Sometimes it may be more differentiated, but it's still always partial...
But, into their own context info are always worth to notice...

I would have loved to see a wise Luke, not a badass Luke, also because - I agree - actors have aged.
But, let's move on. We cannot change the past.

Not sure about a Luke movie. I'm starting to think he in particularly, it's too difficult to handle. Especially now.
But... who may know...

 

I meant "it's worth noting." That's bad typo. LOL
The polls in this case are a good insight into the minds of hardcore fans since SWNN is a site that caters to that demographic.

 

You speak the truth

Yea, any movie based on the 3 iconic characters would be difficult (as Han has shown) and especially with Luke. It could be done, but Disney would need to be careful with and fans would have to open to differences in actors.

 

I agree with this, and it disappoints me that decisions like this are not being made in a vacuum. With Disney owning so many properties, we are seeing decisions made to benefit the whole platform as opposed to what would have been best for Solo itself. They didn't want it to compete against Mary Poppins so the product we enjoy suffered for completely unrelated reasons, which I find frustrating.

What you say is true but you have to go back several years to find those examples. And let's face it: Ant-Man isn't the biggest (no pun intended) name superhero so the $180 million that movie pulled in was a success (it'll be quite humbling for the Star Wars franchise if Ant-Man and the Wasp out-earns Solo). Marvel's trend is rising, Star Wars is falling.

 

I don’t think fans negative reaction is secondary to them with a franchise like this. Negative reaction to one film will negatively impact the financials of the next.

TLJ’s reception absolutely hurt this films take. I was very put off by TLJ to the point that it snapped some of my enthusiasm for the Disney era films (the I really liked TFA even if it was safe and I loved RO). Compound that with the fact that solo hit while TLJ was still fresh on people’s minds it walked into an environment where people weren’t craving a SW film the same way. I’ll get over it and eventually see it and my lack of enthusiasm has nothing to do with Solo itself.

--- Double Post Merged, May 30, 2018, Original Post Date: May 30, 2018 ---

I hated TLJ and I don’t think Disney disrespected fans. That notion is silly. They tried to let RJ go outside the box and create something different in hopes it’s what we wanted. It worked for some it was a big miss for others. That doesn’t mean they had any ill will towards me.

 

I dont think TLJ has to do much with Solo reception. Lucasfilm was pretty bad at the marketing of this movie, they promoted the movie too little, for a too short period of time, and they realesed the movie with a very tight competition. Add to this all the drama behind the scenes that genereated bad press for the film

 

Shouldn't that be reflected more though when SWNN polls the people who read this site? If 8% of people who read this site are boycotting the film that probably means around 8% of hardcore fans are boycotting the film. That would hurt the overall gross a little, but Solo did 50% less than Rogue One. It stands to reason that Solo has a lot better problem than 8% of hardcore fans boycotting the film.

 

I think it was a combination of many factors. Also consider the budget was doubled due to the retakes etc. so the hit wouldn't be as hard had they not required the overhaul. I think contributing factors are....

Fans:
1. Some fans reject the "politics" (pansexual Lando, buzz about L3) without seeing the movie
2. Some fans just aren't interested in a Han Solo movie regardless of the quality/reception of the film. "We never asked for this."
3. Bad press/behind the scenes drama created negative buzz
4. TLJ aftertaste. I don't think its necessarily the "boycott" but the fact that TLJ really did dim enthusiasm for many fans. They might not be boycotting or joining some movement online but just don't have the enthusiasm after TLJ
5. Lack of enthusiasm or not approving of Alden casting.

Normies
1. Timing- Should have been in December
2. I do believe in SW fatigue for normies but not for fans. Average Joes are probably like "Star Wars? Didn't they just show a Star War like six months ago?" Fans have other reasons.
3. "A Han Solo Movie??? But that's not Harrison Ford!"
4. Bad press/late trailers/late promotion/reshoots and rescheduling
5. They are just more interested in other things right now/May release/competing films

When people compare numbers to Rogue One, I find that pretty unfair. Rogue One was released in December (better time for movies) and followed a film (TFA ) that had mostly positive reviews/good reception and left with more of a cliff-hanger and the excitement of waiting for Luke in the next installment. Solo (in addition to other woes) followed TLJ which was definitely divisive (whether you liked the film or not) too soon, and didn't end with the same excitement and mystery as TFA. (As in there aren't really any big mysteries set up in TLJ and the OT3 are all gone.) Rogue One was also the first SW Story so it was a novelty.



Which is all too unfortunate because the movie (to me) was fantastic and kids seem very enthused about it! Now I'm bummed that there probably won't be a sequel.

 

How do we define "boycott"? If a casual fan saw a commercial for Solo and said to themselves "well TLJ really sucked so I am not going to waste my time and money on Solo" is that a boycott? Or is it just someone who simply lost interest?

Needless to say, such a person would not be visiting Star Wars websites to register their opinions because Star Wars just isn't that important to them.

 

If we're going to blame TLJ for Solo at some point we have to have a workable theory.

Theory 1: Hardcore fans are boycotting Star Wars! Okay, that makes sense. A very upset fan would be willing to brigade sites, produce and watch videos on YouTube. I can understand that. However, those same people frequent this site and follow SWNN. Yet less than 10% of people are claiming they're boycotting when they're asked? Well, that doesn't really work.

Theory 2: It's casual fans who are upset, So upset they're just not gonna watch Solo? Casual fans liked TLJ when they were polled in December, but now they hate it so much they're not going to watch Solo. I don't this theory.

Maybe the general audience was never sold on a Han Solo film. Perhaps the production issues made them nervous. Maybe the mixed reviews didn't get them excited about. Maybe there were other films out that go better reviews.

 

With all due respect, you have a tendency to pick and choose which polls you believe based on which ones support your narrative the most (and subsequently find some reason to discredit the polls which don't). Fact remains TLJ currently has a 46% score on rottentomatoes so clearly some large amount of the population didn't like it.

Casual fans aren't going to get all riled up over a bad SW movie. They aren't going to come to SW forums to register their opinions, take SWNN polls or spend countless posts discussing the whole thing. They are just going to choose not to bother with the next one.

 

I did really enjoy TLJ but Solo didn't manage to make me that excited that I need to watch it right away. I really want to see it, but I don't care that much if I see it now or in 3 weeks (although I would prefer now). And we have pretty nice weather right now and a lot to do anyway. It's somehow easier to find a free time slot for watching a movie in winter.
So if enough people are like me, early numbers go down, but it might grow some legs.

 

The Last Jedi created trend of general audience loosing interest in Star Wars.

There is no other logical explanation. Because Solo is a good and entertaining film.
I know many hate what I write in here but this is truth, unfortunately.

With The Last Jedi , Star Wars became social rights justice warrios battlefield, a subversive film experience which are pushing whatever polithical and SJW agendas instead of been relaxing space opera , that puts polithical messages above fun and character developments. I know many hate this, but am sure in this by talking to people with whom I live.

TLJ is, padoxically , a masterpice on its own, but to serrious film, not anymore a relaxing Space Opera.

Many people live in a bubble, and cant see it.

Is it butterfly effect?

Can be, as TLJ triggered Star Wars stall. Many are now parroting fatigue term.

I see butterfly effect not fatigue,a chain reaction that caused lost of interest for Star Wars trigerred by the Last Jedi.
TLJ is very good film, but not good Star Wars film on its place where it should do other role , as it created dissent on all levels, from filmmaker (remember just how Williams hopes Rey parents are different than in TLJ, and actor claiming Rian Johnson subverted original story)) , trough absolutely devide fandom (stronges fandom on the planet), to the casual moviegores.

This dissent is just most visible in broken fandom, but its just a more visible manifestation of larger dissent because fans are most loud as ever, but it repelled general audience, and left insecurity of what comes next.

And not creative , motivating insecurity, but insecurity that make many to simply feel loss of will to watch this kind of films anymore, or at least apoproach them more cautiously. This is no more just a fun.

Last but not least,real Star Wars haters, those which always were seeking for the faults in Star Wars and dwelled in the shadow of Star wars greatness, got "proof "they were right about Star Wars all the time. Many of them, as we speak, work as devil advocates encouraging Diseny to continue to push on in dirrection of self-destruction of Star Wars, instead of crtically reasonig and accepting the reality outside of their protective bubble.

I realised that we "bad fans", or "ignored former fans" are actually not important. Even the people who loved TLJ agree that what happened to Solo is general dissent amongst the general public.Hardcore fans couldn't do this.

Its something else, and I am standing behind what I say.

Cathastrophy?

It is not, jet. But it will turn int it, if the real cause will not be diagnosed, and that is why we must repeat this like a mantra.

Living in bubble, and preventing critics from now on could destroy Star Wars.

 

Forgive me, but on the radio they are claiming that Solo is at the top of the box office in the US (they don't mention the UK market)...

So is it the most popular film during it's release window but still financially bombing?

I thought it was an OK film and the theatre I saw it in in the UK was half full...

 

It earned more money than any film in theaters druing this weekend.Since its new film.

But for instance Rogue one earned 155 million in first 3 days of relese, Solo earned 83 million.(54%)

 

Because when such good film as Solo is, which is honestly in my eyes not worse than Avengers: Infinity wars performs such as Solo , true reason is elswhere.

 

I put more weight in polls that are more difficult brigade. Is there's something specific wrong with the SWNN poll?

You say I have a tendency to pick polls that support my narrative and then you cite the most brigaded score available because it supports your narrative.

It's also worth noting... casual audience wouldn't stop watching Star Wars movies simply because they didn't like TLJ (which there's no evidence to support). Wonder Woman followed 2-3 bad franchise films and was still a huge hit. Why? Because the film got great reviews. General audiences are turned off by mixed reviews and productions issues.

 

Do you speak with real people around you?

Do you speak with people in real world, outside this selection-based opinion moderating forum?(oh yes it is, scientiffically).,just as reddit for instance.

We are talking about real world, I talk about many dosens of people with whom I communicate in my real every day life, at work and as a friends, and they are independently confirming my own feeling,that The Last Jedi changed perception about Star Wars. Minority simply hate or make jokes about TLJ, but absolute majority actually do not know what to think about it anymore, about Star Wars, and that is dissasstrous fact.

Reality.
This is hughe problem that can't be solved by thinking in a bubble.

We must confirm to Disney this is the problem( though I am alsmost sure they know it already), otherwise problem will be not solved, corrected, compensated .

 

Yep. I work in an office of 140 people. Most of whom I know well since I've been here 13 years. The one person I know who hates TLJ saw Solo and loved it. Most of my friends aren't Star Wars fans and they went to see Deadpool because it's funny and Ryan Reynolds is in it. Most of them haven't seen TLJ or TFA. Most people don't really go to the movies very much.

It's not wise to make judgements on people you don't know just because you disagree on a forum.