TFW2005 member G1 Evac brings us news of The Last Knight’s strong opening day in China, noted in Deadline.
Rolling out in 41 overseas markets this weekend, Paramount’s Transformers: The Last Knight has clocked an estimated $85M through Friday, according to the studio. That includes $47.9M (RMB 330.76M) from China which, in that market, is 69% above Transformers: Age Of Extinction’s June 27, 2014 bow in local currency. Par puts the opening day for Last Knight at No. 3 for an import ever in the Middle Kingdom (including Thursday’s midnight shows). The debut sets the film on track for a $100M+ weekend launch there.
This follows our multiple previous reports about the critical importance of China to the success of The Transformers film franchise.
Read the article here, then share your thoughts on the 2005 boards!
Raiju
I don't think non-movie toys are in any danger seeing how Titans Return is going strong and was still seeing releases into Wave 5 concurrently with the release of Premiere edition TLK toys. There may have been a slight delay with Takara Legends releases but they also did a bunch of Movie The Best releases (which were apparently big sellers) in addition to Masterpiece and Premiere TLK toys. If anything, it's the new movie toys that have slowed down with more repaints, less new molds, and fewer waves.
Cosbydaf
If the Bayverse ever ends or gets rebooted, Hasbro will cancel Generations and send out a strike force to destroy every Transformer that's not a One-Step. A guy from 4chan told me.
Sammael
The paradigm that Movie stuff makes money that Hasbro uses to finance less profitable lines such as Generations is patently false. No business is run like this. Generations would not exist if it weren't profitable enough on its own. Money generated by Movie stuff results in more Movie stuff being made because that's Economics 101 – supply and demand.
Now, there is one direct way how Bayverse impacts the rest of the franchise – it raises brand awareness in general and creates new fans who are then likely to explore different aspects of the franchise. But even that is losing momentum and bad press and word of mouth may be hurting the brand more than helping it.
RavageX-9
Yeah well I was pretty accepting of changes to the brand when GEEWUNNERs were bashing BW and Animated (I even stood up for the other crap), and all these years I've just brushed off the Bay movies, but like I said, I'm concerned that this might have long-term negative effects, if it hasn't already. Aaron Archer's stated reasons for leaving implied this was already starting.
Like this.
I guess that's not the worst though. What I'm worried about is if they decide the movies are more profitable and the non-movie stuff is less profitable, so they invest accordingly and we just get less and less good things until it's nothing but preschool stuff (or nothing at all) and movie stuff, with, hopefully still Takara doing stuff like Masterpiece, if it's independent of Hasbro.
YoungPrime
Losing the Domestic box office completely is something no director wants to do regardless how good a film does overseas. This was why they were trying to promote "Gurl Power" during that Nickelodeon Award Show that made the TF trailer literally sound like an Alway's Tampon commercial to win over more of a female demographic in the states.
deathzero23
Domestic as a Bonus?
Its like Paramount saying: "Since you our fellow countrymen ditchin' our TF film a lot, We're going to make films for the sake of international viewers, they're open-minded than you."
lolz
YoungPrime
People need to focus more on how this pizza will be divided than how big it'll be. The US slice isn't that big so neither will Paramount's ability to recoup in making it.
YoungPrime
And a lot of you guys love to remain clueless on how much of those box office returns Paramount is able to keep!
I get that you enjoy Bayformers but when your defense for it is as bad as the jokes, plot and human characters, my point stands.
The declining domestic box office is a big problem for Bayformers franchise and its future whether you wish to acknowledge it or not.
Hoffman
Easily? What movies get to a billion easily?
An estimated $60 million 5 day opening weekend doesn't get you to a billion dollars. Next weekend could easily only be 20-30 million. From there the drop-off will be severe. It could very well not crack 200 million domestically.
AoE made 320 million in China. Even if this one matches it, it will have a long way to go to hit a billion.
It could, but not easily.
Omega Charge
I wonder if it has to do with the fact that American imports are limited in China. While we get a blockbuster every other week and don't bat an eye, only a handful make it to China each year, and each of those is planned for well in advance with a dedicated marketing strategy and coordination with Chinese studios and requirements. It's not as simple as just sending a copy of the film over and getting a bunch of easy play.
spiritprime
No offense, but I swear the American public are extremely difficult to please while as those in oveaseas are easily impressed.
GirlBot
Thanks! That looks like an interesting read
Rockdown
You must have mega enormous nostrils
LTprime98
Your opinion
combinerlover
Exactly .
Prime135
Except this time paramount put it in the trailer for the movie!!! The "final chapter" doesn't refer to the story of the transformers, it refers to Michael Bay's involvement.
Starscream Gaga
Yes… and as someone link in that exact same thread, this.
[Wing_Saber-X]
I smell a billion dollars plus..easily.
There D Hood
BREAKING NEWS: Michael Bay leaving after TLK
Michael Bay Stepping Away after The Last Knight
unpunk
I don't live under a rock, and I visit the boards daily. Yeah criticism is part of the fandom, but the constant complaining around here gets old. I just don't get it is all. It is what it is I suppose.