In one of the few shocks in no-surprises-please Hollywood, Sex and the City unmanned Indiana Jones into the shame of second place. That's $55.7 million for Sex at 3,285 theaters and $46 million for Indy 4 at 4,264 theaters. Sex enjoyed the biggest weekend debut ever for a romantic comedy, doubling the $27.5 million debut of The Devil Wears Prada, and scoring the fifth best debut of all time for an R-rated film. Sex easily topped other R-rated comedies, such as The Wedding Crashers and Knocked Up. Which means Dr. Jones was thoroughly pussywhipped. Instead of giving the ladies their due—what's wrong with a victory for females in a male-dominated summer?—the beancounters keep putting up a biased macho defense:
Sex is a one-weekend wonder: every fan of the TV series who needed to see it already has.
Sex lost power as the weekend went along. After a smash Friday opening of $27 million, Sex took in only $18. million on Saturday and $11 million on Sunday. Indy 4, however, improved on its Friday take as the weekend went on.
Sex drew an audience of 85% women, 80% of whom were over twenty five. For some reason, that's supposed to be a bad thing.
Sex is already sparking talk of a sequel, which experts feel is premature until the figures are in on how the movie plays out over the long summer haul.
So here's today's thought to chew on for those who haven't yet sampled Sex: Has the successful opening worn down your resistance to buy a ticket for Sex and the City or do you think Sex will go up in flames next weekend and you'll never have to think of it again?
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SATC or not to SATC? | June 4, 2008 3:17 PM
Is that the real question? So anyone who's taken the time to watch the show with an open mind and contrast and compare with the other female focused shows on TV would see some thing peaking through. Women who think and feel! Maybe not what you would think and feel but you are you. There is a depressing lack of thinking chicks on TV of any age. I watched sometimes. I can't say I was glued to the TV. Unless it's a cartoon or Current TV or OK CSI+/NCIS or some true crime then I’m there.
I guess what I'm trying to say is if you want something better on TV or at the movies write it yourself and see how hard it is to get something intelligent made.
Nuf said-
RockHead | June 3, 2008 11:28 PM
When I was in HS, my mom was channel surfing and landed on SATC and quickly changed the channel and said "You don't need to see that." As far as I knew she never watched it anyway.
And man am I glad she didn't let me watch it. I couldn't care less about it, just like I couldn't care less about RS 1052 (The Hills cover).
All it is is stupid girls name dropping commercialism. It is to fashion what Juno is to indie music name droppings.
Chris | June 3, 2008 7:45 PM
SATC wont have any sexy legs this summer. As Pete said, everyone who wanted to see it already has. It needs outstanding word of mouth in order to cross the 100 mill mark. I think it will have a big dropoff next weekend, and will ultimatley top in the high 80s.
Moneyshot | June 2, 2008 10:36 PM
Fake and shallow women unite.
Come get in dept with us and sleep with what or who ever you want...its ok so long as you have good shoes.
Vomit-
TG | June 2, 2008 9:16 PM
Surely its a good thing to prove that its not just 16-year-old males who have any power at the box office. Now we have a hit that doesn't just pander to a traditional summer box office target we might actually get more intelligent, diverse and mature pictures in our cineplexes. Take note execs, please. PS - Indy 4 might also have been bashed into second place because it was blatantly rubbish and pretty insulting to the franchise's original fans. The last time a Tarzan in-joke was made in a film was Octopussy! And that film doesn't exactly trouble anybodies top 10, now does it?
GoodSex | June 2, 2008 5:25 PM
I saw SATC and truly enjoyed it. I think the movie will do well because there isn't a lot of Chickflicks being release this summer. In another word, SATC has no competitor.
Don't forget, fashion is a billion dollar business.
I want more sex!
noSATC | June 2, 2008 4:52 PM
My resistance is firmly intact. The trailer made me gag. I avoided the show at all costs when it was on, and I would not go to the movie even if it was free. I am female, and I truly hope Hollywood does not create a glut of SATC clones. Regardless of how SATC does at the box office, this woman is staying AWAY!
DAK | June 2, 2008 3:55 PM
Nope, my resistance remains. I could barely make it through a half-hour episode with these narcissistic, puddle-deep twits- no WAY am I able to endure 2 and a half hours of them.
white Elephant | June 2, 2008 3:00 PM
Who gives a shit? Get back to reviewing movies, not box office returns.
miles64 | June 2, 2008 1:18 PM
I am a 44 year-old male (yes I am gay) and I saw SATC on Saturday. I loved it. There were parts that didn't work as well as they could have, but why dwell on that? It is so refreshing to see fortysomethings dealing with the issues of love and forgiveness and getting older. What I liked was that the didn't try to make the "girls" hipper than they are. Carrie needs glasses, doesn't text and doesn't know how to use an IPhone. Few of us can relate to the fabolous trappings of their mostly glamorous lives, but we can all relate to the issue of forgiveness and the importance of friends. It is so refreshing to see these ladies again and to share some life lessons while we're at it. I hope it does very, very well. And this is coming from someone who hates most Rom-coms. And I do mean hate - won't pay money to see them or rent them.
JasonTHX | June 2, 2008 11:30 AM
I was just a casual viewer of SATC. If someone gave me the first seasons on DVD I'd probably invest myself in it. I saw Indy last week, loved parts of it, thought parts were out of the James Bond/Roger Moore era (Flying fridge, anyone?)
As for SATC's success, maybe that means that HBO/Warners are figuring out a way to get a Sopranos movie made - like, Real, real soon. I say, Bring it the F on.