The summer movie season for 2006 is now officially over and the results shows that while there was an improvement over 2005 the numbers were still not what were expected. As is usually the case moviegoers were inundated from May to August with a plethora of remakes/sequels, big budget action films and kids movies. Forty-six movies later viewers heads were left spinning with too many choices. Many of these films failed to attract an audience or under performed because there are simply too many movies to choose from. With ticket prices at an all time high the casual moviegoer is going to be very selective while even the most ardent fans can quickly burn out on animated films, been there done that films and explosions.
Of the forty-six movies released over sixteen weeks (averaging out to about three new movies per week) twenty of them either under performed or were outright bombs. Fourteen were either blockbusters or big hits and three of those were considered sleepers, movies not expected to attract an audience but did. Some of the high profile bombs included films directed by either great or proven directors including Wolfgang Petersen (Poseidon), Robert Altman (A Prairie Home Companion), M. Night Shayamalan (Lady in the Water), Kevin Smith (Clerks 2), Ivan Reitman (My Super Ex-Girlfriend), Woody Allen (Scoop), and Michael Mann (Miami Vice).
Remakes and sequels were not in high demand with the exception of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” which is the biggest hit of the year. Mission Impossible 3,” “X-Men 3,” and “Superman Returns” made over $100 million dollars but did not live up to studio and viewer expectations. “Poseidon” proved that there will not be a remake of “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” while “The Omen” failed to scare up enough tickets to warrant a “Damien” remake. The franchises for “Garfield” and “Clerks” crashed with a resounding thud while “The Fast and the Furious” scored a mild hit.
Moviegoers couldn’t react fast enough to seeing a family film before another was at the local multiplex. A total of eight films for kids were released over the summer and even they proved vulnerable to ticket buyers sick of seeing the same thing. How many animated movies can possibly be made about animals or normally inanimate objects that are taken out of their element having to adjust to new surroundings. Of the eight only “Cars” proved to be a blockbuster while “Over the Hedge,” “Monster House” and “Barnyard” did solid business. The aforementioned “Garfield 2” along with “The Ant Bully,” “Zoom,” and “How to Eat Fried Worms” proved too much is never a good thing.
Other notable summer bombs were “See No Evil” starring WWE wrestler Kane in yet another killer in a house full of teens film. “Just My Luck” wasn’t so lucky for star Lindsay Lohan appearing in her second consecutive summer dud (last year was “Herbie Fully Loaded). The Lakehouse” re-teamed Keanu Reeves with Sandra Bullock but viewers apparently didn’t buy its time travel plot and stayed away. Tyrese Gibson failed to attract attention in the urban drama “Waist Deep” while Outkast’s long awaited “Idlewild” disappeared quickly. Robin Williams garnered some good notices for his performance in “The Night Listener” but the rest of the film was dismissed by both critics and the public.
Summer also proved that teenagers want their scary movies in the fall around Halloween. “Pulse,” and “Snakes on a Plane” came and went quickly while a British import “The Descent” also bombed despite some strong reviews.
Apparently people weren’t in a mood for juvenile comedies as several failed to attract an audience. Little Man,” “John Tucker Must Die,” Accepted,” “Material Girls,” and “Beerfest” all fell well below expectations.
The hits of the summer included “The DaVinci Code” based on the enormously popular book that Ron Howard and Tom Hanks turned into an enormously popular movie despite divided opinions on the film. Will Ferrell scored another big hit with “Talladega Nights” as a NASCAR driver whose life is turned upside down after a crash. Adam Sandler proved he still has box office clout, as the critically maligned “Click” was a solid hit. Jack Black also overcame terrible reviews for “Nacho Libre” and scored a hit. Owen Wilson continued his impressive string of hits with “You, Me, and Dupree.” “Step Up” attracted teenage audiences and resulted in a mild hit and Oliver Stone proved it wasn’t too soon for “World Trade Center” as long as the story is told well. It was and people responded making it a mild hit as well.
The sleepers of summer were what would be considered “chick flicks” that also attracted male viewers as well. Meryl Streep dominated the screen and may score yet another Academy Award nomination as a boss from hell in “The Devil Wears Prada.” The tabloid stories on Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn didn’t prevent crowds from turning “The Break Up” into a hit despite a drubbing from the critics. Audiences and critics alike turned the wonderful “Little Miss Sunshine” into a hit and is still in the top ten.
Now that summer has ended we can look forward to more serious fare to grace local movie screens. Some of these movies will no doubt be great and some not so great. Some will be big hits and others will bomb. Moviegoers can look forward to new films from Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cauron, Darren Aronofsky, Marc Forster, Terry Gilliam, Sofia Coppola and Mel Gibson. Horror fans can take heart, as we will soon see “The Grudge 2,” “Saw 3,” and” Texas Chainsaw Massacre – The Beginning” in time for Halloween. And let’s not forget James Bond 007 is back with a new face, Daniel Craig, in “Casino Royale.
Ah, yes, the temperatures are dropping and the leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees. It’s a sure sign moviegoers are in for a treat over the coming months.
