Of all the summer blockbusters, the least I expected to be disappointed by, especially considering the jaw-dropping trailers, was Guillermo del Toro’s epic creature-feature PACIFIC RIM. Sadly, the usually visionary directors first film since HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY was a huge let down by essentially being distinctively average. Not helped by some woefully written and delivered dialogue.
The film has also had a weak US gross, so far amassing $84 million (plus $140 million internationally) on a reported budget close to $215 million. This put serious doubt into that much talked up sequel. Still, the film was the number 1 film in most areas over the last couple of weeks despite only being released in half the worlds territories and is still to hit in Spain, Japan and Brazil this week. However, a Wednesday release in China saw a record-breaking $9 million haul. The biggest opening ever and even beating the Harry Potter franchise.
There is no doubt PACIFIC RIM has been a success for Legendary Pictures. Just how much of a success remains to be seen but the sequel looks as if you could now be greenlit if this is what international audiences are eager to see. It’s a similar predicament to Tom Cruise action-thriller JACK REACHER, whose domestic box-office gross was disappointing, yet an international haul made the sequel a possibility Paramount Pictures are still toying with. It also proves the US doesn’t always make or break a franchise.
Expect a PACIFIC RIM sequel… whether you like it or not.
Source: Deadline
Hollow Destruction
Feb 25, 2014 at 6:54 am
I’m looking forward to it.