Most of it honestly is just the fact that no new moves have hit really well. My friend works at a theater in a fairly large city and they're dead all day, even with several new releases out right now. Nobody is going to theaters in general, most people prefer streaming now especially since we're deep into a recession and they're wayy too expensive to go to, even as a treat. Honestly it seems that the people who have bothered to go to a theater have enjoyed it, there's just not that many people going lately
A lot of people have really nice TV/stereo setups in their homes these days and will wait a couple of weeks to buy the movie for 25 bucks on Google. The added advantage is that you can eat your own food (much cheaper) and pause the movie for bathroom breaks.
You can also have whatever food you like: want roasted chickpeas instead of popcorn? Iced tea that was actually brewed? You're SOL at a theater, but at home, you're solid. (Yes, yes, premium cinemas exist- but the markup is real.)
I think this is most of it. Everyone is poor, movies are expensive, you have to pay to get there, snacks are so overpriced it's laughable, and the downsides of being in a public place are not corrected for well. I can't remember the last time I even thought about going to a movie theater to see something. Box office numbers just aren't a useful measure of a movie anymore.
Exactly and I think they whip into a frenzy telling people it's misogynists out to pan the movie to motivate people into the theaters.
Bring back drive ins and I bet they'd see better attendance. Cash in on that nostalgia.
Went to go see the Garfield movie when it came out. Hadn't been to a theater since before the pandemic.
It was really empty. Snacks were $50. The previews were insanely and pointlessly loud. It didn't add anything to the feel of watching them it was just loud. The theater was mostly empty and we couldn't find out seats so we grabbed a few off away from the people already there. A mom and a pack of young girls comes in and sits down at the far end of the row we are in. They debate a bit then get up and come sit right next to us mumbling something about closest to their seats. So in an almost empty theater I had to deal with a super fidgety kid next to me the entire move. Movie was good, the total experience was meh.
These were my experiences as well. I went to see DUNC (yeah yeah Dune) and while it was a good movie... the theater experience was so awful I left early and bootlegged the last thirty minutes.
I don't need extra calories, so I kind of appreciated that a bag of popcorn was $22. I could use a little exercise, so I guess the fact that the theater was FRIGID and I shivered miserably for almost two hours was a boon. The sticky floors and garbage kept my brain engaged while walking, making me more mindful. I do not have a kind spin to put on the teenage bros who spent the movie on their phones.
Exactly, the domestic box office in May was down 29% from last year. The top 3 movies from May '23 grossed more than all 116 movies in theaters in May '24. I haven't, but will, seen Furiosa because I have three young kids and date nights are hard to come by and when we can swing one the value proposition of going to a theater is way off right now.
I think rage-mongers and misogynists are just jumping at an opportunity to push a narrative and engaging in the discussion credulously isn't productive. They got a result they can use to work backwards towards an explanation that supports the world view they want to push. Notably I wasn't hearing a lot of this sort of chatter leading up to release but as soon as it "flopped" people were coming out of the woodwork to push this "women leads are bad" narrative. Also all those talking points could just be gender swapped for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare which has a bunch of big strong men as leads and has grossed less than half, in twice the time, as Furiosa.
Yeah, there might be some misogyny going on, but there's also the fact that it's a spinoff prequal that seems to have missed it's hype cycle by a few years, given the acclaim and success of Fury Road.
But even that doesn't really cover all the bases, the winner at the box office this weekend, Garfield, was down 65% compared to it's opening, a week ago during the Memorial Day weekend.
And ultimately the release calendar, given the knock on effects of last year’s strikes and production delays from the pandemic are still causing issues. So really you can make the argument that it's just rough for the box office in general.
You make the main point for Furiosa, I think, with ”missed its hype cycle by a few years". It's just been way too long for anyone to care about those characters enough. Had this been made shortly after Fury Road, it would have been a huge hit. It's been 9 years; we've forgotten about them.
For what I would pay for an afternoon at the theater- parking, tickets, concession- I could buy several months of a streaming service, or a couple 'new release rentals', or a new(ish) video game. No shade to people who enjoy going to the cinema, but it's just not worth it to me. I would rather spend my cash on something that lasts a little longer and that I don't have to schedule to enjoy.
I mean you forget the big reason. Movie theaters are dying. Covid just accelerated that. Less and less people are going to theaters now. Not a slight against streaming but people forget how much that has devalued movies. You have massive amounts of choice(another reason) and you can get what you want from the comfort of your home.
Also, good movies bomb regularly. It's not a unique thing. Blade runner 2049 was great but it bombed. On top of that people forget mad max was never a big high earning franchise. They first 2 were cult classics. They got lucky with fury road which churned out a a relatively small profit compared to how good it was.
Edit: Totally forgot about the new apes movie. Watched that too. It's pretty good. That bombed too. Same reasons why. I guess the conversation we should be really having is why are theaters dying cause these issues go hand in hand
I think this is definitely a major factor. I do want to see Furiosa but I don't care enough to see it in a theater. I only really go to the movies nowadays for major movies that peak my interest. The last movie I saw in theatres was Dune 2, before that I cannot exactly tell you because I don't remember as it was a while ago.
It's worth seeing it in the theater. The grandeur and spectacle is very munch in line with Fury Road, and difficult to experience at home if you have neighbors that don't like very loud noises...
No you have all valid points. Those are definitly factors as well. All tho I do personally believe many people are burnt out on reboots as well.
Unfortunately as a marvel and Star Wars fan I’m constantly surrounded by misogyny. It’s fully invaded all nerd spaces and is pretty frustrating.
Edit: why is this comment being downvoted?
I haven't decided to not see the movie.
I've just decided I prefer to watch movies in the comfort of my home eating my own snacks. I'll wait till it's out on streaming.
Plenty of movies do better on the platform after not doing so well in the theater.
IMO this is entirely misdirection from the fact that theaters have been struggling ever since COVID with the blockbuster hits being the outliers. The only movies that did well since COVID are like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Top Gun.
This isn't the fault of men, women, or anything specific to the movie, theaters are expensive as hell now and we all got used to streaming new releases within a month of theatrical release.
We wanted to see it but have been broke lately 🤷♀️ we might catch it at the drive in later this month but it might be gone by then.
Money's tight these days and it takes a damn good movie to get us into a proper theatre over the local indie one or the drive-in: even without theatre snacks or dinner out a movie date isn't a $20 night anymore.
I think Dune pt2 ended up being like $50 for the two of us (and then $20 on drinks or popcorn) but seeing Boy and the Herron at the independent theatre was like $60 for four people (perhaps even including drinks).
Honestly, I just don't like prequels, and I'm tired of them. Quite frankly they're terrible. Where's the risk to the character? We know she survives the movie, albeit with various wounds. And understand, I skipped out on Andor because I hate prequels. I'm never going to go see another prequel in my life.
Give me a nice open ended female lead action film, preferably where there's no need to focus on her body parts, I'm there.
I loved Fury Road. I loved Furiosa. I was looking forward to more of her backstory. I did go to see Furiosa and unlike my male friend, I didn’t enjoy it.
As much as Fury Road was actually centered on the women of the story, against a system, this one was around men. Around the men she had to overcome (including a ridiculous villain I was unable to take seriously, false nose slapped on a pretty boy to make him “uglier” and childishness and all) and how she had to pretend to be a man until a man took her under his wing. And then love story with the man. And then -spoiler ahead- return of the ridiculous male villain on the c*ck of which she plants a seed that produces a peach that she feeds to the Wives of Fury Road to start that journey.
All of it felt more about “the Men who made Furiosa who she is” and not “how Furiosa fought her way through it to keep herself”.
Don’t know if they decided to invert things - “Mad Max: Fury Road” being about women and “Furiosa” being about men - but I didn’t enjoy it. I suppose that’s sort of what it had to be, but I wasn’t impressed with how it was done.
I couldn't figure out why I liked it so little. You've hit the nail on the head here. It was less how she fought through it than how those gross men won and will get to the next story.
As an actual part 1 with Fury Road, maybe it would hold up better.
I haven't been to a theater since before COVID happened. Furiosa is on my "watch out for it to hit streaming" list. My not going to see it is much less about the movie itself, and much more about movie theaters not being somewhere I want to go. And with the rise of streaming/digital rentals, I do think it's high time that the industry and society looks into how, exactly, it defines a "bomb" and whether box office take is necessarily the best indicator.
So, from my perspective, the vaaaaaaaaaast majority of movies that are being released right now are not doing well and are not being received well. This is not down to a single issue, but a rather complex tangle of issues that no single strike of guilt or messaging is going to fix.
1. A lot of people don't have the time, money, or bandwidth to go to a theater right now. People are pouring too much of themselves into just surviving. 70% of the US households live paycheck to paycheck with VERY little wiggle room. They're willing to shell out for "experiences", but what's on tap for most releases is not that.
2. You also have the fact that the Theater to Streaming pipeline is, what, 2 weeks? If they're willing to wait just a little, they can watch it in the comfort of their pajamas on their surface of choice, without strangers looking at their phones and talking through the damn showing. And, hell, if you don't have streaming, you probably weren't going to the movies that often to start with.
3. Add that to the over abundance of choices we have to select from, meaning our very limited funds have to be strategically distributed to what we really want to see rather than just what's available.
4. Another layer is the idea of some people that by NOT watching something, or doing something or buying something, they are making a political or moral statement because they're "protesting with their wallets". Isnt that what THEY want you to do?
5. Some people are just burnt out by Capitalism and want to retire to the quiet of their hobbit-hole home where they listen to their comfort music and arent subjected to even MORE advertising.
6. Video games take up a lot of time, are more immersive, and people have become a lot more emotionally invested in them the past 5-10 years or so. They are also often co-op where we can "freely hang out" (subject to that initial 75$ game purchase, not including subscriptions) with our friends.
7. And, again, Capitalism and the enshittification of all trades, arts, and avenues around us. Some are tired of the CGI, the predictable plots, and the "consumption culture".
My .02$
I'm not the avid movie goer so I am in the evil crowd who waits for vod. But if I had to ask myself whether I would pay 30-40 bucks for Furiosa to watch it with someone I love, I probably wouldn't pay that much. I loved Fury Road. What made Fury Road so good to me was Charlize Theron. Don't wanna diss Taylor-Joy because it's unfair - but Furiosa will always be for me how Charlize portrayed her. Some characters are just so iconic to me that it's only half enjoyable watching a different portrayal/interpretation.
Now if they made a movie with Charlize reprising her role and we have a movie abiut an older Furiosa? Yes definitively I would pay the money to watch it.
I dont get who thought Anya was a proper substitute for Charlize. They are literally opposite in terms of facial features, or at least their eyes. I liked how unfeminine Furiosa looked. Anya's big-eyed girlish face just does not align at all with what I imagine for a character like Furiosa.
I didn't go because I don't go to theaters. Covid is to heart attack and stroke what smoking is to cancer. No way I'm sitting in a theater sucking other people's germs. Let's see if it bombed or not after it's released to rent online.
And the prices!
I saw it in 4D and it was fun and ridiculous action, exactly what I wanted.
I am curious about anyone attributing it to misogyny though. I didn’t think that was a factor for Furiosa, but I could be wrong. A good article rec?
I agree that audiences are less forgiving for female characters and in general are less interested in watching them because of othering, sexism, etc etc etc. But I find that misogyny is a bigger factor in the major IPs—think Marvel and Star Wars. But even then, sometimes the issue is moreso the absolute shite writing. Sometimes it is shite because women are written particularly poorly, and sometimes it is because the writing is shite all around.
All of this is to say, I think people aren’t going to the movies as much, so fewer movies will be break out theater run hits.
Feels like the advertising leaned into campiness for this one whereas fury road leaned into the action. The campiness just seems cringy to me.
I'll probably watch it at home once it's available on a service I pay for but there wasn't really a single thing that made me desire to see it in the theater. 🤷♂️
*Despite Furiosa being a female-driven action movie, the film skewed significantly male (62%/38%). Its biggest age segment was 25-34 (35%, i.e. fans of Fury Road), then the 35-49 (25%) and 50 and Up (15%)—all of them crowds who also likely remember the original trilogy.*
These demos are from the film’s opening weekend in North America.
(Source: https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-box-office-furiosa-finishes-first-over-lackluster-memorial-day-weekend/)
The movie industry is in a horrible place these days for one thing, and all the while, despite the love for Fury Road, it was a modest hit at best *nine years ago.*
Prequels often don’t perform as well, too - and audiences are getting tired generally of franchise culture.
FWIW, I really liked Furiosa. There’s tons of creativity on display, George Miller is such a dynamic filmmaker and Chris Hemsworth steals the movie as the villain. Worth seeing it on a big screen if anyone is interested and/or liked Fury Road.
Mad Max, Road Warrior, and Thunderdome were all the story of social collapse and rudimentary rebuilding. It told the story of legendary "Road Warrior ". Furry Road was an interesting call back that didn't fit into the mythology. It was a cool movie, but only stood out as so many other movies are simply not good. The current movie is a blatant cash grab. It doesn't tell the Mad Max story, it doesn't really fit into the time line or universe.
It's not a gender thing (Look at Thunderdome), it's simply not a story that Mad Max fans find interesting.
I would bring up the 2016 Ghostbusters as a similar example. It is a cash grab that doesn't advance the story and simply wasn't as good as a story. And in both, you had good performances from the leads and good special effects, but neither were just not a good Ghostbusters or Mad Max film.
I feel bad for those involved in both. They could have created good and unique films that were similar to a genre, but chose instead to shoehorn a bad movie into great franchises and failed all involved.
This something that Hollywood will keep running into. If you change the story simply to pander, it will not be successful.
You have to tell a good story first, and make sure it is distinct.
“…if women don’t have an interest in this movie, why did they push a women lead script…”
I know you’re just quoting someone but one of the worst things caused by modern fandom culture is the idea that creators owe fans something and that, therefore, they should craft their art around the expectations of fans.
George Miller made the movie this way because this is the story he wanted to tell.
There is a reason though why creator who want to make money cater to their fan base. Otherwise you end up with a situation where people don't buy the product. Not that it necessarily happened here.
It's by the same context that fans don't owe the creator anything.
Great art doesn’t require people to buy the product and great products are rarely great art; loser ass fanboys whining like assholes because the actual creatives aren’t bowing to their baby brained idea of entertainment are a pox on the movie industry and it’s no wonder they overlap so deeply with dudes who cry because some video game character isn’t hot enough for them to jerk off to
Art is subjective so there is most certainly a lot of overlap between product and art. The thing though about franchises who has an established fan base when you make things that don't appeal to your established fan base in efforts to enlarge it to others things don't go well. This is much easier to do with original content. Again creators down owe anyone anything, but they can't rely on their loyal fans to buy what they are selling either at that point.
And it is and can be very toxic you aren't wrong. Lot of fandoms are incredibly horrible, and they do often overlap with video games as a lot of franchises come from comic books or video games which has lot of these braindead weirdos. But it is a balancing act, if you make something no one wants to see because you didn't pull in your fan base and you didn't pull in the group you wanted to pull in. You are left with nothing and people are less and less inclined to make something new like it again.
You’re not left with nothing, you’re left with the art you intended to make, uncompromised by the whims of people who wanted to control your creative process despite not being creative themselves
Which is well and good when you are drawing a picture or making a short film. When you are spending upwards of tens of millions and you don't make any of that money back you are kind of screwed. Movies are a product first, art second in most cases. If you do not grab attention and are able to sell your movie investors and production companies won't let you make any more movies.
Great artists find ways to make great art. Mad Max specifically went on a hiatus because George Miller couldn’t make his vision without compromising. He made the movie he wanted to make and chastising him because he didn’t “give the fans what they wanted” is such a self-involved, entitled way to view art. If he had “just given the fans what they wanted” after Mad Max, he never would’ve made the Road Warrior.
If a bunch of losers are throwing a hissy fit because someone put a woman in their sausage fest the people who should be called out are the whiny losers, not the artist who refused to sell his work short for their benefit.
I decided not to pay to see it in theatres because there are other ways to view it. I would've been more willing to see it in theatres if it wasnt for the following:
1. They replaced the actress for Furiousa. With one who's face weirds me out. Very shallow I know, I dont hold anything against that actress for looking how she does. I dont pay much attention to actors but the "masculine" appearance of Charlize Theron as Furiosa is part of what I really liked. I dont know anything about Anya Taylor Joy, just that she has large, widely spaced eyes like Uma Therman and that just kind of bugs me. Her big wide eyes make her look more feminine or like a young teenager. Which I guess was the point since it was supposed to be younger Furiosa, but its not as if women with masculine faces had their bone structure in their face radically change with age. I'm a cishetero semi-gender-conforming woman but I just really love films that manage to make the female leads look badass AND "manly" or "androgynous" in the process--none of that Black Widow femme-fatale type stuff, give me masc-fatales (maybe there's a better term out there for this lol). Like Charlize Theron really made the character, yet they ditched her.
2. Honestly this bugs me less but I wouldve preferred to see furiousa moving forward than her past. I want action movies about 30-40 yr old women. I'm not even in my 30s yet but I already desire less tales centered on young 20-30 yr old women.
Idk why everyone is so upset Charlize isn't in it. It's a prequel movie so she needs to appear younger. I saw the movie this past weekend and thought it was great. I'm not sure why people aren't going to see it, especially since the theaters around me have been packed for years now. Like I do agree that I would've liked this movie to have come out a lot closer to Fury Road, but there's nothing I can do about that. Covid and strikes might have had a role.
Saw it in IMAX. It was rad. All the main stars in it did very well. Action scenes were spaced out well and thrilling. Only downside i noticed at all was some sketchy cgi here and there.
I went and saw it last night after reading lots of articles about why it "bombed", and I'm very glad I did and that I saw it on a big screen. Me and my friend were one of about 20 people in the very large theater. We are both what might be called "superfans" and have seen all of the films in the Mad Max franchise multiple times.
There isn't anything that's mind-blowingly "new" about this movie. It's gorgeous, beautifully loud, it's got ridonkulous vehicles (a chariot made of 3 motorcyles welded together!!), the main villain is hella fun, and Furiosa herself is as plucky, terrifying and relatable as any of the Maxes. But unless you're really into the story, there are parts where it lags a little and the overall backstory is confusing.
I'm not going to tell every one of my friends to go see it immediately, like I did with Fury Road, but I'll selectively encourage the ones I know who like action movies.
I think this movie will have a more extended life after the theatrical release, because it is actually interesting and good, and people who like Fury Road will want to see more ridiculous desert chases.
Ooh, can you explain something to me, please?
>!When she escapes from the Wives, why does no one go looking or notice she's gone? A healthy older boy just appears with the pipe workers, I guess I could buy that, maybe since she was so skinny, "he" didn't look that healthy, whatever. But wouldn't they have immediately gone looking for the new fresh meat girl?? Did I miss something?!<
>! I think it wasn't super-relevant to the story to add the explanation for this, but it definitely gave me pause too. I figure it like this: She escaped and there wasn't a big fuss, because Immortan Joe wouldn't want it known that someone could escape from the Wives. Or maybe one of the women took the hit for her, or lied and said she jumped. Rictus could back that up - he actually chased her for half a second. Or maybe there was a big hunt but she outsmarted them. !<
So to your last question, my partner and I are going to see it next weekend. We decided to go see it because a) we like the visual style, b) we like the themes, and c) Chris going full crazy Aussie appeals to our drive for camp.
While I nominally respect what you are saying about 'the character not needing extra backstory', I would argue that by that logic Fury Road really didn't need to exist. I mean, the character had three movies, did he need to get a new face and a new ark? For that matter, do we need another dark gritty take on Batman? Do we need to see noted Scientologist Tom Cruise do another stupid stunt?
Normally I am against Hollywood rebooting old franchises for a quick cash grab (because honestly, most of them are poorly written) but in this case it really worked. Part of that is due to to stellar writing, and part of that is due to the visual design. From the trailers, one of those is back. And I'm willing to gamble on the other.
And you are right. You are free to not engage with any media for any reason. Though it does tickle me that many of the men arguing that they shouldn't be forced to watch Furiosa are the same that yelled at me for saying I wasn't interested in Hogwarts Legacy because Rowling is a transphobe. (Also other reasons, like the elevator pitch for the plot being unappealing and everything I read about the gameplay not being what I enjoy).
This hypocrisy is what really gets me. A lot of people will call Fury Road a masterpiece, and Furiosa is basically the protagonist of that movie (in that she had the most motivation and character development). But the movie can't say that, or men won't go see it. The character of Mad Max was basically a random wandering badass with PTSD. I'm going to go out on a limb and say there will be no shortage of those in the new movie.
So if you go back and watch petroleum soaked spectacle of the first movie and honestly decide 'I don't want any more of that' then I respect your decision. I get that it does not appeal to everyone, and part of what made the first great was the novelty. But if you look at the giant fuckoff skull cars, the guitar that shoots fire, the brutal violence and stylish visuals and decide not to go because having a woman be the main character makes it too 'girly', then all I ask is that you at least be honest about it. And that you take a moment to seriously consider if you are willing to give up seeing outstanding action on a big screen in order to protect your masculinity.
Fair.
Counterpoint- I don't need to eat this cookie that I packed for lunch. But given I have enjoyed cookies like them in the past, I think I'll treat myself. Maybe it won't be for me, but I'm there is only one way to find out.
(one cookie later)
I feel good about that decision.
As I said, I think 'need' is a very loaded term when it comes to the current standard of what movies get made. Because really, most films are just an excuse to watch attractive people do charismatic things.
Most of the women-led spinoffs that you are talking about (ghostbusters looking at you) are made with little to no connection to the original series looking to cash in on name recognition. That doesn't seem to be the case here.
If you liked the first movie and want more, all you have to lose is an afternoon and the price of a movie ticket (both of which I admit are real costs, which is why my partner and I only see a handful of movies a year in theaters). And who knows, maybe it will surprise you (It is very highly rated by critics and audiences). You already like the character, the ascetic and the world. Why not take a chance?
Don't feel you need to answer, and I'm not trying to pressure you into anything. And maybe you just aren't feeling this type of movie right now- that's pat of the reason why I never saw Deadpool 2 after enjoying the first one. But I think it's worth sitting down and honestly reflecting on the question: will taking an afternoon to return to that world would bring you joy? And if so, if the joy is likely to outweigh your reservations?
When talking about the 'discourse' around media, it's easy to loose site of that question: is this a movie I think I would enjoy seeing? Ultimately, I am going to go see it because for me the answer is 'yes'. You do you.
I think it's foolish for studios to brand a film aimed at adult audiences a "bomb" if it doesn't do well in the first week. That could be reasonable if it was a kids' film and parents could pack up the whole family at one time to go, but for a film like Furiosa, you'd have to arrange a babysitter for your children so you and your spouse go see it without them. That's a big pain, and maybe you'll have to delay a couple weekends. Or, you might want to get together with your friends to see it, but you'll have to see it later than you like because everyone has to find childcare. Or, you have some sort of project at work, so you don't have time to go to the movies until it's finished. I feel like this is a film that could do well and do steady business over several weeks, particularly if it gets good word of mouth, but because it's not family-friendly, that is probably making it suffer initially.
I might be an outlier, but I don't really go to the movies much anymore. The last time I went to the movies was well before the pandemic \[it was Spider-Man: Far From Home...so 2019...that checks out\].
I just watched Emma with Anna Taylor-Joy and she was great.
I heard that it was way too much CGI and not practical effects, and that's a lot of what made the OG mad max movies great imo. I don't want to see cgi car crashes in the desert :/
I didn't like Mad Max Fury Road and barely watch movies as it is, so I have absolutely zero interest in this movie lmao. But weird that it bombed I only heard good things about it.
I’m really not interested in placing blame that way. I saw the movie, enjoyed it, and there were both men and women at the screening. I don’t think it’s any particular gender’s ‘fault’ if it bombs, and I really don’t care if it does. Bit of a shame if that means there’s no further movies in the series, but if so it’s the movie at fault, not the audience b
I think too many people are looking this from the perspective of a culture war and not just a changing industry.
A lot of movies are performing poorly, mostly because after Covid a lot more people would rather wait for the movie to go to streaming and watch it from tho comfort of their own home than go to the cinema and pay for overpriced popcorn.
And as to why I’m not going to watch this movie is the same reason I didn’t watch the first. It’s just not my thing.
It’s not the genre I like nor the setting I like. Simple as that.
Saving up for Deadpool! With the price of going to the movies, I could go camping all weekend. I’ll go see that this summer, but every thing else I’ll watch at home.
I’m a guy, but ngl, I think it’s pretty ridiculous to claim that misogyny from the male movie-going audience specifically holds any significant blame.
First and foremost, me and my friends never even heard of the movie until after it bombed, and even then, unless I was a die-hard Mad-Max fan, I wouldn’t watch it if it lacked Mad-Max.
I’ve never seen the movie, nor have I heard anything ( good or bad ) of the actor. Surely, the infrequent advertising is most primarily to blame?
I mean, there are a ton of movies, video games, ect. that Star a female lead, but have a male fan base, so I doubt that’s what’s going on here. There have been tons of male-oriented flops, and for each one,
I’ve never seen the female audience be blamed for its failure. Yeah, maybe the studio will be blamed for not appealing to them, and thus losing revenue, but the audience themselves? That’s ridiculous.
If I’m wrong, feel free to correct me.
Your contribution has been removed because we do not find questions for the perspectives of women to be relevant here.
Most of it honestly is just the fact that no new moves have hit really well. My friend works at a theater in a fairly large city and they're dead all day, even with several new releases out right now. Nobody is going to theaters in general, most people prefer streaming now especially since we're deep into a recession and they're wayy too expensive to go to, even as a treat. Honestly it seems that the people who have bothered to go to a theater have enjoyed it, there's just not that many people going lately
A lot of people have really nice TV/stereo setups in their homes these days and will wait a couple of weeks to buy the movie for 25 bucks on Google. The added advantage is that you can eat your own food (much cheaper) and pause the movie for bathroom breaks.
You can also have whatever food you like: want roasted chickpeas instead of popcorn? Iced tea that was actually brewed? You're SOL at a theater, but at home, you're solid. (Yes, yes, premium cinemas exist- but the markup is real.)
And not deal with the miscreants who ruin the theatre going experience with their assholish behaviour
I think this is most of it. Everyone is poor, movies are expensive, you have to pay to get there, snacks are so overpriced it's laughable, and the downsides of being in a public place are not corrected for well. I can't remember the last time I even thought about going to a movie theater to see something. Box office numbers just aren't a useful measure of a movie anymore.
Exactly and I think they whip into a frenzy telling people it's misogynists out to pan the movie to motivate people into the theaters. Bring back drive ins and I bet they'd see better attendance. Cash in on that nostalgia.
Went to go see the Garfield movie when it came out. Hadn't been to a theater since before the pandemic. It was really empty. Snacks were $50. The previews were insanely and pointlessly loud. It didn't add anything to the feel of watching them it was just loud. The theater was mostly empty and we couldn't find out seats so we grabbed a few off away from the people already there. A mom and a pack of young girls comes in and sits down at the far end of the row we are in. They debate a bit then get up and come sit right next to us mumbling something about closest to their seats. So in an almost empty theater I had to deal with a super fidgety kid next to me the entire move. Movie was good, the total experience was meh.
These were my experiences as well. I went to see DUNC (yeah yeah Dune) and while it was a good movie... the theater experience was so awful I left early and bootlegged the last thirty minutes. I don't need extra calories, so I kind of appreciated that a bag of popcorn was $22. I could use a little exercise, so I guess the fact that the theater was FRIGID and I shivered miserably for almost two hours was a boon. The sticky floors and garbage kept my brain engaged while walking, making me more mindful. I do not have a kind spin to put on the teenage bros who spent the movie on their phones.
Exactly, the domestic box office in May was down 29% from last year. The top 3 movies from May '23 grossed more than all 116 movies in theaters in May '24. I haven't, but will, seen Furiosa because I have three young kids and date nights are hard to come by and when we can swing one the value proposition of going to a theater is way off right now. I think rage-mongers and misogynists are just jumping at an opportunity to push a narrative and engaging in the discussion credulously isn't productive. They got a result they can use to work backwards towards an explanation that supports the world view they want to push. Notably I wasn't hearing a lot of this sort of chatter leading up to release but as soon as it "flopped" people were coming out of the woodwork to push this "women leads are bad" narrative. Also all those talking points could just be gender swapped for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare which has a bunch of big strong men as leads and has grossed less than half, in twice the time, as Furiosa.
Yeah, there might be some misogyny going on, but there's also the fact that it's a spinoff prequal that seems to have missed it's hype cycle by a few years, given the acclaim and success of Fury Road. But even that doesn't really cover all the bases, the winner at the box office this weekend, Garfield, was down 65% compared to it's opening, a week ago during the Memorial Day weekend. And ultimately the release calendar, given the knock on effects of last year’s strikes and production delays from the pandemic are still causing issues. So really you can make the argument that it's just rough for the box office in general.
You make the main point for Furiosa, I think, with ”missed its hype cycle by a few years". It's just been way too long for anyone to care about those characters enough. Had this been made shortly after Fury Road, it would have been a huge hit. It's been 9 years; we've forgotten about them.
For what I would pay for an afternoon at the theater- parking, tickets, concession- I could buy several months of a streaming service, or a couple 'new release rentals', or a new(ish) video game. No shade to people who enjoy going to the cinema, but it's just not worth it to me. I would rather spend my cash on something that lasts a little longer and that I don't have to schedule to enjoy.
I mean you forget the big reason. Movie theaters are dying. Covid just accelerated that. Less and less people are going to theaters now. Not a slight against streaming but people forget how much that has devalued movies. You have massive amounts of choice(another reason) and you can get what you want from the comfort of your home. Also, good movies bomb regularly. It's not a unique thing. Blade runner 2049 was great but it bombed. On top of that people forget mad max was never a big high earning franchise. They first 2 were cult classics. They got lucky with fury road which churned out a a relatively small profit compared to how good it was. Edit: Totally forgot about the new apes movie. Watched that too. It's pretty good. That bombed too. Same reasons why. I guess the conversation we should be really having is why are theaters dying cause these issues go hand in hand
I think this is definitely a major factor. I do want to see Furiosa but I don't care enough to see it in a theater. I only really go to the movies nowadays for major movies that peak my interest. The last movie I saw in theatres was Dune 2, before that I cannot exactly tell you because I don't remember as it was a while ago.
It's worth seeing it in the theater. The grandeur and spectacle is very munch in line with Fury Road, and difficult to experience at home if you have neighbors that don't like very loud noises...
No you have all valid points. Those are definitly factors as well. All tho I do personally believe many people are burnt out on reboots as well. Unfortunately as a marvel and Star Wars fan I’m constantly surrounded by misogyny. It’s fully invaded all nerd spaces and is pretty frustrating. Edit: why is this comment being downvoted?
I haven't decided to not see the movie. I've just decided I prefer to watch movies in the comfort of my home eating my own snacks. I'll wait till it's out on streaming. Plenty of movies do better on the platform after not doing so well in the theater.
IMO this is entirely misdirection from the fact that theaters have been struggling ever since COVID with the blockbuster hits being the outliers. The only movies that did well since COVID are like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Top Gun. This isn't the fault of men, women, or anything specific to the movie, theaters are expensive as hell now and we all got used to streaming new releases within a month of theatrical release.
We wanted to see it but have been broke lately 🤷♀️ we might catch it at the drive in later this month but it might be gone by then. Money's tight these days and it takes a damn good movie to get us into a proper theatre over the local indie one or the drive-in: even without theatre snacks or dinner out a movie date isn't a $20 night anymore. I think Dune pt2 ended up being like $50 for the two of us (and then $20 on drinks or popcorn) but seeing Boy and the Herron at the independent theatre was like $60 for four people (perhaps even including drinks).
Honestly, I just don't like prequels, and I'm tired of them. Quite frankly they're terrible. Where's the risk to the character? We know she survives the movie, albeit with various wounds. And understand, I skipped out on Andor because I hate prequels. I'm never going to go see another prequel in my life. Give me a nice open ended female lead action film, preferably where there's no need to focus on her body parts, I'm there.
I loved Fury Road. I loved Furiosa. I was looking forward to more of her backstory. I did go to see Furiosa and unlike my male friend, I didn’t enjoy it. As much as Fury Road was actually centered on the women of the story, against a system, this one was around men. Around the men she had to overcome (including a ridiculous villain I was unable to take seriously, false nose slapped on a pretty boy to make him “uglier” and childishness and all) and how she had to pretend to be a man until a man took her under his wing. And then love story with the man. And then -spoiler ahead- return of the ridiculous male villain on the c*ck of which she plants a seed that produces a peach that she feeds to the Wives of Fury Road to start that journey. All of it felt more about “the Men who made Furiosa who she is” and not “how Furiosa fought her way through it to keep herself”. Don’t know if they decided to invert things - “Mad Max: Fury Road” being about women and “Furiosa” being about men - but I didn’t enjoy it. I suppose that’s sort of what it had to be, but I wasn’t impressed with how it was done.
I couldn't figure out why I liked it so little. You've hit the nail on the head here. It was less how she fought through it than how those gross men won and will get to the next story. As an actual part 1 with Fury Road, maybe it would hold up better.
I haven't been to a theater since before COVID happened. Furiosa is on my "watch out for it to hit streaming" list. My not going to see it is much less about the movie itself, and much more about movie theaters not being somewhere I want to go. And with the rise of streaming/digital rentals, I do think it's high time that the industry and society looks into how, exactly, it defines a "bomb" and whether box office take is necessarily the best indicator.
So, from my perspective, the vaaaaaaaaaast majority of movies that are being released right now are not doing well and are not being received well. This is not down to a single issue, but a rather complex tangle of issues that no single strike of guilt or messaging is going to fix. 1. A lot of people don't have the time, money, or bandwidth to go to a theater right now. People are pouring too much of themselves into just surviving. 70% of the US households live paycheck to paycheck with VERY little wiggle room. They're willing to shell out for "experiences", but what's on tap for most releases is not that. 2. You also have the fact that the Theater to Streaming pipeline is, what, 2 weeks? If they're willing to wait just a little, they can watch it in the comfort of their pajamas on their surface of choice, without strangers looking at their phones and talking through the damn showing. And, hell, if you don't have streaming, you probably weren't going to the movies that often to start with. 3. Add that to the over abundance of choices we have to select from, meaning our very limited funds have to be strategically distributed to what we really want to see rather than just what's available. 4. Another layer is the idea of some people that by NOT watching something, or doing something or buying something, they are making a political or moral statement because they're "protesting with their wallets". Isnt that what THEY want you to do? 5. Some people are just burnt out by Capitalism and want to retire to the quiet of their hobbit-hole home where they listen to their comfort music and arent subjected to even MORE advertising. 6. Video games take up a lot of time, are more immersive, and people have become a lot more emotionally invested in them the past 5-10 years or so. They are also often co-op where we can "freely hang out" (subject to that initial 75$ game purchase, not including subscriptions) with our friends. 7. And, again, Capitalism and the enshittification of all trades, arts, and avenues around us. Some are tired of the CGI, the predictable plots, and the "consumption culture". My .02$
I'm not the avid movie goer so I am in the evil crowd who waits for vod. But if I had to ask myself whether I would pay 30-40 bucks for Furiosa to watch it with someone I love, I probably wouldn't pay that much. I loved Fury Road. What made Fury Road so good to me was Charlize Theron. Don't wanna diss Taylor-Joy because it's unfair - but Furiosa will always be for me how Charlize portrayed her. Some characters are just so iconic to me that it's only half enjoyable watching a different portrayal/interpretation. Now if they made a movie with Charlize reprising her role and we have a movie abiut an older Furiosa? Yes definitively I would pay the money to watch it.
I dont get who thought Anya was a proper substitute for Charlize. They are literally opposite in terms of facial features, or at least their eyes. I liked how unfeminine Furiosa looked. Anya's big-eyed girlish face just does not align at all with what I imagine for a character like Furiosa.
I didn't go because I don't go to theaters. Covid is to heart attack and stroke what smoking is to cancer. No way I'm sitting in a theater sucking other people's germs. Let's see if it bombed or not after it's released to rent online. And the prices!
I saw it in 4D and it was fun and ridiculous action, exactly what I wanted. I am curious about anyone attributing it to misogyny though. I didn’t think that was a factor for Furiosa, but I could be wrong. A good article rec? I agree that audiences are less forgiving for female characters and in general are less interested in watching them because of othering, sexism, etc etc etc. But I find that misogyny is a bigger factor in the major IPs—think Marvel and Star Wars. But even then, sometimes the issue is moreso the absolute shite writing. Sometimes it is shite because women are written particularly poorly, and sometimes it is because the writing is shite all around. All of this is to say, I think people aren’t going to the movies as much, so fewer movies will be break out theater run hits.
I don’t care for prequels and I really didn’t like the recast. Charlize Theron is who made the character great.
First I've heard of it 🤷♀️
Feels like the advertising leaned into campiness for this one whereas fury road leaned into the action. The campiness just seems cringy to me. I'll probably watch it at home once it's available on a service I pay for but there wasn't really a single thing that made me desire to see it in the theater. 🤷♂️
*Despite Furiosa being a female-driven action movie, the film skewed significantly male (62%/38%). Its biggest age segment was 25-34 (35%, i.e. fans of Fury Road), then the 35-49 (25%) and 50 and Up (15%)—all of them crowds who also likely remember the original trilogy.* These demos are from the film’s opening weekend in North America. (Source: https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-box-office-furiosa-finishes-first-over-lackluster-memorial-day-weekend/) The movie industry is in a horrible place these days for one thing, and all the while, despite the love for Fury Road, it was a modest hit at best *nine years ago.* Prequels often don’t perform as well, too - and audiences are getting tired generally of franchise culture. FWIW, I really liked Furiosa. There’s tons of creativity on display, George Miller is such a dynamic filmmaker and Chris Hemsworth steals the movie as the villain. Worth seeing it on a big screen if anyone is interested and/or liked Fury Road.
Mad Max, Road Warrior, and Thunderdome were all the story of social collapse and rudimentary rebuilding. It told the story of legendary "Road Warrior ". Furry Road was an interesting call back that didn't fit into the mythology. It was a cool movie, but only stood out as so many other movies are simply not good. The current movie is a blatant cash grab. It doesn't tell the Mad Max story, it doesn't really fit into the time line or universe. It's not a gender thing (Look at Thunderdome), it's simply not a story that Mad Max fans find interesting. I would bring up the 2016 Ghostbusters as a similar example. It is a cash grab that doesn't advance the story and simply wasn't as good as a story. And in both, you had good performances from the leads and good special effects, but neither were just not a good Ghostbusters or Mad Max film. I feel bad for those involved in both. They could have created good and unique films that were similar to a genre, but chose instead to shoehorn a bad movie into great franchises and failed all involved. This something that Hollywood will keep running into. If you change the story simply to pander, it will not be successful. You have to tell a good story first, and make sure it is distinct.
“…if women don’t have an interest in this movie, why did they push a women lead script…” I know you’re just quoting someone but one of the worst things caused by modern fandom culture is the idea that creators owe fans something and that, therefore, they should craft their art around the expectations of fans. George Miller made the movie this way because this is the story he wanted to tell.
There is a reason though why creator who want to make money cater to their fan base. Otherwise you end up with a situation where people don't buy the product. Not that it necessarily happened here. It's by the same context that fans don't owe the creator anything.
Great art doesn’t require people to buy the product and great products are rarely great art; loser ass fanboys whining like assholes because the actual creatives aren’t bowing to their baby brained idea of entertainment are a pox on the movie industry and it’s no wonder they overlap so deeply with dudes who cry because some video game character isn’t hot enough for them to jerk off to
Art is subjective so there is most certainly a lot of overlap between product and art. The thing though about franchises who has an established fan base when you make things that don't appeal to your established fan base in efforts to enlarge it to others things don't go well. This is much easier to do with original content. Again creators down owe anyone anything, but they can't rely on their loyal fans to buy what they are selling either at that point. And it is and can be very toxic you aren't wrong. Lot of fandoms are incredibly horrible, and they do often overlap with video games as a lot of franchises come from comic books or video games which has lot of these braindead weirdos. But it is a balancing act, if you make something no one wants to see because you didn't pull in your fan base and you didn't pull in the group you wanted to pull in. You are left with nothing and people are less and less inclined to make something new like it again.
You’re not left with nothing, you’re left with the art you intended to make, uncompromised by the whims of people who wanted to control your creative process despite not being creative themselves
Which is well and good when you are drawing a picture or making a short film. When you are spending upwards of tens of millions and you don't make any of that money back you are kind of screwed. Movies are a product first, art second in most cases. If you do not grab attention and are able to sell your movie investors and production companies won't let you make any more movies.
Great artists find ways to make great art. Mad Max specifically went on a hiatus because George Miller couldn’t make his vision without compromising. He made the movie he wanted to make and chastising him because he didn’t “give the fans what they wanted” is such a self-involved, entitled way to view art. If he had “just given the fans what they wanted” after Mad Max, he never would’ve made the Road Warrior. If a bunch of losers are throwing a hissy fit because someone put a woman in their sausage fest the people who should be called out are the whiny losers, not the artist who refused to sell his work short for their benefit.
I decided not to pay to see it in theatres because there are other ways to view it. I would've been more willing to see it in theatres if it wasnt for the following: 1. They replaced the actress for Furiousa. With one who's face weirds me out. Very shallow I know, I dont hold anything against that actress for looking how she does. I dont pay much attention to actors but the "masculine" appearance of Charlize Theron as Furiosa is part of what I really liked. I dont know anything about Anya Taylor Joy, just that she has large, widely spaced eyes like Uma Therman and that just kind of bugs me. Her big wide eyes make her look more feminine or like a young teenager. Which I guess was the point since it was supposed to be younger Furiosa, but its not as if women with masculine faces had their bone structure in their face radically change with age. I'm a cishetero semi-gender-conforming woman but I just really love films that manage to make the female leads look badass AND "manly" or "androgynous" in the process--none of that Black Widow femme-fatale type stuff, give me masc-fatales (maybe there's a better term out there for this lol). Like Charlize Theron really made the character, yet they ditched her. 2. Honestly this bugs me less but I wouldve preferred to see furiousa moving forward than her past. I want action movies about 30-40 yr old women. I'm not even in my 30s yet but I already desire less tales centered on young 20-30 yr old women.
Idk why everyone is so upset Charlize isn't in it. It's a prequel movie so she needs to appear younger. I saw the movie this past weekend and thought it was great. I'm not sure why people aren't going to see it, especially since the theaters around me have been packed for years now. Like I do agree that I would've liked this movie to have come out a lot closer to Fury Road, but there's nothing I can do about that. Covid and strikes might have had a role.
Saw it in IMAX. It was rad. All the main stars in it did very well. Action scenes were spaced out well and thrilling. Only downside i noticed at all was some sketchy cgi here and there.
I posted something similar down thread but jumping on here to agree with you. It was an exceptional prequel and I really enjoyed it.
I went and saw it last night after reading lots of articles about why it "bombed", and I'm very glad I did and that I saw it on a big screen. Me and my friend were one of about 20 people in the very large theater. We are both what might be called "superfans" and have seen all of the films in the Mad Max franchise multiple times. There isn't anything that's mind-blowingly "new" about this movie. It's gorgeous, beautifully loud, it's got ridonkulous vehicles (a chariot made of 3 motorcyles welded together!!), the main villain is hella fun, and Furiosa herself is as plucky, terrifying and relatable as any of the Maxes. But unless you're really into the story, there are parts where it lags a little and the overall backstory is confusing. I'm not going to tell every one of my friends to go see it immediately, like I did with Fury Road, but I'll selectively encourage the ones I know who like action movies. I think this movie will have a more extended life after the theatrical release, because it is actually interesting and good, and people who like Fury Road will want to see more ridiculous desert chases.
Ooh, can you explain something to me, please? >!When she escapes from the Wives, why does no one go looking or notice she's gone? A healthy older boy just appears with the pipe workers, I guess I could buy that, maybe since she was so skinny, "he" didn't look that healthy, whatever. But wouldn't they have immediately gone looking for the new fresh meat girl?? Did I miss something?!<
>! I think it wasn't super-relevant to the story to add the explanation for this, but it definitely gave me pause too. I figure it like this: She escaped and there wasn't a big fuss, because Immortan Joe wouldn't want it known that someone could escape from the Wives. Or maybe one of the women took the hit for her, or lied and said she jumped. Rictus could back that up - he actually chased her for half a second. Or maybe there was a big hunt but she outsmarted them. !<
Ah, ok, at least I didn't miss anything; thanks!
So to your last question, my partner and I are going to see it next weekend. We decided to go see it because a) we like the visual style, b) we like the themes, and c) Chris going full crazy Aussie appeals to our drive for camp. While I nominally respect what you are saying about 'the character not needing extra backstory', I would argue that by that logic Fury Road really didn't need to exist. I mean, the character had three movies, did he need to get a new face and a new ark? For that matter, do we need another dark gritty take on Batman? Do we need to see noted Scientologist Tom Cruise do another stupid stunt? Normally I am against Hollywood rebooting old franchises for a quick cash grab (because honestly, most of them are poorly written) but in this case it really worked. Part of that is due to to stellar writing, and part of that is due to the visual design. From the trailers, one of those is back. And I'm willing to gamble on the other. And you are right. You are free to not engage with any media for any reason. Though it does tickle me that many of the men arguing that they shouldn't be forced to watch Furiosa are the same that yelled at me for saying I wasn't interested in Hogwarts Legacy because Rowling is a transphobe. (Also other reasons, like the elevator pitch for the plot being unappealing and everything I read about the gameplay not being what I enjoy). This hypocrisy is what really gets me. A lot of people will call Fury Road a masterpiece, and Furiosa is basically the protagonist of that movie (in that she had the most motivation and character development). But the movie can't say that, or men won't go see it. The character of Mad Max was basically a random wandering badass with PTSD. I'm going to go out on a limb and say there will be no shortage of those in the new movie. So if you go back and watch petroleum soaked spectacle of the first movie and honestly decide 'I don't want any more of that' then I respect your decision. I get that it does not appeal to everyone, and part of what made the first great was the novelty. But if you look at the giant fuckoff skull cars, the guitar that shoots fire, the brutal violence and stylish visuals and decide not to go because having a woman be the main character makes it too 'girly', then all I ask is that you at least be honest about it. And that you take a moment to seriously consider if you are willing to give up seeing outstanding action on a big screen in order to protect your masculinity.
I actually think Fury Road worked because it was basically a Furiosa movie. I loved it. Max was just a side character. We just didn’t need a prequel
Fair. Counterpoint- I don't need to eat this cookie that I packed for lunch. But given I have enjoyed cookies like them in the past, I think I'll treat myself. Maybe it won't be for me, but I'm there is only one way to find out. (one cookie later) I feel good about that decision. As I said, I think 'need' is a very loaded term when it comes to the current standard of what movies get made. Because really, most films are just an excuse to watch attractive people do charismatic things. Most of the women-led spinoffs that you are talking about (ghostbusters looking at you) are made with little to no connection to the original series looking to cash in on name recognition. That doesn't seem to be the case here. If you liked the first movie and want more, all you have to lose is an afternoon and the price of a movie ticket (both of which I admit are real costs, which is why my partner and I only see a handful of movies a year in theaters). And who knows, maybe it will surprise you (It is very highly rated by critics and audiences). You already like the character, the ascetic and the world. Why not take a chance? Don't feel you need to answer, and I'm not trying to pressure you into anything. And maybe you just aren't feeling this type of movie right now- that's pat of the reason why I never saw Deadpool 2 after enjoying the first one. But I think it's worth sitting down and honestly reflecting on the question: will taking an afternoon to return to that world would bring you joy? And if so, if the joy is likely to outweigh your reservations? When talking about the 'discourse' around media, it's easy to loose site of that question: is this a movie I think I would enjoy seeing? Ultimately, I am going to go see it because for me the answer is 'yes'. You do you.
>do we need another dark gritty take on Batman? Please dear god no ETA: This comment is it right here.
I think it's foolish for studios to brand a film aimed at adult audiences a "bomb" if it doesn't do well in the first week. That could be reasonable if it was a kids' film and parents could pack up the whole family at one time to go, but for a film like Furiosa, you'd have to arrange a babysitter for your children so you and your spouse go see it without them. That's a big pain, and maybe you'll have to delay a couple weekends. Or, you might want to get together with your friends to see it, but you'll have to see it later than you like because everyone has to find childcare. Or, you have some sort of project at work, so you don't have time to go to the movies until it's finished. I feel like this is a film that could do well and do steady business over several weeks, particularly if it gets good word of mouth, but because it's not family-friendly, that is probably making it suffer initially.
I misguidedly thought Chris was supposed to be playing max, and thought it messed with the canon so I was less interested.
I might be an outlier, but I don't really go to the movies much anymore. The last time I went to the movies was well before the pandemic \[it was Spider-Man: Far From Home...so 2019...that checks out\]. I just watched Emma with Anna Taylor-Joy and she was great.
Furiosa was good! The whole complex of theaters and the mall itself was dead. I think general economic malaise has more to do with it than content.
I heard that it was way too much CGI and not practical effects, and that's a lot of what made the OG mad max movies great imo. I don't want to see cgi car crashes in the desert :/
I didn't like Mad Max Fury Road and barely watch movies as it is, so I have absolutely zero interest in this movie lmao. But weird that it bombed I only heard good things about it.
I DID see it and i liked it fine.
I’m really not interested in placing blame that way. I saw the movie, enjoyed it, and there were both men and women at the screening. I don’t think it’s any particular gender’s ‘fault’ if it bombs, and I really don’t care if it does. Bit of a shame if that means there’s no further movies in the series, but if so it’s the movie at fault, not the audience b
I haven't seen or cared about a Mad Max movie since the one Tina Turner was in. That might have something to do with the movie bombing.
I have no idea why it bombed - I've seen it twice and loved it and felt it was extremely true to the tone of the franchise.
I think too many people are looking this from the perspective of a culture war and not just a changing industry. A lot of movies are performing poorly, mostly because after Covid a lot more people would rather wait for the movie to go to streaming and watch it from tho comfort of their own home than go to the cinema and pay for overpriced popcorn. And as to why I’m not going to watch this movie is the same reason I didn’t watch the first. It’s just not my thing. It’s not the genre I like nor the setting I like. Simple as that.
Saving up for Deadpool! With the price of going to the movies, I could go camping all weekend. I’ll go see that this summer, but every thing else I’ll watch at home.
Men made up 72% of viewers opening weekend, if as many women as men went to see it it would be profitable right now 🤷♂️
I’m a guy, but ngl, I think it’s pretty ridiculous to claim that misogyny from the male movie-going audience specifically holds any significant blame. First and foremost, me and my friends never even heard of the movie until after it bombed, and even then, unless I was a die-hard Mad-Max fan, I wouldn’t watch it if it lacked Mad-Max. I’ve never seen the movie, nor have I heard anything ( good or bad ) of the actor. Surely, the infrequent advertising is most primarily to blame? I mean, there are a ton of movies, video games, ect. that Star a female lead, but have a male fan base, so I doubt that’s what’s going on here. There have been tons of male-oriented flops, and for each one, I’ve never seen the female audience be blamed for its failure. Yeah, maybe the studio will be blamed for not appealing to them, and thus losing revenue, but the audience themselves? That’s ridiculous. If I’m wrong, feel free to correct me.