Sequel-itis: Summer Movies
The first days of spring are just here so it seems a bit premature to look ahead to summer. But summer is not too far off and with it, come the summer blockbusters – the big, spectacles that often define a movie studios financials for the year.
In line with Hollywood’s tendency to try and milk as much from established franchises as possible, this year’s scheduled slate includes an unusually high number of sequels. Among the highly anticipated titles there will be one Part 5, one 4th installment, at least 6 movies which are the 2nd sequel (or 3rd installment) and at least two true sequels (2nd installments).
Here’s a brief look at some of these titles which marketing machines have been promoting since before the holiday lights were even put away. Here is also a look at just how lucrative the franchises have been (e.g. why they keep getting green-lighted for new installments):
(Note: These numbers, from BoxOfficeMojo.com show only the Box Office returns for the franchises, they don’t include numbers for the DVD sales and merchandising/licensing revenue which are (for most of these movies) equally substantial)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Part 5 of the Series)
- Live Free or Die Hard (Part 4 of the long hibernating Die Hard series starring Bruce Willis)
- Spiderman 3 (um, Part 3)
- Shrek the Third (ditto)
- Pirates of the Carribean: At Worlds End, (another Part 3)
- Ocean’s 13 (The third installment of Danny Ocean and friends, not counting the original that inspired the new remakes)
- The Bourne Ultimatum (another part 3, and the honor to Matt Damon for being in two franchises that have made it to a 3rd installment this summer)
- Rush Hour 3 (yes, another part 3)
- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2nd installment)
- Evan Almighty (2nd installment of a series previously headlined by Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty)
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $125m | $90m | $976.5m | |
| Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) | $100m | $88.3 | $876.7m |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) | $130m | $93.7m | $789.8m |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) | $150m | $102.6m | $892.2m |
|
Totals:
|
$374.6m | $3,535.2m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Die Hard (1988)
|
$28m | $7.1m | $138.7m |
|
Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
|
$70m | $21.7m | $239.5m |
| Die Hard:With a Vengeance (1995) | $90m | $22.1m | $361.2m |
|
Totals:
|
$50.9m | $739.4m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spider-Man (2002)
|
$139m | $114.8m | $821.7m |
|
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
|
$200m | $88.2m | $783.8m |
|
Totals:
|
$203m | $1,605.5m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shrek (2001)
|
$60m | $42.3m | $484.4 |
|
Shrek 2 (2004)
|
$70m | $108m | $920.7m |
|
Totals:
|
$150.3m | $1,405.1m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $140m | $46.6m | $653.9m | |
| $225m | $135.6m | $1,067m | |
|
Totals:
|
$182.2m | $1,720.9m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $85m | $38.1m | $450.7m | |
| $110m | $39.2m | $362.7m | |
|
Totals:
|
$77.3m | $813.4m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60m | $27.1m | $213.9m | |
| $75m | $52.5m | $288.5m | |
|
Totals:
|
$79.6m | $502.4m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rush Hour (1998)
|
$33m | $33m | $244.4m |
| $90m | $67.4m | $347.3m | |
|
Totals:
|
$100.4m | $591.7m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fantastic Four (2001)
|
$100m | $56m | $330.1m |
| Budget | Opening Weekend | International Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bruce Almighty (2003)
|
$81m | $67.9m | $484.6 |
