Movie News
Speed Racer Can’t Switch Into High Gear
Posted by Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 6, 2008
The Wachowski Brothers picked a dangerous time to unleash their latest movie onto the world. With Iron Man making just over $349 Trillion at the box office this weekend, it’s set to take the top spot again. So despite the praise I (and other critics) heaped on Speed Racer earlier in the week, it looks like it’s giving Iron Man a healthy head start before even coming out of the gate.
The Hollywood Reporter is Hollywood reporting that Racer’s tracking numbers are settling in the $25 to $35 million dollar range, nothing spectacular for the Summer Blockbuster Season. Since I’m a simple, caveman critic, and I don’t trust numbers since people called Florida for Al Gore, I’m content to wait to see whether the family-action flick can hold its own this weekend.
THR also points out that family movie-goers are difficult to predict, but even with those factors, it’s highly likely that old Shell Head will be back on top for a second week in a row, stealing the checkered flag away from Speed.
Plus, critics have had a hand in hurting numbers for Speed Racer, panning it as the possible let down of the Summer before the first teaser trailer had been released. Even worse, its producers have failed to generate any level of buzz for it, clouded behind the geekgasms that Dark Knight and Iron Man have produced.
There’s a definite delineation point between critics, though: age. A quick look at Rotten Tomatoes shows Speed Racer polling at 38% (out of only 8 reviews), and the major difference is that older reviewers see the film as hollow fun for children while the younger critics are amazed by the visuals and the nostalgia of it.
So it’s not looking good right now for anyone behind the wheel of the Mach 5, but the bright side is that while it’s failing to see massive numbers, it’s still set to recoup it’s entire $100 million budget and see a strong showing internationally. Still, there’s little reason to believe that it will be strong enough to knock Iron Man from its place at the top.
Read more articles by Cole Abaius
4 Comments
May 6th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
For me, I’m not looking forward to this film. What I am looking forward to though is checking this film out on the new DLP theatres we have downtown. It’ll totally be massive amounts of eyecandy.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Speed Racer will knock Iron Man down to No.2 no prob.
It will gross in the upper 70 mil range and will be the next huge blockbuster taking everyone by surprise.
The film will ultimatly gross more than Iron Man in the longrun.
If you goto Box Office Mojo you can allready see that there’s a 30% drop in sales for Iron Man.
The kids will make Speed Racer huge and the toy franchise from this film will also be insane.
I’m glad Iron Man made the bulk of its money quick because its all downhill from here.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Wow, saying that Speed Racer will do better than Iron Man is a VERY bold statement. I don’t think Speed Racer has much of a chance if only because of the marketing of the movie and the narrowness of the fan base. I watch my fair share of TV and I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I have seen a Speed Racer trailer. Now I have not seen Iron Man, because of a promise to wait and watch it with friends, a decision I am now very much regretting, so I have no basis for either movie. I also have about as much knowledge of Speed Racer as I do with Iron Man and in saying that, I am WAY more interrested in watching how Robert Downy Jr. does in his role over ummmmm…. John Goodman and uhhhhhh… Susan Sarandon? (I had to go onto IMDB to see who was even IN the movie)
May 6th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
We’ll I could look like a fool come Monday but if Iron Man does kick Speeds ass I won’t mind too much cause Iron Man was real good.
Speed Racer’s going to be huge for ALL kids that have parents (In the northern Hemisphere).
I also predict some kids will have “problems” handling the intense colors and could get sick. (a,G rated cloverfield side effect).
Well I’ll be here come next monday to take the heat. :_/