snowpiercer great reviews

While fairly low budget by Hollywood standards, a Korean film based on a French graphic novel with American and British actors, mostly acted in English is getting kudos for the best post-apocalyptic movie so far this year.

Quote: Pacomartin

While fairly low budget by Hollywood standards,

Hollywood has no standards.

>A Korean film based on a French graphic novel with American and British actors, mostly acted in English is getting kudos for the best post-apocalyptic movie so far this year.

Snowpiercer has pulled in $80m overseas, and $2m in Northern America in two weeks in a very limited release (250 theaters max). Because the film is made by a Korean company, they can challenge conventional release rules. It will expand to 356 theaters to cover all urban markets, but it will be released in downloadable format for $15.

The budget for the film has been estimated at $39.1 million, which is fairly small by Hollywood standards, but is by far the largest budget film to get a simultaneous movie and download release.

"Get the Gringo" (budget estimated at $20 million) was probably the biggest budget film prior to Snowpiercer to get the planned download release mode. But in that case, the Mel Gibson name was probably sufficient to sell copies regardless of reviews.

It is doubtful if the traditional release schedule will fall apart for major films. Boycotts from theater chains will probably prevent that from happening.

Movie tickets are stalled at around $8 apiece on average of which the studio gets half. I am willing to bet that the studio gets more than half of the $15 download. Given the large international box office, I think that the success point will be 3 million downloads.

I am figuring in the fact that there will likely be very little aftermarket sales in DVD's and download 6 months after the cinema release (like a traditional release schedule).




I don't actually know what the biggest budget film is that bypassed the movie theaters. The above film had a production budget of $25m. Unlike Snowpiercer who always planned to use theater showings as promotional for the real moneymaker, most films that bypass theater entirely are considered failures.

Quote: Pacomartin

Given the large international box office, I think that the success point will be 3 million downloads.

Perhaps you should be judging by downloads on Utube such as 83 MM for First Kiss. True those are free downloads but they are indicative of a market. How has the 'zero core porn' network been doing? WIGS? It released a soaper about an empowered female escort who talks more to one client than a real escort would talk to two dozen of them. Had been knocked up by her father who fifteen years later shows up and drags her back to bed with a Perils of Pauline ending of 'is the new kid her new lover's kid or her father's kid'. The viewership is amazingly high for this empowered female shot on shoestring in Encino type thing.

>most films that bypass theater entirely are considered failures.
Though not necessarily by those who manage to deposit some money in the bank. Sell it at 1.99 and deposit the proceeds but don't read the Hollywood gossip columns is a good formula perhaps.

I've read the reviews and want to see it, but it's not playing anywhere around here within a driveable range.

Quote: Fleastiff

Though not necessarily by those who manage to deposit some money in the bank. Sell it at 1.99 and deposit the proceeds but don't read the Hollywood gossip columns is a good formula perhaps.

Edge of tomorrow (EOT) sold 11.878 million tickets at $7.96 apiece. The studio gets half that money so they should collect $47 million. That's not a lot for a movie with a $178m production budget, but it should still make money on fantastic overseas sales.

If Snowpiercer sells 3 million downloads at $15 apiece, that is $45 million. I don't know how much the production studio keeps, but I'm betting it is way more than half. Unlike EOT the production budget was much smaller (about 75% smaller).


But I really don't know what is realistic for selling downloaded movies. iTunes lists Snowpiercer as it's #1 movie, but they don't list numbers.


Apple announced that it has sold 10 billion songs on iTunes. Once again they don't list numbers for individual songs, just their names:
1. "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas
2. "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
3. "Boom Boom Pow" by Black Eyed Peas
4. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
5. "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
6. "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis
7. "Low" (feat. T-Pain) by Flo Rida
8. "Love Story" by Taylor Swift
9. "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
10. "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha

Quote: Pacomartin

But I really don't know what is realistic for selling downloaded movies.

Why not ask the street vendors who used to sell the video taped during first run movies on the streets of Manhattan? Street Dates did a special on one long ago. A Lithuanian entrepreneur and a Russian girl. The Lithuanian sold videos of movies filmed on opening night and tee shirts.

Quote: Fleastiff

Why not ask the street vendors who used to sell the video taped during first run movies on the streets of Manhattan?

They have an amazing distribution system. These movies would come out, and be in every street kiosk in one day.

I mean, I don't know if it is remotely realistic to think a movie can sell 3 million digital downloads. You can rent Snowpiercer for $8. If there are 2 or 3 of you watching with your on popcorn, is a much better deal than the theaters.

I guess we will find out if you can make a profit on a $40 million movie without much help from US/Canada screens.

Quote: Pacomartin

They have an amazing distribution system. These movies would come out, and be in every street kiosk in one day.

Precisely! And no such amazing distribution system arises in a vacuum devoid of need or devoid of extremely lucrative markets.

US/Canada screens are not necessary if you have US/Canada audiences already scanning the machine's offerings.