Tate Ellington, Robert Pattinson Remember Me
Robert Pattinson's Remember Me grossed only $483K at 906 theaters in North America this Easter Weekend. Average per screen: a very low $533. After losing more than 1,000 venues, the romantic drama lost 75% of its revenues from a week ago; that's a very sharp drop. Total to date: $18.2 million.
About ten days ago or so, it seemed that Remember Me might be able to reach $20-22 million at the US/Canada box office. Now I find it unlikely that Pattinson's film will even get to $20 million before it ends its run, as it'll probably be shedding hundreds more theaters next weekend. It may cume at $19 million. We'll see.
At least Remember Me is doing better overseas, undoubtedly because of Robert Pattinson's box-office appeal. It's no major blockbuster, mind you, but foreign box-office revenues have already nearly surpassed those in North America.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this weekend Remember Me grossed $4.7 million — nearly ten times what it did in the US/Canada — at 2,485 screens in 33 markets. The per-screen average isn't great: only $1,891, but that's a mix of both new and old territories — e.g., Remember Me opened in the UK this weekend; but it has been out in Brazil, Sweden, and Australia and other countries for about three weeks.
Overseas total to date: $17.2 million. A week ago, the international box-office total hovered around $10.5 million. Worldwide total to date: $35.4 million.
Remember Me has yet to open in several major and mid-size markets including China, Japan, France, Denmark, Turkey, South Korea, and Argentina.
Directed by Allen Coulter from a screenplay by first-timer Will Fetters, Remember Me stars Robert Pattinson as a young rebel at odds with his wealthy father (Pierce Brosnan). Emilie de Ravin plays Pattinson’s romantic interest. Also in the cast: Chris Cooper, Lena Olin, Ruby Jerins, and Tate Ellington.
>>>>>>>>>>>Hi Michelle, I’ve been following the comments since the beginning… I have a hunch that this isn’t anymore about the box-office numbers of Remember Me. And that it’s much more about feelings of love or hate for this film (which I loved) and his lead…
I totally agree. Especially feelings of hate/love for Robert Pattinson. Had Matt Damon or Tobey Maguire or some other young actor starred in "Remember Me," reactions would have been very different.
Particularly from those who *wanted* the movie to flop and insist on seeing it that way.
Hi Michelle, I've been following the comments since the beginning… I have a hunch that this isn't anymore about the box-office numbers of Remember Me. And that it's much more about feelings of love or hate for this film (which I loved) and his lead… it's rather amazing how this little film seems to generate tons of comments in its wake. Whether they love it or hate it, people talk about it, on all the threads I've seen. Good for it. I think it's better than if no one talked at all about it. I think you are right though, a lot of it is due to Rob Pattionson'a presence in the fim. I doubt RM would have stirred so much reaction if the lead actor had been someone less known. A discussion about BO numbers should be rather objective, it's all about numbers after all, but RM turns it into a heated debate which extends far beyond numbers. This is very strange… Thanks for your excellent blog anyway!
>>>>>>>>>>>It still has to make enough to cover its promotion budget, which means it needs to maje 45 mil.
Do you know how much the marketing/distribution budget was? How did you come up with the $45 million figure?
Actually, it could be that you're right. In fact, I wouldn't doubt it. But **no one** here has said that "Remember Me" is already in the black. Though I do predict it'll get there, after foreign/ancillary revenues are tallied.
That's how it works with the vast majority of Hollywood productions. If studios relied only on the box-office take of their films in North America, Hollywood would have gone bankrupt a long, long LONG time ago.
As of last weekend, "Remember Me" had earned $35 million worldwide, with more major markets to come. It'll possibly surpass $45 million worldwide (though, of course, there are marketing/distribution costs to be added for the international market — I don't know how Summit's contracts were drawn up for each international territory in terms of cost/revenue splitting; usually, studios — at least the major ones — keep about 40% of international grosses).
And then there are DVDs and other ancillary sources of income (cable, network TV, pay-per-view, etc) worldwide.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Before you say it will make that in DVD’s you have to consider the cost of makibg the DVD’s and promoting it.
Do you actually believe studios spend nearly as much promoting and making DVDs (or cable/pay-per-view/network showings) as they do producing and promoting a movie?
Drop your anti-Robert Pattinson prejudice for a second, keep your cool, and use your head a bit.
>>>>>It looks like you need to do your homework before attacking someone who is only reporting the truth.
If there's someone here who needs to do her homework, it isn't me.
Have you looked at the other movies being made and how much they've grossed at the North American box office? Have you taken a good look at how much they cost?
The vast majority of them don't recover their production/marketing costs at US/Canada movie theaters.
"Remember Me" is no exception.
But a true flop, a movie that'll likely never be able to recover its costs (production or marketing or both), is something like "Green Zone" or "Nine" or (quite likely) "Repo Men."
Not "Remember Me."
A studio only makes 55% of the gross. So, the movie has to make 45 million to break even no profit just even! Box Office Mojo explains it well!
It still has to make enough to cover its promotion budget, which means it needs to maje 45 mil. Before you say it will make that in DVD's you have to consider the cost of makibg the DVD's and promoting it. It looks like you need to do your homework before attacking someone who is only reporting the truth.
I really love Remember me movie. I know is good and Robert knows it. Otherwise he would not do it so I am happy.
Numbers are just numbers, I would be dissapointed if movie was bad and Boxx office was big.
Remember Me is a Top Ten movie. Why all the bashing by the so called experts??? The story,the acting,the cast was incredible. People that have actually seen the movie are raving about it. I went to Remember Me without knowing who Robert Pattinson was.His talent is over the top…way over the top. The numbers aren't in on the box office yet. By the looks of things its far from a failure.
I can't comment on the level of marketing given to Remember Me in the USA, not being a citizen but I can say that it was not given much marketing in Australia. I am a regular at the movies and did not see it preview in the weeks leading up to its release, nor was there much print media coverage. I think it would have done better had it had a better marketing campaign. Everyone I spoke to about Remember Me came away impressed and a little surprised at its depth. I found myself thinking about it long after I had seen it and it will definitely be added to my DVD collection. I think it will do very well in the DVD market.
>>>>>>>>>>>This used to be my favorite blog but lately the articles have been weak.
Sorry to hear you feel that way. But please feel free to contact our editor to suggest articles you'd like to find at Alt Film Guide. Contact info can be found at the top of each page.
>>>>>>>>Some of the posters need to look up ‘indie’. … To be truly indie you need a budge of less than ten mil, not to ever open on more than 500 screens, and have less than three mil in marketing. From what i understand (honestly don’t really care) this movie had none of that. I just wanted to define what indie means.
Well, "indie" definitions vary widely.
Please check this out
http://www.altfg.com/blog/movies-431/robert-pattinson-remember-me-indie-or-not/
It was inspired by your comment.
This used to be my favorite blog but lately the articles have been weak. Some of the posters need to look up 'indie'. Me and my best friend make true indies and it's hard getting them released. To be truly indie you need a budge of less than ten mil, not to ever open on more than 500 screens, and have less than three mil in marketing. From what i understand (honestly don't really care) this movie had none of that. I just wanted to define what indie means.
It flopped and flopped and flopped. Bad writing, bad acting, bad screenplay. Now sparkle boy can go back to Harry Pottie. Oh wait… At least America has Sam Worthington, the best import of the New Millennium.
Thanks you so much mh for the comments. It puts everything back in a clear, rational perspective. BO numbers do not lie, but it's so annoying to see how some people have a knack of twisting them to have their way when they've decided to bash something. There are no "probable" numbers, there's facts which have to be checked. Some commenters tend to forget that yes, others too can add up, and that yes, others also know much better than them how the biz works. Thanks for our great post anyway! :))
I am amazed that Remember me has done better over seas than in USA/Canada. It does reflect taste in movies. I guess a serious thought provoking movie reflecting USA's tragic 9/11 and a beautiful love story done tastefully, does not appeal to Americans on the whole. It shows how shallow most people's taste is here……probably wanting more sex, violence, and powerful cinematic effects, and now 3D.
Thanks mh for the numbers and arguments. They sound good.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Clearly the author doesn’t know how the biz works.
Do you? If the honchos at Sony, Universal, Paramount, or Disney or [fill in the blank with the name of your favorite studio] said they did, they'd be lying.
Else, a marketing-savvy guy like Harvey Weinstein wouldn't have gambled on a dismal flop — and that *was* a dismal flop — such as "Nine." Universal wouldn't have touched "Green Zone" or "Repo Men." Disney wouldn't have suffered a steep financial downturn even before the economic crisis began.
>>>>>>At least $14 million was spent on marketing, probably more.
I haven't seen those figures. Have you?
>>>>>>Summit Entertainment probably sold international rights for between $8 million.
When international rights are sold, studios/producers get a percentage of the grosses back. Usually 40%, but it all depends on the contract. Just because the rights have been sold, that doesn't mean the movie won't bring the producers a dime from overseas. Much to the contrary.
And where did you find that $8 million figure?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>That means that they have made around $26 million. They still need at least $4 million to be okay.
Have you heard of something called "ancillary markets"? That's where most movies earn back their costs. Or would you call "The Bounty Hunter" a "dismal flop" as well.
Most movies don't recover their cost at the US/Canada box office. Even "Avatar" would have been a disappointment if it truly cost (only) $200 million (or so says Fox) plus another $200 million on advertising and distribution fees.
James Cameron's movie would need about $800 million in the US to break even. (Exhibitors keep about 50% of the box office grosses.)
North American box office usually accounts for about 25% of a movie's revenues for the studios. That's why movies still get made. Studios rely on foreign markets and ancillary markets, both domestic and foreign, for their profits.
>>>>>>The movie was a disappointment. It undoubtedly flopped despite being in almost every theater and having a supposedly big name star. An $8 million dollar domestic opening for a story set in New York is not good at all.
"Disappointment," yes. "Undoubtedly flopped," definitely not. "Green Zone" flopped. "Repo Men" flopped.
And I'm not sure where or how you came up with the idea that a movie set in New York City has to open BIG. Especially one that has a terrorist attack as its dramatic climax.
"Remember Me" is an indie — and a daring one at that — distributed as if it were a major studio flick because of the "Twilight" movies. The studio expected between $8-10 million on opening weekend. The "twist" ending had been revealed long before the movie opened. The hero dies. Reviews were mixed-to-negative.
"Remember Me" survived some pretty tough odds. Most other movies would have sunk without a trace.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Remember me IS an indie film…not in terms of plot, but by definition. Summit was not banking on his name when he signed on….as Twilight was not even out in theaters yet.
I added the qualififer "in terms of plot" because I'm quite sure Summit spent much more on marketing and distribution than what's spent on most indie films. Because by the time "Remember Me" opened, Robert Pattinson had become a household name.
But yes, "Remember Me" *is* an indie for all purposes. Even if it opened at 2,000+ theaters. It's not a "studio film." Certainly not a high-concept film. Or an "audience friendly" film.
Clearly the author doesn't know how the biz works. The movie cost $16 million to produce. At least $14 million was spent on marketing, probably more. We're at at least $28 million for those of you that can't add. Summit Entertainment probably sold international rights for between $8 million. That means that they have made around $26 million. They still need at least $4 million to be okay. The movie was a disappointment. It undoubtedly flopped despite being in almost every theater and having a supposedly big name star. An $8 million dollar domestic opening for a story set in New York is not good at all.
Remember me IS an indie film…not in terms of plot, but by definition. Summit was not banking on his name when he signed on….as Twilight was not even out in theaters yet.
It could rake in 60Mill and some would say it bombed!!! It was an Indie Movie with 16Mill Production Cost..get real ..It did very good.
One of the commenters here should first check the numbers and learn how BO really works before saying something is a "dismal failure". Check Green Zone: 100 $M budget, total domestic gross 33 $M; Repo Men: budget 32 $M, domestic gross 13$M and already down 82%… now those are dismal failures. Please do your research before you bash something. RM was originally slated by Summit for a worldwide final gross of 25-30 $M. So it's doing quite well. The foreign numbers haven't all rolled in yet and some which have are only updated till 03/28. Plus RM has not opened yet in several countries. It is clear that it will not blow the BO away but then it was never meant to be.
All the R-Patz haters can't wait to exclaim his demise. They're salivating cause Remember Me didn't break the US box office. Really! Were you really expecting this film to to make Twilight Money? SERIOUSLY. On opening weekend the experts only projected it to make 10 mil and it made 8mil. No matter how much you try to make RM sound like a 200 million dollar budget Blockbuster that fail, IT'S STILL A 16 MIL DARK INDIE DRAMA. NOT A TYPICAL AMERICAN FEEL GOOD MOVIE. This film requires its audience to think. Somthing Americans are NOT too big on.
For a $40 or $50 or $60 million studio film, "Remember Me" would have been a failure — perhaps even a "dismal" one.
For a $16 million film not distributed by one of the majors and starring an up-and-coming, unproven young actor, $35 million worldwide — and counting — isn't bad at all.
One must also remember that "Remember Me" amounts to an "indie" production in terms of plot, even though it opened at more than 2,000 theaters in the US as Summit was banking on Robert Pattinson's name.
After all, "Remember Me" is no "feel good" movie. For the type of film it is, it's no flop. And certainly not a dismal one.
it's a dismal failure when one considers a decent average film opens with $21 million….of course a movie will pick up sales if you flood it in every country …but $35 million after a worldwide bo intake is laughable.
Thank you very much for this good news. The gross of Remember Me almost doubles the movie's cost. I am sure Remember Me's number will be in black no mater now much they spent in marketing. I didn't see much marking here in Canada. The movie theatre I went to watch this movie is the bigest one in my city and they didn't even put out the post of Remember Me.
Apparently, people oversea have better taste that people in US/Canada. When can you get the number from Britain?