MovieChat Forums > Dark Phoenix (2019) Discussion > why did it bomb?

why did it bomb?

posted 5 years ago by bozo_500 (12318)
28 replies | jump to latest

-XM Apocalypse disappointed critically and with audiences (usually when that happens the next movie suffers at the box office - e.g. BvS-JL)

-Logan seemed to wrap everything up nicely (if that's the right word) closed the book on the Xmen. so this with the younger cast/no Wolverine (first time) and going back to the 90s seemed abit redundant (and didn't even seem necessary as theyd completed their trilogy – so 3 X trilogies - original cast / Wolverine / younger cast)

-average moviegoers who aren't crazy lap up everything superhero have already seen this story with the original cast back in 2006 or on DVD/blu/streaming/regular tv since and had little interest in seeing an even more poorly reviewed version with a younger cast/no Wolverine.

-Endgame made everything coming after seem 'small' in comparison to moviegoers even Godzilla and especially a similar 'Endgame' 4th team up/finale marvel superhero film (that dealt with a cosmic threat) that wasn't really necessary in the first place (ever since Avengers MCU has been slowly eating up Xmens audience culminating in the Endgame annihilation). the original Nov 18 or Feb 19 release dates would've at least avoided coming after EG (but then XM has always been summer) actually this summer is turning out abit like 2016 everything aside Avengers underperformed (Xmen, Star Trek, turtles, ID2, GB, Tarzan, Alice2)

-oversaturation of superheroes. in past 3-4 months audiences have had Cap Marvel/Endgame/Shazam/Hellboy.and now an unappealing looking Xmen...so obviously some are going to get lost in the deluge esp after the one two punch of MCUs CM/EG...now audiences probably just waiting until Spiderman HC 2 for another MCU fix

-think moviegoers still consider the original cast the 'proper' XMen and these younger versions as like the pretend fakey ones (abit like JJs Star Trek although at least with Trek they had to recast if they wanted to use the original characters) and especially coming after the subpar Apocalypse (which was boosted by the near Avengers level event of DOFP featuring both casts - which made it pretty much 'XMen 4' with the original cast)

-the Disney/MCU takeover. MCU is now all powerful and everything is in its shade and its made the Fox XMen seem like its now redundant (although maybe only the geeks would be aware of that.. but then again everyone abit of a geek now/knows about MCU and is aware of that behind the scenes rights stuff) - actually could this be the 1st time ever that a franchise film series has had a reboot announced before/during the current films release?

-The Bryan Singer connection - ever since the BS allegations its cast abit of a cloud over the X universe he created (although it didn't do Boh Rhap any harm lol)

-The bad reviews/low RT score (especially coming after the critically acclaimed all powerful Endgame)

-dull/'seen it all before done better' looking trailers

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Because it is a poor movie.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

That is not the reason. This movie was tracking low way before the release.

[–] SeussMyTub (226) 5 years ago

Because it sucked. Kindberg has no idea on how to make these characters work.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

There is a better 2 hour plus version that fleshs things out more.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

That is not the reason according to Box Office experts.

https://deadline.com/2019/06/dark-phoenix-bombs-at-the-box-office-reasons-why-1202629749/

Much of it has to do with the release date and lack of promotion.

[–] SeussMyTub (226) 5 years ago

Box office experts my ass. It sucked.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

The bad buzz and the fact that it was released in a very competitive time.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

They assembled a fine cast. But this isn’t the type of film you make for critical acclaim.

It’s a POPCORN film and the MCU isn’t making RERUNS of previous popcorn films like this.

Given a choice, more prefer to see a film with a stronger story and emotional impact.

This ain’t it.

🖤👹🖤

[–] bozo_500 (12318) 5 years ago

why it bombed article
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/06/09/dark-phoenix-is-a-box-office-flop-10-reasons-the-x-men-sequel-was-doomed/

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Nobody gives a crap what “critics” and haha experts think.

Bad word of mouth from those who’ve seen a bad film spreads fast these days.

Nobody listened to critics about “Titanic” being an overrated ‘Romeo&Juliet’ story set on the high seas.

Interest in X-Men was already at an all-time low when they recast and rebooted.

OoOOO...J-Law is Mystique! Who...f*cking...cares?

Nobody was interested and they did it anyway to simply make a buck.

When money is your focus...the ART suffers.

🖤👹🖤

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

Every major film has been underperforming this summer except Aladdin.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Tell that to “Avengers: Endgame” fans.

And please...don’t gimme a lame response like...

“Uhhhh...duhhh...that’s not technically a SUMMER film...”

Or...

“Uhhhh...duhhh...it was supposed to make $4 billion, dude...”

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

Endgame came out in the spring.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

And still in the June theatre lineups.

Lame attempt at blaming AUDIENCES, kid.

Run along now...

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

And it made the vast majority of its money in the spring.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Duh...over a billion in 11 days for being a damn good film.

So don’t blame audiences for the sh*tfest that is “Dark Phoenix”.

After all...the kids are out of school and they STILL don’t care to see it.

But noooo...you’ll respond again ‘cuz you’re a wee wittle buttsore X-Men fan who wants the last word.

Go ahead, kid.

Get the last word.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

Lol get your head out of your ass.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

Deadline’s take.

https://deadline.com/2019/06/dark-phoenix-bombs-at-the-box-office-reasons-why-1202629749/

[–] bozo_500 (12318) 5 years ago

more reasons https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/06/11/box-office-dark-phoenix-x-men-avengers-star-wars-star-trek-godzilla-jurassic-xxx-alien/

[–] TandyMan (10418) 5 years ago

Turns out people were paying to see Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, not the X-Men.

[–] PotatoWithEyes (135) 5 years ago

The Wolverine (2013) didn't do that well at the domestic box office. X-Men Origins Wolverine made more money but sold fewer tickets than the very first X-Men movie.

I think for a non-Deadpool X-Men movie to do well domestically (over $200 million), it has to have original cast members (including Wolverine)...X2, Last Stand, Days of Future Past, Logan (okay so it didn't have the whole team, but it did have Patrick Stewart in a major role in addition to Hugh Jackman, plus critical acclaim).

[–] bozo_500 (12318) 5 years ago

added a couple more

[–] PotatoWithEyes (135) 5 years ago

People (neither casual movie fans nor hardcore comic fans) didn't want another Dark Phoenix adaptation. I don't think that factor can be underestimated. True, domestic audiences don't seem too keen on X-Men movies (sans Deadpool) that don't have the actors from the original trilogy, but this movie will fall well short of First Class or Apocalypse's gross (it will do better overseas, just like those movies did).

[–] PussyMonster (294) 5 years ago

Casual movie fans don’t never know about the Dark Phoenix storyline.

This movie came out in a competitive time and the merger screwed up the marketing. Awareness rates were below that of any other X-film. Below even Rocketman. If it were not for Disney’s last minute marketing push this movie would have bombed even harder.