The Energon Pub

News Credits: 273 · Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:21 pm

Maybe it seemed like a foregone conclusion to some, but Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has achieved another major accomplishment and that is earning over $300 domestically and an equally impressive $600+ million worldwide.

The box office year got its first $300 million domestic grosser on Tuesday.

Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" passed that magical milestone after pushing its U.S. and Canadian coin to $299.8 million on Monday.

That same day, overseas boxoffice topped $300 million. So the Michael Bay blockbuster's worldwide tally runs north of $600 million.

Daily grosses remain strong as the Shia LaBeouf-Megan Fox starrer approaches its third weekend of global release. But Fox's 3D animated feature "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" topped the day's domestic boxoffice on Monday, with $$6.5 million to $6.4 million for the "Transformers" sequel.

Looming competition include a pair of comedies set to open on Friday -- Universal's R-rated Sacha Baron Cohen starrer "Bruno" and Fox's high-school laugher "I Love You, Beth Cooper," rated PG-13.

So, what does Paramount have to say about all of this? Here is their official press release.

$300 Million in 14-Days for Transformers Sequel

After only 14-days in release, the worldwide hit "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" became the 2nd fastest film in movie history to earn $300 million in U.S. ticket sales, eclipsing the previous record-holder "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," by 2-days. From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, the Paramount Pictures release trails only "The Dark Knight" in this record-setting achievement.

"Moviegoers everywhere propelled the film to this great success, paving the way for a phenomenal run," said Paramount Pictures Vice Chairman Rob Moore.

2007's "Transformers" earned $319.2 million in its theatrical run, and more than $700 million worldwide. The sequel has already taken in over $600 million worldwide to date, conquering several records including:

-- Biggest Wednesday-Sunday opening of all time.
-- Biggest Wednesday opening of all time.
-- Paramount's biggest international opening of all time.
-- 3rd biggest worldwide opening weekend of all time.
-- 4th biggest international opening of all time.

For continuing coverage of TF2's re-writing of the box office record books, stay right here at Seibertron.com, your ultimate Transformers resource!

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:38 pm

Holy energon cubes! :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 22 · Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:28 am

It'll probably be in theaters until the end of August, and hit $375 mil both home and away, giving it at least $750 mil total. TF3 better be on the way.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:12 am

Rodimus Prime wrote:It'll probably be in theaters until the end of August, and hit $375 mil both home and away, giving it at least $750 mil total. TF3 better be on the way.

Bay said he wanted a year off from Robots and explosions, but money talks. He might be ready go sooner if Paramount pushes the issue with more cash. If it means a better film then id prefer he took off a year and hit it full force. The writers on the other hand can still working now, since they screwed us over on their strike this time. (which a few weak spots in the plots armor shows.) Give em a year head start may be they can do a better job.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:33 am

Wait, $300 M internationally? I thought that figure was higher for some reason.

Well, regardless a third film is in the works now for sure if there was ever any doubt. And if hollywood has taught us anything, it's that Production houses will go forward with or without the directors tied to the film. Take the X-Men franchise. Fox forbid Singer to work on Superman and made him choose between working on their property or Superman....Singer chose Superman, Fox went with another director, and on both fronts I think it was a loss. Verses, Paramount will push Bay, if Bay declines I'm pretty sure they'll go with another director (I would say Len Wiseman of "Live Free Or Die Hard"being their styes are very simular....) in which we'll get less explosions, but at least some character development this third time around.

Bay, the man strikes me as someone who doesn't like to be told things are this way or that. So if Paramount were to pressure him, I'm pretty sure he'd walk. But he would most likely push for a producer title just for the sake of having some say and to frak with Paramount. Paramounts relationship with Speilberg on the other hand may be something different all together, and Speilberg I believe would push to keep "Transofrmers" being I believe it to be Dreamworks flagship franchise for the moment, just as X-Men was Fox's.

However he's something to think about, most film franchise whose previous directors walked on the third film usually get driven by the marketing staff and the producers rather then the Director. X-3 was a marketing driven film. As was Batman Forever. As was Terminator 3. As was Jurassic Park 3. Spiderman 3(Which was suppose to be two films, with Ben Kingsley already signed on as the Vulture....Rami was pushed however to do only one film and include Venom which was suppose to be the backbone of the fourth film but ended up being an add on to the third) So on and so forth.

So though I'd hate to say it, Paramount I'm not surprised would rush this film to have a 2011 release, and the director chosen would be there just to nodd and obey the commands of the Producers who are in turn commanded by the marketing people (Polls say if we have more this or that, the film will make this much money) and we would get another soley effects driven story, but with less explosions which gave this second film it's sole aspect of charm.

In short, we would have to wait for a TF4 to get a decent film, and even then its not a fool proof plan (Examples being Aliens 4, Wolverine ).

However, if Paramount were to pull someone such as Wiseman or even Louis Leterrier (Director of 2008 Hulk) which I think are both great choices there would be some hope. They both seem to be fine at picking up a previous franchise and making it their own without sacrificing quality or character development. And they both seem to stay true enough to the source material of the character and mythos as to appease both core and new-age fans alike.
Laters,
Josh

News Credits: 1 · Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:22 am

It would be stupid to try and do TF3 without Bay. His name pushed lots of people to go see it. At the very least, they'd have to make him producer, just so they could say "from Michael Bay" in all the commercials.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:01 am

You know. The more I think about the narrative as a comprehensive all, rather than just the single filmed product, that being the movie which I am anxious to give a second try, the more I begin to appreciate it.

So Megatron can never be a Prime as he is of different stock to his brother?

But would not his actions in locating and his enormous desire to secure the cube make him worthy of the class of Seeker?

:-B

Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:25 am

karellan wrote:It would be stupid to try and do TF3 without Bay. His name pushed lots of people to go see it. At the very least, they'd have to make him producer, just so they could say "from Michael Bay" in all the commercials.

C'mon man, let's at least lay of the Bay hating for real, until after we get the chance to contemplate the film in the comfort of our own homes?

Transformers without Bay would be Trek without Khan.

Tyranny, sir? Or an attempt to unify humanity?

News Credits: 22 · Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:58 am

I think the only way TF3 would fit in without Bay is if Spielberg replaces him. He has been a producer on the first 2 and has been there from start to finish. He knows what's going on. And he's a good director to boot.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:00 pm

This is crazy talk. No other director will touch this franchise unless they're doing it for the paycheck. It's got Bay all over it. He's just trying to drum up a bigger paycheck for the next one by playing coy. And for once, I can't blame him- it's all he's got going in this franchise.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:18 pm

karellan wrote:It would be stupid to try and do TF3 without Bay. His name pushed lots of people to go see it. At the very least, they'd have to make him producer, just so they could say "from Michael Bay" in all the commercials.

Sadly, I expect you're right.

His name has the exact opposite affect on me, though.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:20 pm

Primus C-00 wrote:
Transformers without Bay would be Trek without Khan.

Indeed. Trek's done pretty well without Khan hasn't it? (No disrespect to either "Space Seed" or "Wrath," of course, but since they're such a small part of the franchise.)

Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:06 am

SoooTrypticon wrote:This is crazy talk. No other director will touch this franchise unless they're doing it for the paycheck. It's got Bay all over it. He's just trying to drum up a bigger paycheck for the next one by playing coy. And for once, I can't blame him- it's all he's got going in this franchise.

Hollywood is crazy, pure and simple.

However I think there are more then enough directors who will be more then willing to follow up where Bay left off. In which case I think they would visit Cybertron just for the sake of saving money on location shots and flying to places like Egypt and New York....not sure if they shot on location in Shanghai....but regardless why pay for locations when you can film in a sound stage? Best example would be 300. All sound stage and green screen, and tons of money to show for it.

Now if it would be good or worse, I really can't say. Fictive worlds have been successfully made in terms of the Star Wars franchise and Star Trek, Blade Runner, others I can't think of but know are out there...and there are worlds that look aweful, the machine city of the later two Matrix films for example looked too CGI for my taste.

For me, I wouldn't mind a fresh take really.....I have no personal ties to Bay, nor do I think his influence is that profound nor do I think his style really that hard to replicate. And I don't think his name is so Marketable as to where Paramount would be afraid to move forward without him. I think they would be more worried about loosing Megan Fox or Shia. Especially with Megan geared to star in Jonah Hex and a thriller Horror film I think will be released later this year?

If there is anyone I think would be more then fine taking on this project per request of the Production house it would be Roland Emmrich with films such as Independence Day and Stargate and the upcoming 2012.
Josh