Tag: Brandon Lee

The Crow Box Office Prediction

Lionsgate Films is currently reeling from Borderlands performing a box office belly flop. On August 23rd, they hope The Crow reboot flies higher with moviegoers. Bill Skarsgård trades in the Pennywise makeup for the comic book based vigilante hero first made famous onscreen 30 years ago by Brandon Lee (who was killed in an onset tragedy during filming). Costars include FKA Twigs, Danny Huston, and Josette Simon. Rupert Sanders, who was behind the camera on Snow White and the Huntsman and Ghost in the Shell, directs.

While this is the fifth feature in the franchise, it is the first in nearly 20 years. Fun fact: Skarsgård is the fifth actor to play the title role following Lee, Vincent Perez, Eric Mabius, and Edward Furlong. The last two entries from 2000 and 2005 experienced limited theatrical runs before going the direct-to-video route.

1994’s original gained plenty of notoriety due to the death of its lead. It also struck a chord with youth culture and was assisted by a hit soundtrack. Fans of that picture are three decades older and probably have little interest in this long-in-development project which at times had Bradley Cooper, Jason Momoa, and others attached.

The marketing campaign seems muted. General brand recognition could get this to $10 million, but it may fall a bit under that. That’s not much to crow about considering the reported $50 million budget.

The Crow opening weekend prediction: $7.4 million

For my Blink Twice prediction, click here:

Blink Twice Box Office Prediction

For my The Forge prediction, click here:

The Forge Box Office Prediction

This Day in Movie History: February 1

Six years ago Today in Movie History – February 1 – Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert movie set the all-time opening weekend record for a musical concert film with $31.1 million. It also set the record for highest debut on Super Bowl weekend. Both records still stand. In the six years following, Cyrus has remained a force in music even though her material has, um, grown up a bit.

As for birthdays, today would’ve marked the 49th birthday of Brandon Lee. The son of Bruce Lee, Brandon was just beginning to become a star and had appeared in action pics including Showdown in Little Tokyo and Rapid Fire. In March of 1993, Lee was filming The Crow when he was accidentally shot and killed on set. A year later, The Crow would debut to robust results and an eventual $50 million domestic haul.

Pauly Shore is 46 today. The former MTV personality might not have had critics on his side, but he made a successful transition into film in the early 90s with Encino Man and Son-in-Law. His pictures would begin to see diminishing returns with In the Army Now, Jury Duty, and Bio-Dome.

As for Six Degrees of Separation between Mr. Lee and Mr. Shore:

Brandon Lee was in Showdown in Little Tokyo with Dolph Lundgren

Dolph Lundgren was in The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone was in Demolition Man with Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes was in Rising Sun with Tia Carrere

Tia Carrere was in Jury Duty with Pauly Shore

And that’s today – January 29 – in Movie History!