I never really expected DS to have popcorn boxes and soda cups, so it doesn't disappoint me in the least that it probably won't - and it doesn't surprise me in the least that
The Avengers will because that's the type of film that tends to have them. And I've never really expected tie-ins with McDonald's or Burger King or any other fast food restaurant chain, so it won't surprise me if that doesn't happen either. And even without knowing about
The Avengers' theater deal I've been saying that chances are really very good that it will be the top film at the box office for at least two weeks in a row (meaning the highest DS might place its opening week is second) - and the theater deal and any other promotions it might have should only help to cement that. But DS doesn't have to place first to be a hit. The way first place at the box office is hyped all over the place one might think that, but plenty of films go on to be hits without ever coming in first, or even second - and more interestingly, plenty of films that do come in first their opening week go on to become box office disappointments (can you say last year's
Green Lantern). The hype may be all about opening week, but the truth is the long haul. I mean, look at Depp's
The Tourist - people wrote it off, but it went on to be a solid hit. (Though, of course, that memo hasn't gotten to everyone, particularly the person who wrote the article I linked to the other day and who was still laboring under the misconception that no one saw
The Tourist.
But then, it's so much more fun for those type of people to say such and such was a flop and to hold onto that idea regardless of the facts than it is for them to ever admit they were wrong.
)
DS will most likely never have the box office numbers that
The Avengers is likely to amass - but as others have said, no one is really expecting it to. It would be nice to able to say that DS came in first its opening week. And maybe through some major miracle it will. But if it doesn't, it won't be the end of the world.
99 days 8 hours 4 minutes 16 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is released(ET)!!
Less than 100 days to go!