It’s summer! There are movies! My wife and I are bored! That means it must be time for the Third Annual Livingston Summer Movie Fantasy League! Each summer, Kris and I each choose the ten summer movies we think will have the best domestic opening weekend earnings, and see who combines for the highest total. We also each pick three films we think will combine for the lowest Rotten Tomatoes review score.
I never posted the results from last year’s SMFL, because after that psychopath killed twelve people at The Dark Knight Rises premiere in Aurora, Colorado, writing about box office totals just seemed completely inappropriate (particularly since we have family in Aurora). Still, you can see the final totals here, as well as the RT score.
Anyway, we’re back for a third go-round! We started with Memorial Day weekend this year, meaning we missed out on Iron Man 3 and the new Star Trek, but here’s a look at our 2013 picks, in release date order:
I think my biggest mistake was picking After Earth (which is getting horrible reviews) in the third round, which left the door open for Kris to grab Pacific Rim. I also somehow let Kris snag the two kids movies that will be both good and make money (Monsters University and Despicable Me 2) while I wound up with four that open later in the summer and will probably all stink. So, I’m not too hopeful at my chances of a three-peat this year, though Fast and Furious 6’s big opening weekend gave me a great start.
Anyway, I’ll post some updates at the summer progresses, and Kris is going to be writing about it this year too:
Kris here: I’ve lost two years out of two. Not spectacular. Last year, I passed on the Avengers and went with the Dark Knight as my first pick. Many of the people I love live in Aurora (or A-town as my brother calls it), and my niece’s husband is a huge Batman fan. I checked with my brother, and was very relieved to hear that my family was okay. After the shootings, we didn’t really have much fun with the league. The trash talking didn’t feel right.
This year will be different. A few days before our draft, I was stuck in the jury duty waiting room. I had eight hours to do my homework thanks to the free wifi. I mapped out the possibilities, and think I did pretty well this time. I picked a lot of late summer movies again. Not sure how that keeps happening. At the moment, I’ve got two more weeks before I can even get a single dollar on the board. Some thoughts on my picks (in order):
“Man of Steel” – Most of the trailers have been pretty dull for this one. Plus, another superhero movie to start didn’t seem like the way to go. That is, until I finally saw an awesome trailer for this movie the night before the draft that made picking it seem like a no-brainer. Michael Shannon as General Zod in a voice-over, demanding Superman to come forward. They never show that one. Why do they never show that one? Seriously, they need to get on that.
“Despicable Me 2” – To be honest, I never saw part one. I don’t even know what those little yellow things are, but they seem irritating. Learning from the past: what is irritating to me, is box office gold. Plus, it’s due out over the 4th of July weekend.
“Monsters University” – I saw a bit of the first movie, and it was a cute and sentimental. I like cute and sentimental, plus Disney/Pixar will surely market the heck out of this one. Try to avoid this one! I dare you!
“Pacific Rim” – I was on the fence on this one. I wanted to go with “Fast and Furious 6” – I really did. It hadn’t been picked as yet, and I knew people were going to go see the hell out of it. However, Pacific Rim has giant robots, it’s coming out in IMAX, will involve cities getting smashed up, has that “WHOOOOOMP” noise in the trailer that everyone loves, is directed by Guillermo del Toro, and did I mention GIANT ROBOTS?
“The Heat” – Had to toss in an “R” rated movie, because adults see movies too. Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig are back together, and Sandra Bullock is back on screen. I’m rooting for this one.
“Elysium” – I loved, loved, loved “District 9”, and this one seems like that movie on steroids. Plus, Matt Damon is part machine. I recently watched “Behind the Candelabra”, and if Mr. Damon plays this one half as earnestly as he played Scott Thorson, we’re all in for a treat. I’m thinking he won’t be wearing any glittery speedos in this one, but he’ll likely smash a guy through a wall while wearing high-tech body armor. I’m in!
“World’s End” – Likely that this one won’t make too much money. However, my favorite movie of all time is “Shaun of the Dead” and I had to show it some faith and love. It’s really the only movie I’m excited to see this summer. Hopefully, I’m not alone in that.
“Lone Ranger” – At this point in the draft, the pickings were getting slim. I really don’t know about this one. It kept showing up on the Summer duds list, and it’s a western. I’m not nuts about westerns, myself. Think I may have thrown a wild pitch here, kids.
“2 Guns” – Sometimes, when you start throwing wild… you can’t stop. However, ladies (and quite a few dudes) seem to love Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington, and dudes (and quite a few ladies) seem to love guns. Let’s hope these hold true. It’s not due out until August. Perhaps it will be very hot out in August, and people will want to sit in an air conditioned movie theater?
“This is the End” – Pretty much ended the game with a balk. I know it, you know it.
For worst Rotten Tomatoes score, I went with “R.I.P.D”, “The Purge” and “Syrup”. All based on trailers alone. Couldn’t even get through the trailer for the Syrup movie.
Inspired by your post last year, I started one with my friend this year and we’re having a blast. It’s like a hockey pool, but with movies instead!
The rules needs to be clarfied tough. Which site do you use to get the official Box Office? Also, since the RT score can change over time, when do you decide to pick the score as the official score?
And one of my film got pushed from this summer to 2014 (“300: rise of an empire”). So we decided that the fairest thing to do was to remove the film picked in the same order from my friend’s list.
Anyway, thanks for the inspiration! :)
(by the way, I didn’t choosed After Earth, but choosed “The Lone Ranger” instead. So I hope it will be a dud :) )
We use boxofficemojo.com for the Domestic Opening Weekend totals. Since RT scores change every time a new review is posted, we wait for the end of the summer for the official scores.
As for movies that get delayed, last year I had G.I. Joe, which got bumped to this year, so I had to pick from whatever else was left.
I’m excited that your summer fantasy movie contest is back. However, I don’t see “The Great Gatsby” on your list. Probably not your type of movie, but it might appeal to some of your ‘older’ readers. I know it got mixed reviews, but Dad and I found it enjoyable and actually paid the extra money to watch in 3-D. Leo made a great Gatsby! And what could be bad about Tobey Maguire? Carey Mulligan as Daisy was good, too. Might want to mention that one of our relative’s names will be listed in the credits of Monsters University. That’s pretty exciting! After the music credits, look for Christine Jones!
Great Gatsby came out May 10th, and we didn’t hold our draft until Memorial Day weekend, so it wasn’t eligible to be picked. Shame, too, it had a good opening weekend!
Dear Chris,
Today is June 12, and “This is the end” is actually getting good reviews. Which means, I OWN THIS WEEKEND AND I AM GOING TO CRUSH YOU.
All my love,
Kris
Yeeeeep. Cannot deny the trash talk. I am in TRUBBS.