This is topic Monsters Inc. vs. Harry Potter in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-20-2001, 02:07 PM:
OK, it's time for another round of predictions in the Family Film Wars.Last year, Film-Techers accurately predicted that THE GRINCH would eat 102 DALMATIANS for lunch.
Then this spring, Film-Techers also were accurate in predicting that DreamWorks' SHREK would walk all over Disney's ATLANTIS.
So what will happen this year? Will MONSTERS INC. out-scare HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE? Let the predictions begin!
I think they will both do outstanding business but I think when the dust settles, Disney/Pixar will have the winner if not by a landslide, by a small margin. What's everyone else think? Holiday season this year is shaping up to be a good one, IMHO.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 08-20-2001, 02:23 PM:
Mike,IMHO Harry Potter will be hugh in the urban areas, with Monsters in the burbs. In the end Harry 
out the Monster by $10,342,564.52 gross by January 5th at 2:15 in the afternoon. 
P.S. My guess will be closer than 
but I do get nervous around 
guess.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-20-2001, 03:08 PM:
I also think they will both do great, but Monsters Inc will have the upper hand. Lets face it, Pixar has not had a dud yet, though there is a first time for everything (crosses fingers since we are booked for Monsters Inc).
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-20-2001, 03:54 PM:
Pixar rules! Disney has lost the upper deck, thats for sure. Even Julie Andrews couldn't save Disney.........
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 08-20-2001, 04:12 PM:
Yeah. Pixar's pretty damn good and I've enjoyed every picture of their's so far. But Potter's a children's book phenomenon. And even though I don't care much for Chris Columbus, I do think Harry Potter will beat out Monsters Inc. It just looks like it'll be a lot of fun and the Hedwig Theme from John Williams is generating a positive buzz for both the soundtrack and the movie. If it's anything like the book, it'll be a real treat. ------------------
The man with the magic hands.
Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 08-20-2001, 05:21 PM:
This is a tough one. We're showing trailers of both right now, with audience reaction about even. Monsters, Inc. will have the upper hand at the beginning with the earlier release date, but I think the Potter following will ultimately prevail. Both will do big business, with Harry coming out on top by the handle of a broomstick.
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-20-2001, 05:24 PM:
I know of the "Harry Potter" phenomenon, but I don't think it will translate to the big screen quite like what Warner Bros. is hoping. With previous flops bearing success in other formats like "Tomb Raider" and "Final Fantasy", I cannot say "Harry Potter" is a guaranteed hit. Also if printed success is to translate to big screen success then all those damned Pokemon movies should be the top money earners at the box office. I don't even have any kids of my own and I am sick to death of the Pokemon fad.A really bad sign (for me anyway) is how WB is showing so much of "Harry Potter" in the previews. I almost feel like I don't need to see the movie after having seen so much in the trailer. There might be a ratio to go by on how much of a film gets shown in trailers versus the film's actual quality. The more they show, the more it stinks.
"Monsters Inc" on the other hand has a specifically designed teaser not from the film. I don't know much about it. But the teaser was simple, funny and cool looking. Pixar is also very consistent about putting together good stuff. The joy these guys at Pixar have in creating the film also comes out in their exemplary work as well. So I am more excited about seeing this film than "Harry Potter".
I also think "Monsters Inc" is going to do better business. I would say $175 million domestic for "Monsters Inc" versus a generous $100 million guess for "Harry Potter".
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 08-20-2001, 06:19 PM:
It's Disney corporate hype vs. AOL Time Warner corporate synergy. Look what Disney corporate hype did opposite Mr. Grinch and Lara Croft. Didn't sell a lot of Happy Meals, did it?Monsters, Inc. will get 2 weeks business. THEN . . . Harry Potter comes along and blows everything away until The Lord of the Rings at Xmas.
Me? I'm looking forward to Harry Potter. I even saw the trailer in front of The Princess Diaries (Disney) this past weekend. Monsters, Inc.? Thanks, but no thanks. Remember, Harry Potter opens the Friday before Thanksgiving -- just like The Grinch did.
Another good sign: The UA Union Square already has "Coming Soon: Harry Potter" on the marquee at Broadway & 13th.
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 08-20-2001, 07:02 PM:
I bet Harry Potter will sell a lot of tickets in the short run but Monsters, Inc. will have steady ticket sales throughout its release.Harry Potter will do big business in the first two or three weeks of release. Then all the kids will have seen it and think it's not as good as the book. After that the business will drop off to a trickle.
Monsters, Inc., on the other hand may get crushed by Harry Potter for a couple of weeks but I think it'll have better "legs". Then, of course we'll receive another "blooper reel" for the end of the movie and we'll get a couple more weeks out of it.
Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 08-20-2001, 11:59 PM:
I guess I'll be the one to go against the conventional wisdom of the thread, but I think Potter will open HUGE (potentially biggest opening ever, that's my prediction) and will have fairly good legs considering the opening. The books are not only popular with kids, but many adults as well (including me). While I do think Monsters Inc will do extremely well, I don't think it is the phenomenon that Harry Potter will be.I'll also go on a limb and say Harry Potter will do better than Fellowship of the Ring.
Posted by Aldo Baez (Member # 790) on 08-21-2001, 01:02 PM:
Trailer wise, Ice Age would kill both of them at the box office. As for which will win, I think Monsters Inc. will but I will just be glad if both are good movies and will enjoy them (I think too many people will nitpick at what they think Harry Potter should be like.)
And as for Harry Potter getting more than LOTR. There is absolutely *no* way that will happen. Especially with the huge international fan base LOTR has.
Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 08-22-2001, 01:42 AM:
Monsters is one of those movies that people will go to see because of the interesting storyline and top-notch animation. It will do really well, with probably no less than $60 million on opening weekend.
However, Harry Potter is a household name. Warner Brothers could get by without any press screenings, sneak previews, or even advertising and still drive in anyone ages 6-13 within 30 miles of the theater!
Harry Potter could get at least $75 million on opening weekend.It won't matter in the end, though. Lobbies will be packed, parking lots will be death traps, and the only safe place in the theater will be in the booth!
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 08-22-2001, 02:24 AM:
Harry Potter will have the biggest opening, but Monsters Inc will play the longest and gross more. At least that's my bet.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-22-2001, 07:19 AM:
This is a tough one. From the trailers, it looks like both of them will do good business. I'm guessing that Monsters will have more "legs," but who knows. Actually, the opposite will probably turn out to be the case, since I'm generally terrible at predicting boxoffice numbers...I am always amazed at lousy films that get great numbers and vice versa, but that seems to be par for the course in this business.
Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-24-2001, 02:43 AM:
Monsters Inc. will out-gross Harry by a fair whack, but Harry will win in the opening weekend sweepstakes.That's me...
------------------
"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.
Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 08-24-2001, 05:30 AM:
I wish I could pick a winner in this but alas, I will not. I think both flicks will do some monster (pardon the pun) business and just rape us all at the box office. I am just glad that they are both a couple of weeks apart. Far as I am concerned, I am just going to sit back and enjoy the business and give my box employees some KY jelly to make it through opening weekend on both titles.
Posted by Jonathan Haglund (Member # 807) on 08-25-2001, 03:46 AM:
Harry Potter will do more business. Its age range is 8-70 (approx) and is wildly anticipated. Not an Oscar contender, mind you, but people want to see their imaginations put on the big screen. Monsters may do better if it has the same adult reaching humor that made Shrek so funny and gave it good repeat business. If it is just a kids movie, their facination will pass just as fast as their attention span.
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 08-25-2001, 04:53 AM:
Here are my predictions on total grosses..LOTR - $685 million worldwide
Monsters inc. - $365 million worldwide
Harry Potter - $420 million worldwide
Ice Age - $225 million worldwide
Matrix 2 - $360 million worldwide
ET special edition - $750 million worldwide
Star Wars 2 - $1.3 billion worldwide
Harry potter is not like pokemon where the parents suffer from brain embolisms by halftime. More than 40 million copies of the latest book have been SOLD worldwide. If you take 40 million people who own the book, and then double that for those that will see it as a guest of someone who owns the book, you get 80 million people who will see it once, 40 million who will see it twice, 20 million who will see it three times, for a total of 140 million attendees, worldwide average is 5 dollars (adjusted for different economies.... ) you get 700 million dollars or so....
harry potter isnt just a built in fan base, its almost religeon. even I want to see the film. And I hate that book.
Dave
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 08-25-2001, 10:04 AM:
I don't believe that E.T. special edition will make that much money world wide. The matrix: reloaded has been delayed until spring 2003.
Ice Age could be a surprise hit but is does come out in march of 2002.
As far as Monsters and Harry. It could be a dead heat race by the end of the run. With harry potter slightly in the lead. There are a lot of good quality films coming out for the holidays so we will see what happens.