INDIEWIRE: SWATH IS A 
BOX OFFICE HIT OF 2012 

Indiewire released their report of the 2012 film year entitled, '2012 Box Office Wrap: Wide Release Blockbusters, Underperformers and Bellyflops, Studio Winners and Losers.' SWATH made it onto their "Hits" list of profits worldwide making it a box office success. 

According to Indiewire, a "hit or miss" at the box office was not solely determined by the domestic box office gross (although the films are listed according to their domestic grosses in each category).  Their analysis included several "caveats."  

"You need to look at revenue as well as production and marketing costs to assess global returns." Indiewire notes further that "theaters return about half of what they take in at theater wickets to distributors."

Indiewire took a look at 143 films released last year that played worldwide on 750+ screens for at least one week. The films were placed in eight categories (Blockbusters, Smashes, Hits, Low Budget Hits, Underperformers, Reoupers, Flops and To Be Determined) from the "biggest hits to flops."

Besides SWATH, Universal had several movies to make their list with their R-rated comedy Ted named as a "Blockbuster" leading the way.  Universal boasted it best year ever in 2012 at the box office in its 100 year history. 

Chris Hemsworth's The Avengers came in at #1 on their "Blockbusters" list which included Kristen Stewart's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2." 

Check out their entire list of hits and failures here.

Source 

SWATH LEADS UNIVERSAL TO ITS BEST BOX OFFICE YEAR EVER AS STEWART CONFIRMS THE SWATH SEQUEL HAS THE GREENLIGHT

Universal

Although we had been hearing whispers for some time, receiving winks and nods from sources and plenty of tweets trying to get us to state the status, it would have been irresponsible to state anything was for sure without anyone going on record or official word from Universal regarding the SWATH sequel. From all accounts, Universal is keeping things hushed for the time being unless it is a cruel joke.  

However, it appears that Kristen Stewart has let the cat out of the bag (not a slip of a tongue) herself during an interview for the release of her next movie On the Road even though she hinted at it once before.  

Here are her statements as they were reported by Indiewire sans an official announcement from Universal as it appears that SWATH 2 is a go.  

Here are the interview questions as reported by Indiewire. WARNING: Language:

KRISTEN STEWART IS BOX OFFICE QUEEN: MAKES #2 ON FORBES 
'TOP GROSSING ACTORS OF 2012' 

Stewart at SWATH premiere

As the year-ending lists keep coming, this one happens to be one of the less superficial ones. Forbes released its 'Top Grossing Actors of 2012' list and Kristen Stewart hits it at #2! 

Bringing in the big bucks at the box office is what studios want for commercial films and Stewart has held up her end of it.  Stewart is one of only two actresses on the list, however, she is the #1 actress.  

Jennifer Lawrence who is #8 out of 10 actors listed, her film The Hunger Games was supposed to outdraw Stewart's final Twilight film at the box office but failed to hit the mark.  Lawrence's three film releases (Hunger Games, The House at the End of the Street & Silver Linings Playbook) this year still could not take down Stewart. 

Starring in a film about a popular children's fairy tale in Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman and becoming a vampire in Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, these blockbuster films placed Stewart at the top of the box office this year.  She would have been #1 if it was not for the rare billion dollar box office anomaly called The Avengers placing Robert Downy Jr. at the #1 spot.

Summit: Stewart as 'Bella' in Breaking Dawn 2

Kristen Stewart $1.2 billion The majority of the money Stewart brought in at the box office this year came from Twilight. Breaking Dawn Part 2 (which is still in theaters) has earned $779 million at the box office so far. But she tops her Twilight co-stars thanks to Snow White and the Huntsman which earned a healthy $396 million at the global box office. ~Forbes~

More after the jump

SWATH HELPS UNIVERSAL SET STUDIO BILLION DOLLAR BOX OFFICE RECORD

Universal

Even with a couple of stumbles at the box office with underwhelming performances by The Bourne Legacy and Battleship, Universal Pictures still succeeded in surpassing their North American box office record since 2008, by bringing in $1.127 billion dollars.

"Universal Pictures has set a record for the highest-grossing year domestically in the studio’s 100-year history," according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

"Our film team has done a great job starting to turn things around and preparing the studio for the future," NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke said. "They have built some great new franchises, reinvigorated some older ones and acquired some very promising intellectual property. We are excited to see them execute on their plan in the years to come."

Speaking of franchises, would one of them include a girl named Snow White because The Bourne series kinda fell flat. Jus' say'in.



Source  

SWATH IS ONE OF THIS SUMMER'S SUCCESSES

Universal

SWATH is considered one of this summer's successes and it looks like more entertainment outlets are recognizing it. 

Zimbio writes:

"From The Amazing Spider-Man to Snow White and the Huntsman, there was no shortage of reboots and sequels this summer. Even visionary director Christopher Nolan is guilty of pulling from the past to create The Dark Knight Rise."

Face it: Hollywood has a remake fetish. And generally speaking, it's a fetish that pays off. Four of this summer's highest-grossing films were reboots. Snow White [SWATH], DKR[Dark Knight Rises], MIB 3 [Men In Black 3], and Spider-Man collectively grossed over $1 billion.


Read more about this summer's films here.




via

SWATH HELPS UNIVERSAL SET RECORD & REACH A BILLION DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE 

Universal Studios finally reaches one billion dollars at the domestic box office this year while being the fastest studio to do it overseas, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"[Universal] currently boasts four of the top 15 grossing films of 2012 -- Dr. Seuss' The Lorax ($214 million), Ted ($203.6 million), Snow White and the Huntsman ($153.8 million) and Safe House ($126.4 million).


"To boot, Universal is one of only two studios with two films that have grossed more than $200 million this year (the other is Disney)."

THR reports that Battleship was the culprit that slowed Universal down from reaching the goal sooner with its lackluster box office. 

Universal is about to release the revamped Bourne Series franchise this weekend with The Bourne Legacy starring The Avengers Jeremy Renner.  So the box office future continues to be bright for Universal as the year goes forth.

The current SWATH box office as it stands today is:

Domestic: $153,829,955 

+ Foreign: $234,900,000 

Total Worldwide: $388,729,955 

Source/Source 

SWATH REIGNS SUPREME AMONG STRONG 3D IMAX FILMS

Universal

Finally....


Finally SWATH gets the recognition that fans have been waiting for since its June 1st opening.  In other words, finally giving SWATH its props...its just due. 


SWATH was supreme among the sea of 3D IMAX summer blockbusters which opened in June.  Being only a 2D film, Box Office Mojo reports that SWATH was one of the films that topped the $50 million mark making $56.2 million in its opening weekend.  It also came in second overall with a total $144.3 million domestically only to the mega children's 3D IMAX hit Madagascar which made $176.5 million.  Afro Circus just could not be beat.


SWATH beat out highly touted 3D IMAX Prometheus (considered Ridley Scott's Alien comeback film) which came in a disappointing 4th only making $116.7 million.  Brave came in 3rd with $121.4 million


BO Mojo states, "Its no Lord of the Rings for sure, but its on pace for a final tally around $155 million, which is admirable for this revisionist fairy tale. In comparison, the most recent Narnia movie and Universal's Robin Hood only earned $104.4 million and $105.3 million, respectively."


No, it's no LOTRs.  The story does not take up hundreds of pages in a novel but only a handful of pages in a children's fairy tale.  However, SWATH was placed on a grand scale visually; Colleen Atwood created costumes that are second to none in the industry; and the cast was top-notched which does rival LOTRs.  SWATH also has the potential to reach over $350 million worldwide in this competitive summer box office season.  Not bad, not bad at all.


So, congratulations to Universal and the entire cast and crew for the film's success.  Now, we're moving on to the sequel and the release of the DVD.


Read the rest of the June box office analysis here.

UNIVERSAL HITS BOX OFFICE GOLD WITH 'TED' AS SWATH CONTINUES TO DO WELL WORLDWIDE

Universal

After a shaky start to the summer season with Battleship, Universal is coming back strong with two of its films, SWATH and its new release Ted which had a record breaking opening this weekend for an R-rated film.

SWATH is still holding strong in the Top 10 at #9 in its 5th week with all of the new releases.  It is only a few thousand difference between 7th -10th place even with the minor reduction in theater count.  SWATH has made and estimated $145,591,000 Domestically; as of June 24th  $189,000,000 Foreign for a total of $334,591,000 worldwide.  


More after the jump.

DEADLINE REPORTS A SWATH SEQUEL IS IN THE MAKING BUT WILL SANDERS RETURN ~ SWATH CROSSES $100K

Universal

Deadline is reporting that David Koepp is commissioned to pen the sequel of Snow White and the Huntsman. We wrote about an earlier Deadline report in April including how the studio wanted to fast track the film.


Although critics have been less than generous to the film, fans have clearly been on board with a $56 million opening weekend.  The film has taken in an estimated $130 million world-wide as of yesterday and poised to take in another $24 million this weekend domestically. SWATH has outperformed all expectations and still has more major markets to open (Australia, Japan, Russia). 


Deadline reports that Universal is in talks with SWATH director Rupert Sanders for the sequel stating, "he [Sanders] had a great time making the first movie." 


However, Sanders is not contracted for any future films.  Therefore his definite return is not guaranteed. Sanders has also indicated that he was looking into other projects.


Deadline writes: 


"...unlike most first time directors, he doesn’t have to come back. That’s because Snow White And The Huntsman was sold in an auction by CAA that included a presentation by Sanders of how he was going to shoot the film. Sanders was part of the package, as was producer Joe Roth, and that gave the agency leverage to make a much better deal than a first timer usually gets."


"The filmmaker is in demand now, but he hasn’t chosen his next film and a sequel might well be it." 


Deadline has indicated that the actors have options for two sequels.  Therefore, getting the important parties back on board should not be too much of an issue.


The sequel, although fast tracked, will have the opportunity to fully develop the characters in a direction that  will be unknown and interesting to see since there will be no Snow White competition in the future. 


"The first film [SWATH] got rushed when Relativity Media hired Julia Roberts and pressed ahead with Mirror Mirror. Relativity burned its bridges with Universal to rush out a film that wasn’t worth it, and Universal also hurried its film." 


Koepp penned the recently released Men in Black III and is known for his work on Spiderman, Mission: Impossible, Jurassic Park, even Kristen Stewart's Panic Room and Zathura.

CHRIS HEMSWORTH THANKS FANS FOR MAKING SWATH #1 AT THE 

BOX OFFICE

Courtesy of Universal Studios

TIME TAKES A LOOK AT THE UNFAIR CRITICISM OF SWATH

There are voices of reason in the world who actually understand what Rupert Sanders, Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron have done to bring an old story into modern times.  Sanders made the women strong but not in a manly way and both Stewart and Theron did the same.  Using their minds is apparently something the critics just do not understand. 


Time points out that critics view the Snow White story still in an elementary way: She's not pretty enough, she's wearing armor and not fighting [like a man] etc...  These overtones are clearly there and in a vicious manner too and writing in such a manner that the overtones promoted failure at the box office.


Unfortunately for them, it just did not work out that way.
Time writes:


"Rupert Sanders didn’t turn the two women leads into men: “That happens sometimes when films turn women into action heroes. But I made a decision not to have Kristen do anything that she wouldn’t realistically be able to do. The men follow her into battle because of the spirit within her."


"Snow, as she’s called, brings her uniquely feminine power to almost every scene. She tames a ferocious giant troll and calms not one, but two, skittish white steeds. She makes dolls, comforts frightened girls, and generally has a magical effect on everything around her. “I feel lovely; it’s her doing,” one of the wizened dwarves declares admiringly. Another observes that she is “life itself” and will “heal the land.” But she’s not a Jason Bourne; her bravery comes from her quiet charisma and earth-mother compassion, not from physical strength."


"And yet there has been an unfair drumbeat of negativity, even rudeness, about Kristen Stewart’s portrayal:


“Hollywood’s reigning princess of dour.” “A bit of a galumpher.” ‘Can’t Kristen be a little more up?’ “Stewart fails to impress,” one critic declared, calling her “closed down,’ an “awkward fit,” and blank-looking” and faulting her “slouchy bearing” and “sulky passivity.” Some critics wondered aloud if she was pretty enough to compete with Theron’s golden, Bondgirl hotness. Lou Lumenick of the New York Post was even blunter, asking, “This is Snow White?’ and calling Stewart “nobody’s idea of ‘the fairest in the land,’ and “bruised-looking, disaffected, and scowling.” Even Mr. Lumenick might scowl if he were locked in a dungeon for a decade and forced to swim through raw sewage, not to mention starved, poisoned, and pressed into military service. But, in any event, these claims are misdirected: It’s the men who are gruff and glowering. Stewart has never been more radiant or affecting. Here is an action hero who dances and laughs and cries."


Read more here.

STEWART & HEMSWORTH ARE HAPPY THE FANS LOVE SWATH

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Courtesy of MTV



Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth appear to be humbled and honored that the fans loved SWATH as much as them.  

Kristen feels validated.  She is very proud of it. 

CHARLIZE THANKS FANS FOR MAKING SWATH #1 AT THE 

BOX OFFICE!

The Evil Queen has a message for her faithful subjects and it is a nice one too.  Charlize Theron has a "Thank You" message to the fans for making SWATH #1 at the box office opening weekend.  Listen to it below.












Photo & video courtesy of Universal

SWATH'S OPENING EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS! 

2nd Update:


Yes, SWATH has done it! It has beat The Hunger Games opening weekend overseas!


Snow White and the Huntsman did not have the premium ticket prices going for it unlike THG, however it still took out THG opening weekend at the foreign box office scoring $39.3 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.


Skeptics can slice this anyway they want, but this is huge. Next weekend we are going to hear about how great Promethus will do and without a doubt will overtake SWATH because of the premium ticket. Nevertheless, SWATH showed all those who thought 'Mirror, Mirror' would have the advantage being released first that it did not matter. 


Box Office.com provides the following analysis:


Internationally the film grossed an outstanding $39.3M at 4,487 dates in 45 territories; with the film opening as number one in 30 territories. Highlights include:


• U.K. is its top opener with an estimated $5.5M at 476 dates. (The U.K. has two national holidays and school holidays this week and 5 weeks as counter-programming to the Euro Cup) 


• Spain opened No. 1 with an estimated $3.8M at 393 dates and 47% market share.


• Mexico opened No. 1 with an estimated $4.4M at 571 dates and 44% market share.


• Openings in Asia are led by Korea with $3M at 258 dates. Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand all opened No. 1 and grossed over $1M each.


• The film has 18 territories including Australia, France, Italy, Japan and Russia to open over the next two months. Next the film opens in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria, Latvia and the Netherlands.






Update:


Deadline has updated their figures and SWATH will win its opening weekend and make almost $100 million worldwide.  


Deadline states that it also has the possibility of beating both The Hunger Games and Twilight's opening weekend numbers. But the difference between Twilight and Hunger Games is that Twilight was really unknown to others outside of fans of the book at the time, was a low-budget indie without the luxury of the premium ticket prices; however, it almost made back its entire budget in the weekend as well.

However, to beat THGs opening weekend numbers or to even come as close as Deadline is stating, would indeed be an upset since it was attached to the premium IMAX ticket prices. 


A further note, Kristen Stewart's Breaking Dawn Part 1 ($705,058,657) also a 2D film, is beating The Hunger Games ($643,692,726) in worldwide box office and will unlikely be caught once THGs finally closes.

***

SWATH opened strong worldwide with more markets to go, according to Deadline.  Universal Studios has been having a rough go at the box office with the releases of The Five Year Engagement in April and Battleship in May which both films underwhelmed at the box office. 


Deadline states the following about SWATH's current numbers:


"...Universal’s #1 film Snow White And The Huntsman (3,773 theaters) came in at $20.3M Friday and $55.8M for this domestic weekend. That result is better than expected for the 2D original fantasy. actioner that cost $172M and didn’t have the benefit of a 3D premium or franchise recognition."


"....overseas Snow White opened in 45 territories and was the #1 movie in 30 territories and especially strong in Latin America and Asia. It will gross $39.3M this weekend, which is on a par with The Hunger Games’ $38M and better than Twilight‘s $30M, for a $95.1M worldwide cume." 


"Highlights include Mexico ($1M at 588 dates and 48% market share), Spain ($900K at 393 dates and 51% market share), Germany ($1.5M at 618 dates in 2 days), UK ($1M at 476 dates and with previews total is $2.6M (where the movie was overwhelmed by Fox’s Prometheus."


"The UK has two national holidays and school holidays next week and 5 weeks as counter-programming to the Euro Cup, so we expect the film to have a long run,” a Uni exec emailed me.  Snow White has 18 territories including Australia, France, Italy, Japan and Russia to open over the next two months." 


"It’s now safe to say that Snow White is breaking the post-Avengers early summer slump which has claimed 5 straight major studio releases so far because the Marvel mega-blockbuster was sucking all the air out of domestic box office. Insiders now expect the movie’s internationalcume to ultimately earn $250M-$275M all-in."


“We’ll make money with the movie which we really care about. No one can rag us this week,” a Uni exec said to me this morning.


Fans can be proud that their movie is exceeding all expectations.  Go here to find out when Snow White and the Huntsman will open in your area. 




Read the earlier box office analysis after the jump.