Directors Dictate and Celebrate Cordial Competition

With Avengers: Endgame still only on the cusp of its third theatrical week and already overtaking every film on its way to become the second highest earning film of all time. It managed to unseat Titanic and knock it down from the position it held for ten years. The director, James Cameron (who also hold the number one spot with Avatar) took to social media to congratulate the Avengers: Endgame directing duet, Joe and Anthony Russo. This congratulations came in postcard-esque format and hearkens back to ye old days of George Lucas’ and Steven Spielberg’s back and forth at the box office.

The endearing tradition began in 1977 when, what was know just as Star Wars back then (now known as Star Wars: A New Hope) took over from the massively popular sea monster thriller, Jaws. The letter is a personal congratulations from Steven Spielberg to George Lucas for overtaking his film as the number one highest earning film at the box office. Its been know that Spielberg and Lucas have a close and friendly companionship, often known to advise each other on their next blockbusting venture and even working together to produce the Indian Jones franchise.

In 1982, Steven Spielberg took back the title with his family sci-fi film, E.T. Following from his congratulations to Lucas, the sentiment was mirrored with this heart-felt image of the characters of Star Wars holding up E.T in celebration.

Then in 1983, George Lucas released what was thought to be the last Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi. Although this film did not take the record from Spielberg’s E.T, congratulations was still awarded, and I think its clear to see which of the Star Wars characters is Spielberg’s favourite.

In 1998, a new player entered the game. James Cameron’s hit drama based on true events, Titanic, took to the waves and overturned all previous records. At the time Jurassic Park was at the top of all films, but it was Lucas that offered the congratulations with this comical image of the Star Wars characters on the Titanic.

Jumping into the 21^st century, The Avengers, in 2012, took the record for biggest opening weekend away from Star Wars and at the same time re-invigorated the tradition of passing congratulations. Although this time the director didn’t take ad space in a newspaper, but instead spread the image across social media, for a global audience to see.

Then 2015 was a big, big year for film box office. Firstly, with Jurassic world taking the biggest opening weekend from The Avenger. To later the same year Star Wars: The Force Awakens taking it from Jurassic World. You can see how the format has changed, with the size of the image being more suitable for social media now, rather than taking a single page in a newspaper.

And finally, we arrive here in 2019. Where Avengers: Endgame not only take biggest opening weekend of all time, along with more records, but it places second in the biggest all-time films list and looks like it could take the top stop too.

UK Box Office May 3rd – 5th

This is the second week Avengers: Endgame sits as king of the box office. It still out beats all the competition even though three new films came out this weekend and they’re not small films either. The three new films are genuine summer blockbusters with the most successful of them being, The Long Shot, Seth Rogan’s new comedy venture. Not only does Avengers: Endgame still stand victorious in the UK, it is not the second highest grossing film of all time, sinking the Titanic to third and coming up close behind Avatar. Because of Disney’s acquisition of Fox, it means that all the proceeds form Tolkien now go to Disney and they technically have four films in the top ten UK box office.

Eighth Grade, an American indie film by the talented comedian Bo Burnham, has finally had its UK release and you can see why it was put off for about a year after its US release, because it barley holds on at the bottom of the top ten. Although the film has had very high critical appraise and would probably do very well when it hits the streaming circuit, if it has the proper promotion that is.

Disney Sets Sustained Slate for Several Years to Come

Disney’s recent acquisition of Fox studios and all its intellectual property has often raised the question as to what the future of both studios looks like. Now Disney have provided us all with an answer. They have released an official film slate for what they have planned for the next eight years.

2019 Slate

2019 has been a very big year for Disney, with Avengers: Endgame coming out in this year and as of writing this post it does not hold the largest worldwide box office record, but its looking like it will get there. The acquisition of Fox was also finalised this year and Disney have their Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in the summer.

Going forward Disney still have 15 films to be released globally this year:

Tolkien – A story of J.R.R Tolkien’s life leading up to his creation of the Lord of the Rings books.
Aladdin – A live action re-imagination of the Disney classic of the same name, starring will Smith
Dark Phoenix – The conclusion to Fox’s long-lived X-Men franchise
Stuber – A comedy action film that pairs an Uber driver and a cop.
The Lion King – Another live action re-imagining of a Disney classic
The Art of racing in the rain – A story from a race car drivers’ dog’s perspective
Ready or Not – A suspenseful twits on a bride’s wedding day worries
Ad Astra – A space journey to find his missing farther
The Woman in the Window – An agoraphobic woman witnesses a crime
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – A further exploration into the villainous character
Ford v. Ferrari – A stylised story of the tension between Ford and Ferrari at the Le Mans race.
Frozen 2 – A sequel to the hit 2013 film
Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker – The thrilling conclusion to this generation’s Star Wars trilogy
Spies in Disguise – An animated kids’ film about a spy that turns into a Pidgeon

Fox Marvel Slate

With 19 more films set to come out in 2020, many of the upcoming Fox Marvel films have been removed. The only one still set to be released is The New Mutants, whether it will be a theatrical release is another question. It seems that Disney are very adamant to keep as much control over their Marvel franchise as possible, with six untitled Marvel releases to come leading up to 2027.

Star Wars and Avatar releases

Along with the acquisition of Fox, Disney clamed ownership of Avatar, the only film that grossed higher than Avengers: Endgame so far. And with their slightly disponing performance of Solo: A Star Wars Story, both in the box office and fan reception, they have stated they will discontinue the Star Wars Story line and instead focus on a new trilogy. So, starting in 2021 with the release of Avatar 2, each year will see an adulterant release of Star Wars and Avatar.

Superhero hair halts spoiler scare

Marvel has another global hit on their hands with the upcoming Avengers: Endgame, with a new trailer released yesterday there is nothing but excitement invading social media. Kevin Fiege, the grand-master of Marvel Studios, is often revered for his public relations superpower of speaking in half promises. Somehow managing to generate consumer interest in possible upcoming films, while not at all confirming any definite commitments. Back in January he was quoted saying “I’d call it somewhat accurate. As was the case with a lot of our films this one in particular, you know, being able to generate excitement without giving away any of the many, many, many, many, many,many, many, many secrets would be ideal.” Here he provides insight into the assumption that all marketing for the upcoming Avengers: Endgame will be sourced from the first 15 minutes of the film.

Marketing for films have for a long time used a simple algorithm of showing what you’ll get. In some cases, this has left large twists being spoiled through the marketing, one example being Terminator Genisys, which was not a failure but did not reincarnate the franchise like the executives hoped.

Whether Avengers: Endgame only utilises the first 15 minuets of the film in its marketing or not, the interest of fans will often follow an unexpected tangent, this being the unexpected reveal of Jeremy Renner’s new hair cut for the film. A lack of narrative substance in a film’s marketing usually causes a serge of negative sentiment, but Marvel seen to have the answer in just letting the show be stolen by an awesome mohawk (and the cool new matching Avengers uniforms).

Update – As of recently, the Russo Brothers (Directors of Avengers: Endgame) have confirmed suspicions that the newest Endgame trailer has shots that will not be included in the film. This isn’t the first time they’ve done this either, with the Captain America: Civil War Trailer removing Spider-Man from scenes and the Avengers: Infinity War trailer adding the Hulk in scenes where he would actually appear in his Bruce Banner persona. This marketing strategy puts the film directors in control of promotion material allowing them to promote the tone of the film and not spoil any of the twists.