MovieChat Forums > Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Discussion > why did it bomb?

why did it bomb?

posted 6 years ago by bozo_500 (13104)
28 replies | jump to latest

-TLJ controversies/backlash - although not much of an issue for general audience who had no beef with it (whereas Rogue 1 was coming off the audience loved TFA)

-coming only 6m after last SW (not 1 year/Dec release* like R1) and its the 4th SW movie in 3 years. same happened with Matrix 3 and BTTF3 coming 6m after last (unsatisfying) one - although its not a problem for MCU/superheroes (maybe its because they do different genres? idk)

-*maybe Dec is the time for SW now? that christmasy feel of a SW movie - maybe a summer SW movie dosnt feel right now?

-BTS stuff of the quirky Lego/21 Jump directors being fired and replaced by safe hands Ron Howard (although causal moviegoers who don't follow movienews websites wouldn't know or care about that )

-the not exactly enticing prospect of a young Han Solo origin movie with a guy that dosnt really look like Ford. (whereas R1 was an exciting prospect)

-fan things that are supposedly big selling points to see the movie (Kessel Run, winning the Falcon, meeting Chewie/Lando) not being that interesting for the causal moviegoer that don’t memorize/obsess over Star Wars lore (and arent as 'big' enough as the stealing of the DeathStar plans)

-no light sabres/Force/Jedi/Skywalker drama

-trailers were only out couple of months b4 release (and looked abit meh/no hook like there was with R1 with Vader, DeathStar etc and felt like an exciting epic movie)

-everyone still going crazy for Avengers/Deadpool and gearing up for Jurassic World 2(whereas R1 didnt have much comp dec 16)

-ok/so-so reviews i.e. its ok but no need to rush out to see this thing at cinema (again unlike R1 which had glowing reviews)

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Because no one honestly likes the new Star Wars films and everyone is sick of the franchise.

[–] LetThemEatCake (2717) 6 years ago

if it had been that actor that looks just like harrison ford it would have been a must see.

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 6 years ago

I reckon that might've helped! its funny because presumably he wasn't cast as he didn't have enough experience (despite playing young Ford in a major movie) over Alden whod been in a few big things (and prob seen as more adept at comedy which was the original intention for the movie) but eventually needed like a 'Harrison Ford acting coach' to make him more like Ford (probably due to the Lego directors being fired and the movie being retooled to be more 'straight' and as Glover was totally pulling Billy Dee out the bag as young Lando) something the utube guy would've had in abundance

[–] LetThemEatCake (2717) 6 years ago

maybe that would have been too out there for them? I don't know.

[–] Guitar King (4890) 6 years ago

1.The Force Awakens was a lazy rehash of A New Hope.

2.The Last Jedi was mediocre and not respectful of past characters and movies. The new characters are awful.

3.JJ Abrams called fans who disliked TLJ sexist.

4.Kathleen Kennedy publicly stated she doesn't need to cater to male fans.

5.Kathleen Kennedy was photographed in a shirt that read "The Force is Female."

6.Jon Kasdan trolled fans on twitter about Lando being pansexual.

7.A week before the movie's release, Donald Glover put out a race baiting music video.

8.Fed up fans accomplished a mass boycott.

[–] horrorfan000 (2307) 6 years ago

"4.Kathleen Kennedy publicly stated she doesn't need to cater to male fans."

Instead she caters to her own feminist messaging with little regard for what the fans (both men and women) might actually want to see.So tired of modern tv shows and movies constantly using the media to womansplain the importance of female empowerment to everyone.I blame Weinstein.Ever since that moron we've been bombarded with constant feminist politics.

[–] Hans-Wilhelm (1355) 6 years ago

Did it bomb? I didn't read or see the movie sale results.

For me, I've already stated on this board that I have no interest or plans to see this. First, I've grown tired of the poor choices with other films, The Last Jedi kind of ruined Star Wars to a degree for me, I was already less interested in SW due to the Prequels......I hated Hayden Christianson as Darth Vader....a HORRIBLE choice, in my opinion and second I couldn't care less about going back and seeing "young" Han Solo. Move forward, quit moving backwards. At least Rogue One worked because it was new story with new characters (with an old setting). Vader is one of the few characters you can re-visit because he's in a suite and you can't see the man and Jones is still alive and you can still use his voice. I literally couldn't care less about getting other actors to play Han and Lando and seeing them when they were young. Who cares.

[–] Arghhhh (804) 6 years ago

All of the above but you need to add:

-TFA trashing and literally murdering the character of Han to try shore up that hollowed out husk of a movie.

Why would we ever care about Solo's origins when we know his ending is so laughably pathetic?

[–] kuku (3510) 6 years ago

That's it. They've been trashing the male characters from the original trilogy, and then they wonder why people have no interest in a prequel using one male character from the original trilogy. Wow, what a mystery.

And same thing will happen to any Obi Wan prequel. Either they trash it as they did with Luke, either they make him into some kind of preacher of feminism and diversity (which would be even worse). Zero interest.

[–] Alex (1503) 6 years ago

This! A hundred times This!
Perfectly summed up.

TFA script we as fans deserved:
- Republic with Han and Leia pretty much in charge for 30 years of just ruling.
- Luke having his Jedi Academy and teaching up-and-coming jedi Rey with biggest Force potential to date.
- Luke, Han and Leia share several scenes together (biggest OT wish fulfillment).
- Kylo Ren being a troubled run-away kid who wasn't accepted into Jedi Academy in the first place.
- Snoke is the last Sith lord (with a goddamn backstory) who picked up all the force sensitive kids like Kylo and created the knights of Ren. Shown through a flashback.
- Siths are a small minority (NO STORM TROOPERS) while the Republic is YUUUUUGE spanning thousand of planets.
- This means no comedy relief sidekick FINN.
- Knights of Ren are elite dark force users who utilize guerilla style warfare and cause trouble in the outer rim planets and subjugate their people. They are very powerful and dangerous.
- Movie ending with major fight between Kylo and Rey when she was sent on a diplomatic mission to outer rim planet, but Kylo is much stronger and Rey is almost about to die when unexpectedly Luke shows up and ROFLSTOMPS Kylo and his Knights of Ren. He sensed Rey's future peril, so he hopped into his classic X-wing and got there ASAP.
- Serious casualties on Kylo's side and him injured they have no choice but to flee and live another day.
- Luke says that the day is won but deep down inside he knows that it was just the beginning (sequel bait).
- Luke takes Rey to the swamp planet of the Dagobah system to complete her training (where the movie actually ends).
- Story hints at Grey Jedi in the sequels. The true balance of the force to come.
- Blah Blah Blah the end.

Now tell me, who wouldn't enjoy a ST like that? No mystery boxes, no bullshit, and it ACTUALLY EXPANDS and ENHANCES OT, wouldn't you agree?

[–] Arghhhh (804) 6 years ago

It's difficult for me to imagine any kid of quality film featuring Snoke, Rey or Kylo but I know what you mean and yes, it would have been 100 times better.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

"Bombing" is relative.

One can't ever call ANY film that is in the top 5 of the box office a "bomb".

[–] kuku (3510) 6 years ago

Of course is relative.

It's relative to the expenses.

When your movie has a $300 million budget, plus $100-$200 millions in marketing, plus the share in the $4000 million payment for the franchise... and then you make about less than $200 million (considering 50% of box office), the we can say that in relative terms, your absolutely screwed.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 6 years ago

Its a bomb, it doesn't matter where it is at in the TOP 5, plenty of films have bombed that open in the TOP 5,they only open a few films per week in wide release. That film is on pace to take a loss, it came in way below expectations, and considering the expectations weren't great to begin with that's quite an achievement.

[–] galahadfairlight (414) 6 years ago

John Carter opened at #2 in its opening week.

By your logic, that movie wasn't a bomb because it was in the top 5.

Your logic is broken.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

you're probably right.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/aug/31/artsfeatures

[–] galahadfairlight (414) 6 years ago

I am right, and posting a link to The Guardian of all places doesn't alter that or show me to be wrong.

[–] christomacin (4655) 6 years ago

Solo is only in the Top 5 as of June, by the end of the year several other big films will come out and it is entirely possible Solo could even slip out of the 2018 Top 10 Movies list (nevermind the Top 5). Especially the way things seem to be trending.

[–] furiousstyles (4391) 6 years ago

i blame The Last Jedi , the film that brought star wars on its knees, nothing will be the same again after this movie.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 6 years ago

I am going to disagree a little with your first one, only because it made it into mainstream news, and TLJ fell below expectations during its run as its opening and performance of the prior two indicated a higher gross than it ended up with. I don't know how much it effected it but I think the films quality in general disappointed some of the general audience as well. You don't have to be a SW fan to see the issue between this film and the film it directly follows, after all why would anyone watch TLJ if they havn't seen TFA?