"Mars Needs Moms" Bombs

[Dread_Pirate_Mel]

Why 'Mars Needs Moms' bombed for Disney

LOS ANGELES— In the weeks leading up to the release of Mars Needs Moms, Disney knew interest in the film was tepid at best. But no one was prepared for such a  disastrous box office wipeout. From a financial standpoint, Mars could be one of the biggest write-offs in modern Hollywood history. The motion-capture animated film cost $150 million to produce but earned only $6.9 million in its debut at the domestic box office, the 12th worst opening of all time for a movie released in more than 3,000 theaters and one of the lowest openings for a major 3D release. The price tag doesn't include a hefty marketing spend. All told, Disney has likely invested $200 million or more in the motion capture pic, made by Robert Zemeckis' now-shuttered ImageMovers Digital....

I could not care less about this movie but this probably kills any chance Robert Zemeckis can ever do a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

[CSM]

I could not care less about this movie but this probably kills any chance Robert Zemeckis can ever do a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Probably a good thing Mel.  WFRR was a novelty for its time...a sequel would pale in comparison

[Disheveledamethyst]

Well, the rumor that's been circling for was that Spielberg would have to co-direct rather than simply produce a RR sequel because of the frustration Bob Z. has caused Disney with Imagemovers. I do think a RR sequel is far off, if it will ever happen, but I do believe Zemeckis is a capable director. He's brought us a number of fantastic films and if I ever saw another RR I guess I'd wish he was there with Spielberg's hand guiding him.

There are a number of jokes in the animation community.
1. Tangled will have to make 500 billion dollars to be in the black.
2. At least its better than Astroboy.
3. Robert Zemeckis is really onto something big.

Maybe if mo-cap animation reaches a level of acceptability and is used as a medium to actually tell solid stories Zemeckis will be hailed as a failed visionary and pioneer. Until then, we will continue to point to MNM and insist its the next big thing.

[brude]

It's unfortunate about the MARS NEEDS MOMS failure. 
Zemeckis' 3 previous Imagemovers projects -- BEOWULF, POLAR EXPRESS and A CHRISTMAS CAROL -- are favorites of mine.

[Disheveledamethyst]

It's unfortunate about the MARS NEEDS MOMS failure. 
Zemeckis' 3 previous Imagemovers projects -- BEOWULF, POLAR EXPRESS and A CHRISTMAS CAROL -- are favorites of mine.

Polar Express gets so much flack and I don't know why. It's not a fantastic movie and Christmas pictures really aren't for everybody even when its in season, but as far as the uncanny valley goes this movie barely treads in it. Zemeckis' creepy-capture has shown us some scary and lifeless stuff but there was a lot of life in those characters. Maybe the glasses helped put a buffer between the viewer and the eyes.

I don't think mo-cap animation is a dead industry. A big part of the problem is how much Zemeckis had a monopoly over the medium. Just wait for Tin-Tin later this year. It's probably going to be huge.

[Dr Hackenbush]

Just wait for Tin-Tin later this year. It's probably going to be huge.

Internationally, for sure.  I'm curious to see if the domestic market embraces the character the way Europe has for 80+ years

[archie leach]

I love how Disney is trying to spin this as a referendum on mo-cap, instead of a colossal marketing blunder that should have never seen the light of day as a film.

They remade the wrong half of the film Explorers.