Munich

Release Date: December 23, 2005
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Tony Kushner
Starring: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Geoffrey Rush, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hanns Zischler, Ciaran Hinds
Genre: Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary: A historical thriller set in the aftermath of the 1972 massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. The film recounts the dramatic story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre -- and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the team and the man who led it. Eric Bana ("Troy") stars as the Mossad agent charged with leading the band of specialists brought together for this operation. Inspired by actual events, the narrative is based on a number of sources, including the recollections of some who participated in the events themselves.

This movie will be interesting to predict and track. On its opening weekend, Munich will open on Friday (23rd), drop very big on Saturday (Christmas Eve), and increase big (Christmas). I'm expecting huge Oscar buzz on this one, and considering that it's Spielberg, reviews will be fantastic. Will it break out with $200+ million total?

My current prediction...

$30 million opening, $150 million total.

25/100

This winter will rule all other winters!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

36/191

24/128

You guys realize this will more than likely start out in at least semi-limited release....I doubt they'd go super-wide right off the bat.

I wouldn't be surprised if this got pushed back to spring. Word has it that Spielberg hasn't even begun shooting.

This article said it already started...

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=10267

Won't it likely have a limited slow-build release like Schindler's did? Took Schindler's like a month to slowly open wide.

So for that reason I won't guess opening. But for total: hmm 65m unless it wins major awards then it might reach 85m.

Assuming it opens wide: 24/111.

34/130

Yeah, Amistad started in about 300 theaters before reaching 1000 total. Anyways, I'm not so sure this will be that big. It's not exactly a plot that sounds like it'll sell all that well. Even if it did open in 2,500+ theaters, I'm not sure it would open above 20 million (although that would be leading to a total in excess of 120-140 million).

I'm guessing that it'll open in very limited release (2 theatres, 1 in NY and 1 in LA is what I expect) so predicting opening is rather pointless until we learn more about its release pattern. However, given that Spielberg rarely misfires (and even when he does the film's still make over 70 million), I expect its total to exceed 100 million.

By the way, what is Spielberg's next project after this one? Is he going to be taking a break seeing as how he had to work very hard to finish 'War of the Worlds' on time and will likely have to do the same with this film as well?

His next project after MUNICH is a drama about the life of Abraham Lincoln starring Liam Neeson as the sixteenth president. Its supposedly going to hit in 2007.

Thanks Zing. Now that you mention it, I do remember hearing about that project a while back. It should do gangbusters in America at least.

I think it will open to about $20m and hold up well (especially if it gets awards buzz) and end up with $115m. I cant see this making $200m if Catch Me If You Can couldnt.

I dont know,if its criticly acclaimed and gets some big award nominations then i see it doing 115mill+,if it dosent then i see it doing 75mill.

Since they've done away with the thriller aspect of the story, I think it's appeal will be limited.

Still, it's being touted as the big awards front runner this year and the Spielberg brand name sells tickets.

If this film has any kind of critical buzz, then it should translate into public buzz which should make it open well. Then if it gets oscar recognition, it could do SL or SPR numbers.

I'll say: 25/125 plus an extra 40 mill if oscars are omnipotent.

Definately will lack the appeal of his other dramas. But should still turn in good box office results.

If it opens wide and is big on the awards: 19/152
If not big on the awards, but opens wide: 19/105

Opening (Assuming it goes wide in January): 19.6 (30.3 Total at the time)
Total (Assuning it gets Oscar attention): 123.1 (6.28)

hmmm .....i need to see the trailer first, its kinda hard to predict this one

I'd say a 35 Million opening but an 140 Million finish. It will have solid legs considering its a huge awards contender.

i see around Cold Mountain #s :wink:

if it opens in limited release and opens wide in January then it'll probably do around what Black Hawk Down did up to that point, and on opening weekend. With a lot of oscar nominations it will have a much higher total though. $29M opening (wide) and anywhere from $150M to $210M total.