So my clubs continue to be pretty darn pathetic failures. Like, three of those films didn't even make it to the halfway point of my goals. Pretty awful.

BUT GO ON I SHALL.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBUXcNTjviI[/youtube]

The film has officially screened at the Venice and Telluride festivals and killed at both. The reactions have been almost universally positive. With twelve reviews it's currently at 91 on Metacritic, and five of those reviews are perfect scores. Tom Hanks even took time during his Q&A for Sully to praise the film. It's basically the current frontrunner for Best Picture and I'm not sure what can stop it.

Basically, it's a very easy-to-love movie by almost all accounts. There's no real easy comparison to it, because original musicals with recognizable stars like this are a rarity these days - most big musicals are Broadway adaptations, so they have that to fall back on. But the marketing for this has been pretty killer thus far, and (using personal anecdotes here) every time I post about this movie on Facebook the post gets a lot of reactions not just from movie buff friends, but also from the kind of people that usually just have a passing interest in film.

It opens in limited release on December 2 ($100k+ PTA here we come, whoo!), but there's no set expansion schedule yet. I'm guessing it'll be in at least semi-wide release by Christmas Day (600-1,000 theaters), as Lionsgate usually doesn't take its time with platform releases. But assuming it retains its frontrunner status, this will be playing well into February and probably into March. Slow and steady can get it to this club goal, I think.

Who's in?!

1. Jonathan (Sept. 4)
2. bl1222 (Sept. 4)
3. Libs (Sept. 4)

4. MadGez (Sept. 5)
5. mark66 (Sept. 5)
6. asalem182 (Sept. 5)
7. tree and a half (Sept. 5)
8. Jiffy (Sept. 5)
9. Jmart (Sept. 5)
10. Magic Mike (Sept. 5)
11. xiayun (Sept. 5)
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12. Chippy (Sept. 6)
13. zwackerm (Sept. 6)
14. Kenspy (Sept. 6)

No chance.

$35m tops.

It will easily top Algren's "max. prediction", but $100 million? No.

Out. I could see something like Moulin Rouge! adjusted (87m), but not 100. Seems a bit high.

That seems like the best case scenario with EVERY thing going right for it. (Oscar noms in all major categories, frontrunner in one of the major categories, critical darling, amazing WOM, etc.)

Right now I'm going to say no. Really excited for the movie though.

I could see it happen. It should have 8+ nominations easily, and musicals with great WOM can go far.

Count me in.

Agree

75m tops

I'm in!

I think this is going to be zeitgeisty and break out in the same way Black Swan did in that December limited bow a few years ago.

Not to mention if it maintains a status as a (the?) Best Picture frontrunner.

Don't be fooled by Lecter's claim that my prediction is insane. La La Land has artsy, alienating Oscar-y film written all over it. It might be a fucking great film, but The Artist only made $44m and Birdman only made $42m. "Great" films have mediocre returns all the time.

Both of them made more than $35 million, so what are you trying to prove?

If I'm out by just $10m, I'll consider my prediction incredibly solid, and a definite success considering your belittling intention that "It will easily top Algren's max. prediction".

This is developing a nice buzz that should reach fever pitch by year end. It will also be a great alternative to the likes of Rogue One and Assassins Creed.

I'm in.

In...

Germans opposing each other!

In.

I have chosen to throw the full weight of my karmic support behind La La Land in the hopes of influencing the success of this club.

In.

Why the hell not.

In.

Like xiayun and Libs said, everything has to go right for it in terms of quality and Oscars, and I think that's going to happen. And since when has Tom Hanks ever steered us wrong?

In

I'm liking the healthy divide between Ins and Outs right now.

I'm going to go in. With the countless accolades it's likely to get I really think this can take off. Granted I probably wouldn't have joined if we didn't have reviews already. Those will really help it.

Those were far more alienating, IMO. This seems like an old-fashioned, crowd-pleasing musical. If a silent film like The Artist can make 44 Million this will easily surpass that.

Midnight in Paris and Moulin Rouge! did not even manage $60m. There is just no way this tops $100m. I concede that my $35m maximum is probably too low, it could go higher, but it will absolutely definitely not make $100m.

Moulin Rouge was a much more divisive movie. La la Land is invoking the memory of Singin' in the Rain and other more crowd-pleasing musicals.

BTW, I'm in.

The music from Moulin Rouge! was and is highly popular, and it still couldn't manage $60m. Nobody knows any song from La La Land, which may hinder it.