KOH International Release Dates, Open May 4, 2005 in Europe, May 6 in NA Options

[Kehoe]

I don't really classify May 6th as being "summer," but I'm not in charge of Hollywood's calendar.

I don't think Troy's steam was put out by Shrek 2 or Harry Potter. Troy is rated R, and that's it's biggest disadvantage (now enter Shrek 2/HP). My mom said there were so many girls and boys at school (7th/8th grade) who wanted to go see Troy, but they're parents wouldn't let them (or wouldn't go with them.which I think is unfortunate) and, obviously, they're underage. So instead, they go see Shrek 2 or Harry Potter, NOT necessarily because they're dying too, but becuase it's the only movie out they can go see (and they're familiar with).

I'm hoping KOH isn't going to be rated R, but hey, I don't have to worry about the age thing, so it doesn't matter to me!

[Guest_Rita_*]

I don't think releasing Kingdom of Heaven during the Christmas season is likely since Alexander is coming out on Nov 5, 2004, and according to Hollywood, there can't be two sandal epics coming out at the same time.

[MovieImp]

If Ridley wanted an entire year to edit and perfect his movie, it's very doubtful it would be moved up, even if I think that might be a good idea. If anything I can see it being pushed further out from May. So far the exhibitor site from Fox still has it in May (not June). But release dates are very tentative but I think Mission Impossible 3 knows it has the upper hand and will not budge off the date, so we will have to see what the Studio decides if anything about the date.

[BigBird]

I'm sure that in the two - three months prior to KOH's release, there will be a spate of documentaries on television, plus newspaper and magazine articles about the Crusades, as part of the PR campaign, to increase public awareness of the era and what it was all about.

We've had some pretty similar things lately about Troy, and ancient Greece in general, which no doubt helped build audiences for both Troy and upcoming films like Alexander.

[Kira]

I think it would be ideal if KOH was released in January so people will be sick enough of spending time with their families for the holidays and will get out of the house to see it () and it's right before the Oscars.

To be eligible for the Oscars, a film has to play in at least New York and Los Angeles for at least a week during the previous calendar year. I.E. To be eligible for the 2005 Oscars, KOH would have to play for at least a week in those two cities in 2004. That's why in the past so many films have opened in limited release in December, then expanded to more screens during January of the following year.

Come to think of it, pretty much nothing really noteworthy ever comes out in the spring. :wink:

That has been the case, traditionally, and the original Matrix movie took full advantage of that. It opened in April 1999 (it was my niece's first movie; she was 2 weeks old ), and enjoyed incredible box office because it pretty much had no competition. (And it was good, but let's not get into the sequels now. :wink:) There's generally one film that opens in the spring that does really well; the rest of the films are just dumped by the studios who don't want to open them in the highly competitive summer and holiday seasons.

Kira

[Guest_waitingforwake_*]

I think our current situation in regards to Christian/Muslim relations will be KoH's biggest strength. Much like with the Passion of Christ, the content of the story will be highly controversial, especially if Ridley claims that it is historically accurate. I just pray it doesn't come out the same weekend as Star Wars Episode 3. Of course if I had to choose between Hayden and Orlando, that would be a no-brainer.

[SuzieKat]

I just pray it doesn't come out the same weekend as Star Wars Episode 3. Of course if I had to choose between Hayden and Orlando, that would be a no-brainer.

Hey, I'm sure they'll be in theaters for plenty long enough to see both :wink: .

[minktress]

I think it would be ideal if KOH was released in January so people will be sick enough of spending time with their families for the holidays and will get out of the house to see it () and it's right before the Oscars.

To be eligible for the Oscars, a film has to play in at least New York and Los Angeles for at least a week during the previous calendar year. I.E. To be eligible for the 2005 Oscars, KOH would have to play for at least a week in those two cities in 2004. That's why in the past so many films have opened in limited release in December, then expanded to more screens during January of the following year.

Come to think of it, pretty much nothing really noteworthy ever comes out in the spring. :wink:

That has been the case, traditionally, and the original Matrix movie took full advantage of that. It opened in April 1999 (it was my niece's first movie; she was 2 weeks old ), and enjoyed incredible box office because it pretty much had no competition. (And it was good, but let's not get into the sequels now. :wink:) There's generally one film that opens in the spring that does really well; the rest of the films are just dumped by the studios who don't want to open them in the highly competitive summer and holiday seasons.

Kira

Ooh I didn't know that about the Oscars. Thanks for the info!
And, yeah, that's why I thought a spring release would be good.

[Flaanu]

I just pray it doesn't come out the same weekend as Star Wars Episode 3. Of course if I had to choose between Hayden and Orlando, that would be a no-brainer.

This would be a really hard decision for me. And not just because of Hayden. I have seen the first two Star Wars on opening day, so I plan on continuing this with Episode 3 next May. And if they opened the same day, I'd have to take the whole day off and sit in the theater ALL DAY!!!! Not that that would be a BAD thing, but I think I'd like to see KOH in June instead, and I could watch both movies a few times!!!

[Guest_FireElemental_*]

Just some musings on the KOH release date. The May date, is roughly the same time of year as Gladiator, now that film was succesful precisely because it was up against the whizz bang summer blockbusters. I also think that is why Troy got a May release, as a film aimed at a more serious and mature audience is more likely to stand out at the multiplexes against an array of more teen and action movies. Whereas, the 'Oscar season' of November through to mid-January is awash with worthy mature audience films, with a few Holiday season family films thrown in. (one exception in the last three years, LOTR).

As for Star Wars episode three, the last two prequels did far better in the USA domestic market, than they did globally. Did you know that in the all time non-adjusted, global (including the USA) chart, POTC is one place higher than AOTC! AOTC faired relatively badly outside the USA, and parts of its target audience, around my son's age have no interest in episode three (I live in the UK). Don't forget than in Box Office terms, big historical epics usually fair better outside of the USA, than they do inside the USA.

I do think that the date of release of KOH is immaterial as far as awards are concerned, because being a Ridley Scott film it will automatically be on the awards radar. It may also illustrate Mr Scott's confidence in KOH.

Diane

I think I will have to completely agree with Diane here. And the fact being that it is a fresh movie, even if it has a rating of 'R' tagged to it, I seriously doubt that's going to hinder much with the teen viewers due mainly to what it's about. I know pleantly of adults who are not Orlando fans who have been interested in KOH. Who also have kids who are Orlando fans and would be willing to see it with thier parents (probably won't sit together though! ). But as always things do change, and we'll just have to wait and see. But do remember that it is opening weekend that REALLY counts when it comes to how well a movie does..in the eyes of Hollywood at least. Troy did very well it's opening weekend and even though Shrek and Harry Potter dragged it screaming from the number one spot, people are still noting how well it did opening weekend.

[Guest_FireElemental_*]

I'm sure that in the two - three months prior to KOH's release, there will be a spate of documentaries on television, plus newspaper and magazine articles about the Crusades, as part of the PR campaign, to increase public awareness of the era and what it was all about.

We've had some pretty similar things lately about Troy, and ancient Greece in general, which no doubt helped build audiences for both Troy and upcoming films like Alexander.

The USA Network had the movie 'Helen of Troy' running a lot in May of 2003! And there are new candy bars coming out of the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, and the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" hasn't even began filming yet!

[dmw3]

FireElemental, I am glad that you get it too. KOH is not really a family or teenie film, as such the release date is probably insignificant, unless it is up against another big scale adult film or historical epic. Not only is Alexander in the works, but Vin Diesel is doing a Hannibal movie, and a Caesar movie is also in the pipeline, both have tentative 2005 release dates, I think there may be a few more as well. So KOH is probably best off as the standout mature audience film at the multiplexes.

As for so many sequels being released in May/June next year. Well, it was mooted in the original announcements for KOH and will undoubtly follow in the advertising, that KOH is the 'follow-up' historical epic from the director of Gladiator, again that will get backsides in theatres, and kind of makes KOH a 'sequel' of sorts.

As for the 3rd Star Wars prequel. Like AOTC it will not do mega-box office outside the USA. Check out Box Office Mojo, AOTC is 'only' the 19th biggest grosser of all time globally, Pirates is one place above Although AOTC is in the top 5 domestic grossers (USA), good, but for a Star Wars film, not great. Post-LOTR, the Star Wars publicity engine for episode 3 has gone into overdrive compared to the first 2 prequels, I get the sense that Lucas's people are concerned about box office. The AOTC DVD didn't do that well this side of the pond (UK), which as we have high numbers of dvd owners, is a good indicator about how well sequels will do, Spiderman didn't do that well on DVD too. As my son now almost 16 said, I have never felt so angry as when he left the cinema after AOTC, he actually felt betrayed! and he definitley won't being seeing Episode 3 at the cinema. I am not 'dissing' Star Wars fans, just trying to illustrate that these films are not really seen as a major box office drawer, or threat outside the USA, anymore.

KOH is an international film with an international market and hopefully a global release date ala LOTR, so the US summer movie season is not as relevant in box office terms, and in critical terms being up against the summer fluff could turn KOH into a major talking point bearing in mind its subject matter. On that note, I do think the big thing that could affect KOH, is if world events go against it and audiences don't feel they want to participate in its subject matter, a balanced look at the Crusades.

Diane