On Friday, we talked about all of the genre fare hitting that day. Now that the weekend smoke has cleared, how did the films and TV shows actually fare? Well, it’s kind of a split decision.
Jason Kills: The reimagining of Friday the 13th conquered the box office with the largest horror remake opening ever. Its 42.2 million dollar bow set February records as well, according to Media by Numbers. Industry observers were surprised that it roughly handled two Valentine’s Day sure bets, including last week’s champ He’s Just Not That Into You and the new Confessions of a Shopaholic (an anemic fourth).
TV: Fox may be rethinking their new “Sci-Fi” Friday. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was down 30% according to TV Guide. It probably didn’t help that its timeslot competition, Ghost Whisperer, had over 10 million viewers. As for Joss Whedon’s highly anticipated Dollhouse? TV Guide points out that its debut nabbed 4.7 million viewers, which was shockingly close to the average week for Firefly during its tenure on the network of Murdoch.
So, what do you think, readers? Good news for horror? Bad news for Whedon and Fox?
February 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
They could make a Jason movie every year on Friday the 13 and I would watch…. well, so long as they stay away from space and heart eating. This Friday rocked.
As for Terminator and Dollhouse, it may look bad, but they are saying it’s #1 for the male demo, and judging from the “grindhouse” style commercials, that’s who they were going after. Granted they are lucky they don’t count MyNetwork as a real channel or else WWE Smackdown would easily nab that demographic.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I’m a Friday superfan and I couldn’t be more excited that the new movie was a success. I saw 8 (punched a guy’s head off!) and 9 (awful awful) in the theater and even found some level of camp enjoyment in X (the crystal lake simulator was hilarious). My pregnant wife was going to take me for Valentines but was too sick, bless her heart. Hopefully next weekend.
Sci Fi Friday was a terrible idea out of the gate. Seriously, No.Bo.Dy. watches new shows on a Friday night. They could move 24 to Fridays and it would lose at least 20% of its audience. Anything worthwhile will be DVRed, something new, i.e. Dollhouse, will be completely forgotten.
February 17th, 2009 at 7:53 am
sci-fi any night besides fri-sat will work better. the audience for these shows are out and about on those nights.
its common sense. friday night is death for science fiction…take it from a guy that had painkiller jane for 22 weeks on a friday. even i didnt stay home to watch it.