The Maze Runner is the top movie of the weekend, having begun its box office sprint with a robust $11 million. Considering the film cost just $30m to produce, I would argue that its $30m+ weekend debut, which will place it among the ten-biggest September debuts, qualifies as a major win. The 20th Century Fox release, which played in standard theaters and IMAX, is the latest would-be franchise to emanate from a young-adult fantasy book series. The film, about a group of young boys trapped on a mysterious and deadly island with no memory of their former lives, is based on a book by James Dashner. The film benefited from a somewhat simple hook and lacked the complicated world-building that required an entire marketing campaign to explain. The lead Dylan O’Brian isn’t necessary a major star, but his role in MTV's Teen Wolf series certainly mattered in terms of exposure in kid-friendly marketing avenues. Point being, we are getting to the point where there are enough YA fantasy-lit films that not everyone has to be held up as the next Hunger Games. As such, The Maze Runner, which is frankly a better movie than I expected, is a small-scale genre entry that is doing pretty terrific business in regards to its own budget and expectations.
Well I suppose the book isn't as bad as Divergent as far as YA dystopias go. I wish Hunger Games hadn't blocked the US adaptation of Battle Royale tho.
Not surprised, it definitely has multiple signs of doing well - a popular lead actor, the whole premise, the Hunger Games-ness, an intriguing concept a trailer that makes it look great that some YA films didn't have, etc. The trailers definitely reeled me in and I will be seeing this (though most likely online, as I don't go see stuff in theaters that often anymore.)
Kinda sad that a guy has to be the lead for it to attract both genders. But nonetheless, I'm glad to see a YA adaptation do good! I'm here for YA to be a prominent genre in Hollywood. I see people say that they're sick of YA, but I see it as a new genre in movies just like action, comedy, romance, etc.
I'm surprised. Guess delaying it turned out to be incredibly smart.
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Originally posted by Lethal
Why? It sucks
I'm also kinda thinking this, even though it really has no bearing on how it'd perform. I heard about the series once before the movie got announced and since then I never really heard much praise and have seen the sequels be universally bashed. Slay tho, Dylan and others.
Well I suppose the book isn't as bad as Divergent as far as YA dystopias go. I wish Hunger Games hadn't blocked the US adaptation of Battle Royale tho.
Which movie is the us adaptation of battle royale?
Kinda sad that a guy has to be the lead for it to attract both genders. But nonetheless, I'm glad to see a YA adaptation do good! I'm here for YA to be a prominent genre in Hollywood. I see people say that they're sick of YA, but I see it as a new genre in movies just like action, comedy, romance, etc.
Really? That's really impressive. I enjoyed the first book in the trilogy but I figured the movie adaptation would flop since the trailers were kinda meh to me. Happy it's doing well though.
This is just early tracking from studios.
Slay tho, Dylan and others.