Why even bother to post on a movie's message board if you hate it so much?

If nostalgia is as strong for people who played with Barbie dolls in their childhood as it was for 80s action stars reprising roles in their 60s, there could be lots of baby boomers looking for a matinee that might bring idyllic childhood memories.

Why rain on their parade? If the movie isn't for you, fine, it's a big world out there, it may be for others.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

If nostalgia is as strong for people who played with Barbie dolls in their childhood as it was for 80s action stars reprising roles in their 60s, there could be lots of baby boomers looking for a matinee that might bring idyllic childhood memories.

Boomer here! I hated Barbie dolls!

@bratface said:

Boomer here! I hated Barbie dolls!

That's fine. Be that as it may, somebody was buying them.

@bratface said:

Boomer here! I hated Barbie dolls!

I don't know if I was ever in the target demographic but Barbie Dolls just freak me out. The only reason I show any interest is because a lot of people I find interesting are, inexplicably, in this movie:

• Will Ferrell
• Ryan Gosling
• Michael Cera
• Kate McKinnon
• Margot Robbie
• Greta Gerwig
• Noah Baumbach

I mean I haven't decided to watch the movie though. I will, which I never do, watch the trailer and see if I don't freak out.

@lostincinema said:

I don't know if I was ever in the target demographic but Barbie Dolls just freak me out. The only reason I show any interest is because a lot of people I find interesting are, inexplicably, in this movie:

• Will Ferrell
• Ryan Gosling
• Michael Cera
• Kate McKinnon
• Margot Robbie
• Greta Gerwig
• Noah Baumbach

I mean I haven't decided to watch the movie though. I will, as I never do, watch the trailer and see if I don't freak out.

I have no interest in seeing this movie, mainly because of the subject matter & also, I cannot stand Will Ferrell.

@bratface said:

I have no interest in seeing this movie, mainly because of the subject matter & also, I cannot stand Will Ferrell.

That's the thing though. I feel like Noah Baumbach being involved might mean this may not be Disney-like run of the mill barbie movie. Or not. That's the only hook for me.

I cannot stand Will Ferrell.

Understandable. Initially I thought he's kind of loud but he grew on me. I feel like he's a bit of a genius if I may say so.

Not that I had any interest in seeing this, but initially I thought "good for girls that they're making something for little girls."

And then I found out what the movie is actually about and oh boy, it's "men bad, women victims" on steroids. It will likely have a good opening weekend but I suspect this thing will crash in its second weekend.

@tmdb98221399 said:

This is gonna Bomb

You're already wrong and it's only Friday

@jasonmillerfg said:

@tmdb98221399 said:

This is gonna Bomb

You're already wrong and it's only Friday

Maybe he meant to say: It's the bomb.

It's ridiculous to think this movie would fail: incredible talent backed by the enormous marketing machine of WB.

@lostincinema said:

@jasonmillerfg said:

@tmdb98221399 said:

This is gonna Bomb

You're already wrong and it's only Friday

Maybe he meant to say: It's the bomb.

Tee-hee!

It's ridiculous to think this movie would fail: incredible talent backed by the enormous marketing machine of WB.

I wouldn't say it's ridiculous, we've seen plenty of movies full of incredible talent backed by a lot of marketing effort still fail (one of the reasons I started building my movie ROI database, to better understand the degree of elasticity between movie quality and financial performance, as well as trying to quantify what other factors go into critical vs. financial success, and their periodic intersections).

What I would say is it's myopic to try to project one's own personal distaste for a movie as the standard for the entire marketplace. I have no interest in a movie like Terrifier 2, but I'd be silly to then expect that no one would be interested in it because, guess what? People are different, and not everyone sees things the way I do. Imagine that!

And, no, I'm not assuming the OP had no reason to make the suggestion. I'm just observing that the OP didn't provide any reasonable explanation for why they thought this movie would bomb, which points to a simplistic conclusion that the OP just wants to rain on others' parade based on their own preferences.

At any rate, let's see where we're at after CinemaScore sheds some light, and then again after the dust settles on the entire theatrical release. It'll be an interesting study!

@DRDMovieMusings said:

I'm just observing that the OP didn't provide any reasonable explanation for why they thought this movie would bomb, which points to a simplistic conclusion that the OP just wants to rain on others' parade based on their own preferences.

If we could just remember who the OP was, that would answer your query.

@DRDMovieMusings said: I have no interest in a movie like Terrifier 2, but I'd be silly to then expect that no one would be interested in it because, guess what? People are different, and not everyone sees things the way I do. Imagine that!

Terrifier 2 cost like 250k to make but grossed $15 million. It made a lot in comparison to its budget, but any studio film that earned just $15 million would want to slit its own wrists. Barbie will not make 60x its budget back, but it will likely do well given the marketing push. The question is will it have legs, and I am leaning towards no based on how divisive the plot sounds. Women will for certain come out opening weekend, this is "their" movie so to speak, but my god if the roles were reversed this would be called an incel movie.

@cswood said:

Terrifier 2 cost like 250k to make but grossed $15 million. It made a lot in comparison to its budget, but any studio film that earned just $15 million would want to slit its own wrists.

Yes, it paid a whopping $60.40 for each production budget dollar spent — that's a ton of ROI. In my movie ROI database of 3,165 titles from 1915 to present, only 47 movies paid $60 or better, putting Terrifier 2 in the top 1.48% most profitable movies of all time. Slit their wrists? I don't think so.

They knew going in that the market for that kind of movie was not going to bring in $100M in box office revenues - they were shrewd to get into the can for just $250K in order to profit realistically from the value of the market that was out there for it. This is why profit can sometimes be a more important indicator than just box office revenue taken in isolation!

Barbie will not make 60x its budget back,

Over 98% of movies never do, so that's not a failure itself. I didn't mention Terrifier 2 as some sort of performance standard Barbie should be aiming to hit; I was merely demonstrating that any movie has a target audience and the producers are simply hoping they'll hit that target, not try to please everyone.

but it will likely do well given the marketing push. The question is will it have legs,

That is indeed the question, isn't it?

and I am leaning towards no based on how divisive the plot sounds.

Place your bets!

Women will for certain come out opening weekend, this is "their" movie so to speak, but my god if the roles were reversed this would be called an incel movie.

False equivalence is fallacy. I highly suspect Barbie is not out there killing men because no one will date her. Downplaying the pathology and damage caused by incels is disrespectful to all the people and their families who've suffered at the hands of their murderous actions.

@lostincinema said:

@jasonmillerfg said:

@tmdb98221399 said:

This is gonna Bomb

You're already wrong and it's only Friday

Maybe he meant to say: It's the bomb.

*It's ridiculous to think this movie would fail: incredible talent backed by the enormous marketing machine of WB. *

It could fail, as YouTube critics have started a massive concerted effort to discredit this movie. Their millions of followers - male and female fans - will not see it and encourage others, e.g. friends and family, to do the same, and those who do go to see the movie, will give it a negative review when it is 'preachy' about men.

These critics recommend the movies: "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)"), "Oppenheimer (2023)" and "Sound of Freedom (2023)". Real men, real heroes, no independent strong women.

Poor Barbie, all those tough macho men - and their 'subservient' women - ganging up on her. Why do they have to crash her party and spoil it.

Let's continue partying with Barbie and have fun, fun, fun this summer, because nothing and no one can stop Barbie from being a success!