Suicide Squad

[doug maverick]

So just finished watching Suicide Squad I didn't hate it. I enjoyed myself, HOWEVER it's a mess; paper thin plot, Plot device characters, some characters are given too much and some very little, you can tell the studio came in and ass raped this film, this is what happens when you put profit before product, warner's(i dont say DC because dc is just now getting a creative producer before that warners handled it.) biggest issue is that their superhero films have no repeat factor. You watch them once and you are like eh. And don't want to see it again and which is why they suffer from the second week slump, highlights of the movie were will smith as deadshot, margot robbie and viola davis...and i might be in the minority here but i liked jared leto's joker...


honestly i would say if you really want a good suicide squad story watch Attack on Arkham.

[David Jamieson]

Saw it.

I liked it for what it is.

Margot Robbie is ridiculous. And by that I mean delicious! lol. She was good.
Budget Tom Hardy Jason what's his name was probably not even needed in teh film really.
I'm glad slipknot wasn't a deep role either, because, ooooh, unbreakable rope. Meh.

Smith was good as deadshot, the Enchantress was great!

Anyway, overall I liked it though it did look like they tried to stuff too many characters in there and it made the first half of the film like a baseball card collection perusal before it got to the guts of the story.

And hey, I liked Leto's Joker too.

It's a nice interim tie in story to Justice League which is on the make now.

[David Jamieson]

Worth noting I'm more of a marvel fan boy and I think they have their poop in a group when it comes to tying their whole universe together where DC kind of struggles with it.
DC needs infinity stones too or something. lol

[GeneChing]

I found it enjoyable, but as a park-your-brain-outside movie, like most comic book movies. It did well, without China and despite horrid reviews.

‘Suicide Squad’s Offshore Bow Rises To $133.3M Topping ‘Deadpool’ – Intl B.O. Final
by Nancy Tartaglione
August 9, 2016 2:00am


Warner Bros.

UPDATE, TUESDAY, WRITETHRU: Actuals for the international weekend have been updated with Warner Bros’ frame leader Suicide Squad posting a final $133.3M on 17,630 screens in 57 markets, according to the studio. That pushes the offshore debut $1.2M over that of comp Deadpool which bowed in February to $132.1M. This was expected when WB put out its estimates on Sunday of $132M (see below). The UK notably came in higher at $14.8M versus yesterday’s $13.9M projection.

Related'Sausage Party' Turns On The Gas Thursday Night; Beats Both 'Neighbors' In Preview Cash - Box Office
Both Deadpool and Guardians Of The Galaxy have been comps for the latest DC superhero entry given the anarchic tones and newness of the properties. GOTG debuted in essentially the same frame in 2014 to $67.4M in 15 fewer markets. Deadpool bowed in 61 markets, although the initial suite of majors differs (DP had Germany but not Spain, Suicide vice-versa, etc).

Suicide Squad easily maintains the record for all-time biggest August opening abroad and 2nd biggest DC opening behind Batman V Superman. It also has the overseas IMAX record for August, although Sunday’s estimate was lowered to $7M from $7.2M. The film faced tough critics ahead of the weekend, but had, as a rival distrib put it “the perfect marketing set-up.” There’s little major competition on the horizon next frame, and this will be one to watch during the mid-weeks.

Actuals have been updated in the breakdowns below.

UPDATE, WRITETHRU: Busting out in 57 international markets, Warner Bros’ Suicide Squad banded together for a $132M start on its debut weekend. That sets a new overseas record for August and nearly doubles the opening of comp Guardians Of The Galaxy which kicked off on essentially the same date in 2014, albeit in 15 fewer markets. As for the other major comp, Deadpool, that film sassed its way to a $132.1M launch in 61 markets last February, and today retains a slight overall edge on Suicide. However, WB says that when comparing the same markets currently in release, the Squad came in higher.

WB’s latest DC adaptation landed ahead of offshore industry predictions from before the weekend. Cautious estimates put it at around $110M while others topped out at $120M. Some wondered if it could go as high as Deadpool’s $132.1M, but suggested that would be the very top of the range. As it happens, despite harsh reviews of the Will Smith/Margot Robbie-starrer, fans turned out. With the numbers so close today between Suicide and Deadpool, it is possible the current film ultimately tops the opening of Fox’s R-rated anti-superhero once actuals are tallied tomorrow.

The David Ayer-directed villain fest set a new record as IMAX’s best August start ever with $7.2M. It is the 2nd biggest DC bow of all time and WB’s 5th highest launch. For Smith, it provided several record-breaking bows. His Facebook following of over 75M was a boon to marketing, driving early online engagement with the trailer and other materials that got more than 14M views.

While domestically there was a 41% Friday to Saturday drop, right now we have only bulk numbers for international rather than a clear Sat/Sun daily figure. Through Friday, Suicide Squad was at $64.6M after staggered release that began Wednesday. It added an estimated $67.4M on Sat/Sun after a $33M Friday. We know superhero movies with so much heat on them — and particularly in a summer that has been so tepid — can be heavily front-loaded, but an apples-to-apples comparison in international markets with so many variances is tough until the picture comes into sharper focus. In some cases Suicide did not open No. 1 overseas, impacted by local films and regional affinities, but that shouldn’t undermine the debut. We’ll keep an eye on mid-weeks in some of the bigger markets. For now, the UK is the lead play with $13.9M, followed by Russia, Brazil, Korea and Australia. The film will not have a China release. (More below)

The Secret Life of Pets 2
Universal Pictures
Expanding this week, Illumination/Universal’s The Secret Life Of Pets has crossed $500M worldwide, sitting up in China with a $28.9M start after debuting Tuesday. It was led locally by Time Raiders, a 3D adventure fantasy that is giving a boost to a lackluster Middle Kingdom season with a $70M+ opening. Notably, the film stars popular actor/singer Lu Han who was Disney’s Star Wars ambassador for China. Uni’s Jason Bourne also added four new markets for a $20.9M sop****re session and is approaching $200M worldwide.
Further notable, Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory has spun a global cume of $870.3M and is soon to pass Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice to become the 4th biggest grossing film of the year worldwide. And it still has two key markets on deck. Dory’s time at the aquarium gives The Walt Disney Studios bragging rights to the Top 4 movies globally in 2016 thus far.

Breakdowns are updated with actuals below.

NEW
SUICIDE SQUAD

Warner Bros Pictures
Suicide Squad played on 17,630 screens this weekend, setting the all-time record for biggest August opening overseas (also for IMAX at $7M and $19.2M global); and it is the No. 2 DC bow ever, behind March’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.
The UK leads with $14.8M on 1,054 screens, including previews. At No. 1, Suicide’s FSS is 6% higher than Deadpool and 112% more than GOTG and gives Will Smith his best start ever in the market. In Russia, the motley crew has the biggest WB opening of all time with $11.4M on 2,482 screens. The results are 63% higher than GOTG, 41% ahead of BVS and 21% higher than Captain America: Civil War. Also tops for Smith.

Despite the distraction of the Olympics, Brazil raked in $11.75M on 1,406 screens (including sneaks) to exceed Deadpool by 44%. This is the market’s biggest August opening weekend of all time, the biggest Will Smith opening, the 2nd biggest WB film ever, and the biggest opening for a superhero film.

Korea got off to a strong start on Wednesday and Thursday but faced stiff competition at the weekend with local pic The Last Princess debuting and Operation Chromite in its second week. Suicide Squad ended up at No. 3 for the frame with $10.8M on 831 screens. That’s 141% over GOTG and on par with BVS; also Smith’s best ever. Similarly, Spain was a No. 2 opening behind The Secret Life Of Pets. The big family market nevertheless gave the Squad $3.4M, to be DC’s 2nd best opening ever there. The debut was 84% higher than GOTG.

Australia chipped in $10.5M on 516 screens for best August bow ever and Smith’s biggest. Versus GOTG, it’s +114% and 7% ahead of BVS. A contract dispute with a local exhibitor doesn’t appear to have been majorly impactful in Mexico where the super villains arrested $10.4M on 2,609 screens for the top August opening weekend ever, the highest opening weekend of all time for Smith and the 2nd best ever for WB. France debuted to $7.9M on 667 screens. Argentina, Italy, Germany and Japan are still to come.

[GeneChing]

AUGUST 04, 2016 5:02pm PT by Patrick Brzeski
'Suicide Squad' Unlikely to Get China Release


'Suicide Squad' Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

Chinese fans had hoped the movie's PG-13 rating would help it get past censors.
David Ayer's Suicide Squad is set to hit theaters around the globe this weekend, but the world's most populous nation — and No. 2 movie market — probably won't be joining the party anytime soon.

The Warner Bros. tentpole has yet to receive a release date in China, and sources close to the decision-making process in Beijing say it appears increasingly unlikely to get the official nod.

According to people familiar with the matter, China Film Group, the state-backed distributor that handles the import of all foreign films, hasn't put the movie on its internal release calendar, which is typically set at least two months in advance. "They think this is not a good film to release in China," a Chinese executive said without elaborating.

Chinese DC fans have been speculating online for months about whether Suicide Squad would get past Beijing's censorship committee. Thanks to its friendlier PG-13 rating, the movie had raised hopes that it would escape the fate of Fox's similarly toned "anti-superhero" hit Deadpool, which was effectively precluded from release in China due to its violence and graphic language.

Not surprisingly, Warner Bros. tweaked Suicide Squad's local-language title. In Chinese, it's "X特遣队," which translates to "Special Task Force X" (X marks the suicide, it would seem). Many have wondered whether the movie's dark and anarchic tone would still rub the censors the wrong way, though. The story, from a script by Ayer, follows a group of incarcerated supervillains — played by Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis and others — who are released by a secret government agency to save the world from a dangerous threat. China's official censorship guidelines state that stories "propagating passive or negative outlook on life, worldview and value system" are disallowed. Exactly how that applies to comic book baddies turned snarky world saviors remains to be seen.

China has no ratings system, so the country's media regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), makes a judgment on all film imports, approving or banning them for consumption by Chinese viewers of all ages.

The Chinese box office has become an increasingly important piece of the international distribution map for the big six Hollywood studios. Suicide Squad cost at least $175 million to make. The biggest Hollywood films in China so far this year are Disney's Zootopia at $235.5 million, Legendary Entertainment's Warcraft with $221 million and Marvel/Disney's Captain America: Civil War with $190.4 million.

At the same time, Hollywood gets far less back from the Chinese box office — 20 to 25 percent — than it does from other markets (40 to 50 percent is common in other territories around the world).

If Suicide Squad still does manage to squeak through the system to score a China release, it will be conspicuously late in coming. China's regulators typically notify the studios of the local release dates for their films 30 to 45 days in advance. And although they have manipulated Hollywood dates to local advantage in the past, for most of this year, U.S. films have opened in China simultaneously or well within a month of their North American debut. And with the Chinese box office experiencing a surprising slowdown this summer, regulators have been easing restrictions rather than increasing them.

Warner Bros. declined comment.

Pamela McClintock contributed to this report.

China doesn't like anti-heroes...

[GeneChing]

At some point, I'll split this sequel to Suicide Squad off into its own indie thread, but not today.

James Gunn in Talks to Write ‘Suicide Squad 2’ for DC; May Also Direct (Exclusive)
Gunn was previously fired from Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise
Umberto Gonzalez and Beatrice Verhoeven | October 9, 2018 @ 11:34 AM
Last Updated: October 9, 2018 @ 1:12 PM


Getty Images

Holy Poach, Batman: James Gunn, director of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, is in talks to write “Suicide Squad 2” for DC with an eye toward direct the next installment, three insiders exclusively told TheWrap.

Gunn will have a completely new take on the property, in which DC supervillains are recruited by the government to carry out secret missions too dirty for the likes of Superman and Batman.

The first “Suicide Squad,” which starred Will Smith and Margot Robbie, earned nearly $750 million worldwide on a $175 million budget before promotion and advertising. The film also launched Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Jared Leto’s take on The Joker.

Robbie will topline “Birds of Prey,” about the most dangerous women in Gotham City.

Gunn was fired from Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise after online critics discovered years-old tweets in which he joked about rape and pedophilia. Gunn apologized and said he had grown as a person in the years since the jokes. Despite calls from many fans to reinstate him, Disney has made clear that he will not be back to direct the third “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Gunn is repped by UTA and Safran company.

Chuck Roven is producing the “Suicide Squad” sequel.

David Ayer, who directed the first movie, was never expected to return to the franchise following a harrowing battle with the studio during the edit process.

TheWrap wrote previously about the fallout between Ayer and top WB executives, who effectively locked the director out of his own editing room to deliver a lighter version of a superhero movie, while Ayer was more focused on the darkness of the bad guys.

Gavin O’Connor wrote the previous draft of the script.

[GeneChing]

An update with a release date.

JANUARY 30, 2019 5:21pm PT by Borys Kit
James Gunn in Talks to Direct 'Suicide Squad' Sequel (Exclusive)


Christopher Polk/Getty Images
James Gunn

The move is not entirely unexpected as Gunn was already writing the script for the follow-up, which Warner Bros. just slotted for an August 2021 release.

James Gunn is returning to the director’s chair.

Gunn, who was fired from helming the third installment in his Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, is in negotiations to direct the second Suicide Squad film, the follow-up to the Warner Bros. 2016 hit that featured DC Comics anti-heroes as the leads.

The move is not entirely unexpected as Gunn was already writing the script for the sequel, which Warner Bros. just slotted for a August 2021 release.

The dealmaking does, however, solidify that the new Suicide Squad film will be his next directorial effort. Disney fired Gunn from his Marvel franchise in July after old tweets from 2008 and 2009 resurfaced in which he made insensitive and controversial jokes.

The pic has the title of The Suicide Squad and is not being labeled a direct sequel but as a relaunch. The 2016 original movie featured the characters Deadshot, Harley Quinn, the Joker, Captain Boomerang and Killer Croc, who are forced into the service of the government in exchange for lighter prison sentences.

Sources say that Gunn’s focus is to take the franchise in a new direction with a mostly all-new cast of characters and actors. Sources also say that the project is also very much rooted in Gunn’s vibe, as seen in the Guardians movies.

Charles Roven and Peter Safran will produce the feature. Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder are acting as executive producers.

Gunn is repped by UTA, the Safran Company and Frankfurt Kurnit.

[GeneChing]