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David Mumpower: In recent weeks, I had seen the cast talking about how much they enjoyed this project and how they expected it to spawn a sequel. Obviously, actors have a tendency to embellish about these subjects since the studio gets angry with them if they disavow themselves of a project Babylon A.D. style. What has been different about Push is that the actors seemed to believe it. I don't think this performance will get them that sequel unless it becomes a cult classic in short fashion. Even so, I do think a double digits opening is respectable for a title exhibited in this few locations (2,313). Summitt Entertainment appears likely to avoid the fate of Newmarket in terms of being a one hit wonder.

Max Braden: Compared to its most immediate genre cousin, Jumper, $10 million vs. $34 million is not good. I suppose it's not too bad for a small distributor, but I never consider a per-theater-average less than $5k to be a good opening. Reviews weren't great, either, so even if a sequel does get greenlighted I would expect it to bomb at the box office.

Scott Lumley: I think this absolutely has to be considered a disappointment. While reviews have generally been atrocious, there is a certain section of the populace that responds strongly to movies like this (nerds, if you're wondering...) and the reviews coming from that group have been pretty strong. I don't know if the studio felt this had a shot at number one, but I bet they were imagining a number more in the high teens than a flat, destined for the budget bin, $10 million opening.

Jason Lee: Coming from Summit, who prior to Twilight had brought us Sex Drive ($8.4 million total gross) and Fly Me To The Moon ($12.8 million total), I think to get a film opening over $10 million without the assistance of Stephanie Meyer is a big win for the fledgling studio.

2009 rules! 2008 drools!

Kim Hollis: Why do you think box office results so far in 2009 are uniformly so much better than they were in 2008?





Brandon Scott: I am simply going to guess that the title quality has been better so far this year more than anything. Whereas in years past, it seems titles have been more dumped in January and early February, so far there have been a few nicer, more intriguing titles. In addition to people catching up on some bigger holiday movies and late-run Oscar films, things have been bright so far. This is indeed encouraging. The theater needs a comeback, but it needs to be with quality, intriguing titles. Hopefully, that can somehow happen. It sounds strange, but I think the economy helps, too. With movies being one of the cheaper options as a night out, as opposed to a dinner and (several) drinks, or paying to get into a club and (several) drinks, I think people are escaping to the "old reliable" to some degree. That is a theory unproven, but it's easier to go to a movie, even with a soda and red vines, than a bar, chatting up several women and buying (several) drinks, often to little avail.

Max Braden: It's a financial End Times and people are blowing what little they have on escapist entertainment. Actually, I don't really believe that. But I do think this calendar year's box office is benefiting from last year's late releases.

Scott Lumley: Actually Max, I do believe what you said. These are brutal, depressing times and people do love their escapist entertainment in times like these. Ten bucks for a two hour escape from the stress of your life is a pretty reasonable price. In a normal year, would Paul Blart even have pulled in half the box office it has?

Sean Collier: All of film is escapism; the more we need escapism, the better movies will do. I'm with Max, and not really surprised at all. Here's my question: if one of last year's giant feel-good releases had debuted this week, would it have made $100 million on our national desparation? Would Mamma Mia! be the second biggest opener of all time if it came out today?

Jason Lee: I think Mamma Mia! topping Spider-Man 3 is the fourth sign of the apocalypse. It happens right after the rivers turn to blood and right before the rain of frogs.

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