Top Movies of Summer 2019

[JasonEvans]

Ok, time to start the contest.

Last year we did something funky and only had a top 3. This summer we go back to a top 5, but there is a wrinkle.

As I stated a few weeks ago, you will never convince me that summer starts in April. So, this contest will be for boxoffice receipts from May 1 - Sept 2nd (Labor Day). No boxoffice earned before May 1 or after Sept 2nd will be counted. This is different from how we have done it in the past... but we (I) seem to change the rules almost every year so I am sure all of you can deal with it. The biggest practical impact of this will be upon Avengers: Endgame.

To be 100% clear... Endgame opens on April 25th and none of the money it earns in its first 6 days of release will count in its final total for our contest. I am confident that will mean $250+ million of boxoffice being lopped off like Ned Stark's head. If Endgame makes $250 in those first 6 days and (only) makes $500 mil overall, your total for picking it would be just $250 mil. So, think carefully before you select that film.

As always please pick 5 films. If you only vote for 4 or if you pick 6, you are a fool and we do not suffer fools gladly. Also, in case you are new to this, we are basing this on domestic boxoffice receipts only, not how the film does on Rotten Tomatoes or whether it sells a ton of tickets in Bangladesh.

Here are the contenders:

Avengers: Endgame (April 25/May 1)
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (May 10)
John Wick: Chapter 3 (May 17)
Aladdin (May 24)
Godzilla: King of Monsters (May31)
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (June 7)
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (June 7)
Men in Black: International (June 14)
Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
The Lion King (July 19)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (July 26)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (August 2)
Field (any film not mentioned above)

Of note, if you pick the field, you do not need to name the film you are picking. I am sure we would all like to hear why you think Brightburn is going to set records or why you think Rocketman is the next Bohemian Rhapsody, but you will get credit if you pick field because of one of those but then Shaft ends up being this summer's Hangover and making $350 million.

Ok, any questions? Did I leave anything out? Have at it!

-Jason "voting will close on April 25th... prior to the opening of Endgame" Evans

[BD80]

Ok, time to start the contest.

Last year we did something funky and only had a top 3. This summer we go back to a top 5, but there is a wrinkle.

As I stated a few weeks ago, you will never convince me that summer starts in April. So, this contest will be for boxoffice receipts from May 1 - Sept 2nd (Labor Day). No boxoffice earned before May 1 or after Sept 2nd will be counted. This is different from how we have done it in the past... but we (I) seem to change the rules almost every year so I am sure all of you can deal with it. The biggest practical impact of this will be upon Avengers: Endgame.

To be 100% clear... Endgame opens on April 25th and none of the money it earns in its first 6 days of release will count in its final total for our contest. I am confident that will mean $250+ million of boxoffice being lopped off like Ned Stark's head. If Endgame makes $250 in those first 6 days and (only) makes $500 mil overall, your total for picking it would be just $250 mil. So, think carefully before you select that film.

As always please pick 5 films. If you only vote for 4 or if you pick 6, you are a fool and we do not suffer fools gladly. Also, in case you are new to this, we are basing this on domestic boxoffice receipts only, not how the film does on Rotten Tomatoes or whether it sells a ton of tickets in Bangladesh.

Here are the contenders:

Avengers: Endgame (April 25/May 1)
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (May 10)
John Wick: Chapter 3 (May 17)
Aladdin (May 24)
Godzilla: King of Monsters (May31)
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (June 7)
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (June 7)
Men in Black: International (June 14)
Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
The Lion King (July 19)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (July 26)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (August 2)
Field (any film not mentioned above)

Of note, if you pick the field, you do not need to name the film you are picking. I am sure we would all like to hear why you think Brightburn is going to set records or why you think Rocketman is the next Bohemian Rhapsody, but you will get credit if you pick field because of one of those but then Shaft ends up being this summer's Hangover and making $350 million.

Ok, any questions? Did I leave anything out? Have at it!

-Jason "voting will close on April 25th... prior to the opening of Endgame" Evans

Avengers - take off $250 mil and it will still beat #2 by $250 mil
Spiderman - Avengers will propel it even higher than it would have been
Toy Story - probably #2
SLOP - kids will carry it
Lion King - Not sure, but I got a feeling. Could be top 2 or 3.

I know these will be popular picks. Do I get credit for being 1st?

[PackMan97]

Avengers: Endgame (April 25/May 1)
Lock

The Secret Life of Pets 2 (June 7)
Lock

Aladdin (May 24)
Lock

Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Lock

Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
Lock

The Lion King (July 19)
Lock

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (August 2)
Lock

...and that's not including wild cards of Pokemon, X-Men or MIB. I'm sensing an actual contest this summer season!

QUESTION? Was their a filter put on this contest that only allowed franchises or sequels this summer?

[Acymetric]

I see it as a 6 horse race between

Avengers: Endgame
Lion King
Spiderman: Far From Home
Toy Story 4
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

Missing the opening of Avengers makes me nervous, but I think it still makes top 5. Spiderman will be riding the Avengers hype wave and definitely be top 5. Put me down for

Avengers: Endgame
Spiderman: Far From Home
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
Lion King
Toy Story 4

[CameronBornAndBred]

Avengers: Endgame (April 25/May 1)
Lock

The Secret Life of Pets 2 (June 7)
Lock

Aladdin (May 24)
Lock

Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Lock

Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
Lock

The Lion King (July 19)
Lock

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (August 2)
Lock

...and that's not including wild cards of Pokemon, X-Men or MIB. I'm sensing an actual contest this summer season!

QUESTION? Was their a filter put on this contest that only allowed franchises or sequels this summer?

Was there a filter that only allowed 5 choices?

[Wander]

Ah yes... looking at the poll results so far, I see I will have an easy win over people joining the JasonEvans club and sleeping on the Pokemon franchise like a Snorlax.

[Acymetric]

Ah yes... looking at the poll results so far, I see I will have an easy win over people joining the JasonEvans club and sleeping on the Pokemon franchise like a Snorlax.

Yeah, for those that didn't know, Pokemon is kind of a big deal.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Even with JE's rule, I'm guessing if you leave Endgame off your list, your game is ended.

The company has announced “Endgame” sold fives times as many tickets in this period as “Avengers: Infinity War,” which currently holds the box office record for highest-grossing opening weekend with $257 million domestic. But “Endgame” did more than just break a Fandango record, it changed how the company operates.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...191433213.html

[luburch]

I think there are six films vying for four spots.

The locks:
Avengers
Lion King
Toy Story
Pokemon

The next two:
Spidey
Aladdin

[PackMan97]

I think there are six films vying for four spots.

The locks:
Avengers
Lion King
Toy Story
Pokemon

The next two:
Spidey
Aladdin

Secret Life of Pets pulled in $368 million. That ranks it as #42 in ALL-TIME domestic gross. It was #4 for all of 2016, only behind Rogue One, Dory and Captain America: Civil War. Illumination itself is on a good roll with quite a few Sing, Minions and Despicable ME 1,2,3. To not even consider it a contender is bold.

Then of course you dismiss the F&F franchise. The last three F&F movies have all grossed over $225 million with FF7 topping well over $300 million. Though, this one would be more of a contender if world wide take were considered.

[luburch]

Secret Life of Pets pulled in $368 million. That ranks it as #42 in ALL-TIME domestic gross. It was #4 for all of 2016, only behind Rogue One, Dory and Captain America: Civil War. Illumination itself is on a good roll with quite a few Sing, Minions and Despicable ME 1,2,3. To not even consider it a contender is bold.

Then of course you dismiss the F&F franchise. The last three F&F movies have all grossed over $225 million with FF7 topping well over $300 million. Though, this one would be more of a contender if world wide take were considered.

F&F comes out August 2nd, so it will only have one month to accumulate a box office total. I think that kills any chance it would have had.

The week TSLOP came out, it had no real competition. Finding Dory had already been out for a month. The second biggest movie to release that weekend? Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. It had a 50% drop it's second weekend (which is common) and the only big movie that came out was the new Ghostbusters. I just can't see it happening in a summer where you have Toy Story, Pokemon, and multiple Marvel and Disney releases. Those will all draw kids out too.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Was tempted to vote for FF: Calvin and Hobbes. That seems like an ambitious crossover.

[BD80]

Was tempted to vote for FF: Calvin and Hobbes. That seems like an ambitious crossover.

Calvin's dad is a patent attorney. Anyone that can extract humor from that is nothing short of genius.

[Reddevil]

I am torn between Aladdin and Pokeman. I feel like Pokeman will do better globally, but Aladdin may do better domestically. On the other hand my grandson loves Pokeman and Ryan Reynolds is involved so:

Endgame - Miss the first week but have all summer to make it up
Spider-Man - Marvel strikes again
The Lion King- At least three generations will lineup for this
Toy Story 4 - Fantastic franchise. Every one of them is really good. Mass appeal
Pokeman: Detective whatever - I have absolutely no idea what the big deal is, but I am aware there is one

Lot's of choices for kids of all ages this summer. Hopefully blue Will Smith will not curse me.

[Acymetric]

I am torn between Aladdin and Pokeman. I feel like Pokeman will do better globally, but Aladdin may do better domestically. On the other hand my grandson loves Pokeman and Ryan Reynolds is involved so:

Endgame - Miss the first week but have all summer to make it up
Spider-Man - Marvel strikes again
The Lion King- At least three generations will lineup for this
Toy Story 4 - Fantastic franchise. Every one of them is really good. Mass appeal
Pokeman: Detective whatever - I have absolutely no idea what the big deal is, but I am aware there is one

Lot's of choices for kids of all ages this summer. Hopefully blue Will Smith will not curse me.

Maybe this is just me, but most of the press I've seen about Aladdin has been cautious or outright negative. Seems like the highest flop potential on the list (expectations for X-Men are probably too high as well, it almost belongs folded into the "field" category).

[PackMan97]

Maybe this is just me, but most of the press I've seen about Aladdin has been cautious or outright negative. Seems like the highest flop potential on the list (expectations for X-Men are probably too high as well, it almost belongs folded into the "field" category).

If this were the first Marvel led X-Men, I might agree with you, but I feel like at this point there aren't many expectations for Dark Phoenix. It's not as if Apocalypse was well received.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

If this were the first Marvel led X-Men, I might agree with you, but I feel like at this point there aren't many expectations for Dark Phoenix. It's not as if Apocalypse was well received.

As someone who has generally enjoyed the majority of the X-men flicks (X3 was pretty bad, the first Wolverine movie I even enjoyed some) Apocalypse was a hot mess than has really lowered my level of interest and/or expectation. Seems the franchise seemed to take their audience for granted and spent no time building a cohesive plot at all. Ugh.

[Acymetric]

If this were the first Marvel led X-Men, I might agree with you, but I feel like at this point there aren't many expectations for Dark Phoenix. It's not as if Apocalypse was well received.

I think we're agreeing with each other, just using different meanings of expectations. I'm saying that including X-Men on the list of choices is setting expectations for moviegoer turnout too high, not that people are expecting great things from it. I'm skeptical it is even in the top 10-15 for summer movies.

[JasonEvans]

I think we're agreeing with each other, just using different meanings of expectations. I'm saying that including X-Men on the list of choices is setting expectations for moviegoer turnout too high, not that people are expecting great things from it. I'm skeptical it is even in the top 10-15 for summer movies.

It is worth noting that X-men: Dark Phoenix was originally a February release... then the studio saw it and they got back early test screening results and they said, "we think this movie will play just fine in the middle of a franchise heavy summer." That's some strong confidence there! I don't know if it can make out top 5, but I will be more than mildly shocked if it is not well received by fans and scores 80%+ on Rotten Tomatoes.

-Jason "maybe I should have only had like 10 choices and lumped a couple more films into the field... sorry" Evans

[Acymetric]

It is worth noting that X-men: Dark Phoenix was originally a February release... then the studio saw it and they got back early test screening results and they said, "we think this movie will play just fine in the middle of a franchise heavy summer." That's some strong confidence there! I don't know if it can make out top 5, but I will be more than mildly shocked if it is not well received by fans and scores 80%+ on Rotten Tomatoes.

-Jason "maybe I should have only had like 10 choices and lumped a couple more films into the field... sorry" Evans

That is certainly some confidence, and I'm sure it will do "well" assuming the budget is under control...but it is a sequel to a poorly received movie in a franchise that has generally not been blowing the doors off in terms of box office numbers (you are not allowed to count Deadpool as part of the X-Men movie franchise). This would probably need to be one of the highest grossing X-Men movies ever to make our top 5 and I don't see where that hype would come from.