It looks like the movie "Titanic" is in its death throes at the box office. It likely will finish 3rd this weekend. My question: Do you think it will go straight down quickly, or will it, metaphorically speaking, break in two with the stern bobbing for a while before going under? That is to say, do you think the core support of "Titaniacs" will keep the movie afloat in the theatres for several weeks in a steady 3rd or 4th place before it sinks decisively? If so, how long? If not, when's the video coming out?

-- Dan Dalton (DDalton2@prodigy.net), April 12, 1998

Answers

Read in an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer today that the video will come out this summer. Don't see why from a business standpoint it would, but surely the studios will make the best biz decision.

-- Bob Gregorio (rgregorio@ibm.net), April 12, 1998.

Dan and Bob, if you read my posting about this Saturday box office, it appears clear that the movie is dead. It had the same fate as the ship. Glorious until it hit the iceberg. This Saturday was the worst performance ever for the movie. The box office represents less than 6% of the previous Saturday. Hence, the release of the tapes is imminent and desired. Sad but true...

-- Dan Draghici (ddraghic@sprint.ca), April 12, 1998.

In another post, I suggested that Titanic would sink suddenly from sight on the day of the sinking...Looks like I close to being right. Hm.. that's two (I also joked about building another Titanic about a month before the announcements.) Maybe I should quit my day job and work for the psychic network. **snicker**

What a wonderful 15+ weeks it has been though.

-- crystal smithwick (crystal@9v.com), April 13, 1998.

Indeed!

-- Dan Draghici (ddraghic@sprint.ca), April 13, 1998.

I don't think it's so sad that the box office is declining-with daylight savings time and fairly good weather, a lot of people's attention is turning to outdoor pursuits-if the movie makes $6-8 million a week, I think it will stay in theatres for quite a while. I think the video will be released late this summer. Will it be the new "director's cut" version (20 additional minutes)?

-- Arnold Ziffel (foo@bar.com), April 13, 1998.