Universal Move Sets Up December 22 Frat Pack “Cluster-Fock”
Ben Stiller
Universal announced today that they were moving the release date for Little Fockers from July back to December 22. This positions the Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson sequel in very similar release schedule to the previous film in the series, 2004’s Meet the Fockers, that opened just prior to Christmas and had legs into the new year.
So, good news, right? Um… sort of.
If December 22 sounds familiar, it’s the release date set both Superhero action-comedy Green Hornet with Seth Rogen and the adventure-comedy Gulliver’s Travels with Jack Black and Jason Segel. While, conceptually, these films serve different audiences, obviously the studios are no consulting us here in Fratville - because I want to see all of these films!
Also set to open on December 22 is romantic-comedy Life as We Know It with Katherine Heigl. James L Brooks’ still untitled comedy starring Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Reese Witherspoon opens on December 17. It is hard to tell if this move simplifies or complicates Owen Wilson’s promotional schedule. He probably can kill two birds on talk show appearances, but may reduce his role in Fockers‘ junket interviews.
There’s not a chance in hell all three films will stick to this date, so it’ll be interesting to see which film moves. Green Hornet seems far better positioned for a male demographic, so I think that one is still in good shape. My guess is that unless Gulliver’s Travels is more action-oriented than I anticipate that that’ll be the film to flinch and move to an earlier date.
Even though the Little Fockers movie originally would have come out around my birthday I am happy to see it moved to Christmas. That is where it needed to be just like NATM 2 should have been at Christmas. NATM 2 was seriously hurt for coming out in the Summer IMO.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a normal thing to have the Christmas movie schedule be crazy and overloaded. Remember in 2008 when they had I think 5 movies open on Christmas Day? It was a madhouse but then the Box Office did LOTS of money so it benefited since the movies were wide ranging. It sounds like these movies will do the same.
I’m wondering if the Brooks movie might be an awards contender, especially for Nicholson. Kind of like how “As Good As It Gets” was.
~Bonnie
I think NATM2 was seriously hurt because it wasn’t as good as NATM1, but there can be advantages for holiday films that fill a niche and have bad competition in the coming weeks. It certainly is true that every day between Christmas and New Year’s is essentially a “Saturday” at the box office and even the bottom of the top 5 can still rake in the cash.
One expects to see awards buzz for the Brooks movie. Can you say Paul Rudd, Best Actor?