Box Office Shocker: 'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax' Opens to Record-Shattering $70.7 Mil

[underpants]

Lighting up the family marketplace, Universal and Illumination Entertainment's environmentally minded Dr. Seuss' The Lorax debuted to a staggering $70.7 million, marking the best opening ever for a non-sequel animated title if the number holds.

Lorax broke a number of other records, including nabbing the top opening of 2012 in beating the $41.2 million debut of The Vow. It's also the best showing for any animated film since summer 2010 when Toy Story 3 debuted to $110.3 million and Shrek Forever After opened to $70.8 million. And Lorax scored the fourth best opening ever for any Universal title.

"The result is phenomenal. Word of mouth was great, and that's why Saturday was up 80 percent from Friday. It's just spectacular," Universal president of domestic distribution Nikki Rocco said.


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-shocker-dr-seuss-296711

[Sherman A1]

1. "The result is phenomenal."

Considering that there is nothing else out there for kids, I don't think it's all that surprising.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Didn't some republicans want to boycott this movie? Every time they open their mouths it only

helps sell movies.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Yes. Lou Dobbs had a rant abou t it

They claimed the "libruls" were brainwashing their kids with this character who wanted to "save the trees".

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/lou-dobbs-compares-the-lorax-to-occupy-wall-street-as-the-war-on-childrens-movies-continues/

[southernyankeebelle]

5. Oh the pain. God forbid if their children learn something. We are such "snobs"

[JHB]

7. I guess Lou has a problem with the market...

...since lots of people seem willing to pay to see it.

[flamingdem]

3. What a great character

Lorax has it all, good silhouette, color, 'tude, spongy but strong.

[JHB]

6. I guess "liberal propaganda" is in demand and profitable...

...considering the "anti-business" message of The Lorax (haven't seen this movie yet, but that's what the wingnuts have been complaining).

[underpants]

8. The "anti-business" message is carried out in one song just as the Once-ler begins to fall

the added character is unlikeable and basically does a home invasion on the kid...and his mother...and his grandmother

very well done movie


wingnuts have nothing to do but complain and play victim.

[RufusTFirefly]

9. What kind of SUV would the Lorax drive?

Although the message of The Lorax is wonderful, some 70 corporate greenwashers, including an SUV maker, are cynically riding on its environmental coattails.

Child Advocates Slam Greenwashing of Seuss' Beloved 'Lorax'

[pinboy3niner]

11. I lol'd when I read this L.A. Times correction...

"The Lorax": The review of "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" in the March 2 Calendar section said that the film's main character, Ted, lives in a town called Sneedville. The town is Thneedville.

[immoderate]

12. Somehow seems like a good name for a stool softener...

Throw some Lorax in your jowls,

Through your thorax, to your bowels.


It has a ring to it.

--imm

[Fawke Em]

13. And that tune would fit well in the movie.

Saw it yesterday with the family. Very, very cute, but the humming fish steal the show.

[greyl]

20. Nice one. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. The advertising campaign was astounding here in Chicago

The Lorax ads are fucking everywhere. My three year old recognizes the Lorax before his grandfather. My kids and I were playing a game the other day pretending to see Lorax ads on every bus and building.

[woo me with science]

15. What an obscene affront to the meaning of the book

Is the corporate orgy surrounding this movie.

[unapatriciated]

26. I agree

The one commercial that really put me off was this one.

&feature=player_embedded

http://www.change.org/petitions/mazda-stop-forcing-the-lorax-to-sell-dangerous-polluting-cars-savelorax
Why This Is Important

My friend The Lorax is in trouble.

You might not know me, I’m a Zozo. There used to be lots of Zozos around before cars made it too dangerous and unhealthy for us to live our lives in the streets of America’s cities and towns.

I saw something yesterday that made me really upset -- Mazda and Universal Pictures are forcing my friend The Lorax to sell people more dangerous, polluting cars. You can see their new ad here.

My friends and I are asking Mazda and Universal Pictures to remove these dishonest and deceptive advertisements and we hope you'll join us.

But first, you're probably thinking what I thought -- What happened to the Lorax I know?

[muntrv]

16. Has Lou Dobbs head exploded yet?

[Initech]

17. Eat shit, fundies!

[ladywnch]

18. it WAS delightful!

I was also struck by how amazingly quiet it was in a pretty packed theatre. There were quite few young children there and with few (understandable) expections they were dead quiet - transfixed- unthralled by the whole movie......parents too, there was no fidgeting, bouncing.....not even much food noises. There were a fair number of teens in attendance; they too were quiet and well behaved!

It was a fun night for husband and I.

[Firebrand Gary]

19. I tried to see it TWICE and it was sold out! n/t

[JNathanK]

21. I'm trying to take part in operation black March.

I'm not supporting any media from any major motion pictures.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

22. Pity it's a dumbed-down, corporatized joke used for SUV commercials

It completely misses the point of Seuss' book, adds a bunch of unnecessary changes and changes the mood to gawdawful CGI slapstick.

The good doctor protected his characters from exploitation during his lifetime, being highly selective and only allowing his works to be adapted faithfully by folks like his friend Chuck Jones.

Sadly, Seuss' heirs couldn't say 'no' to all of the Hollywood hacks that came knocking or the merchandising requests that arrived his death.

Though, maybe there's a silver lining and it will get some kids to pick up the book.

[SATIRical]

24. What point did you think it missed?

I thought it got the point across just fine.

[SATIRical]

23. I was unimpressed

The songs were not catchy at all. The jokes were few and far between. Only a couple were actually funny.

For actual entertainment value, I would give it a B-. My teens called it "craptastic" but I wouldn't have been that harsh.


Despite some claims, I thought the message claim through just fine.

[underpants]

27. I thought it was fantastic

I have never seen my daughter laugh at a movie as much as she did at that one.

[Pisces]

25. We saw the movie and Repuke heads will be exploding. It was very 99% vs. the 1%.

[mdmc]

28. ..