'Quantum of Solace' Changes Release Date to November 14th

Ugh. Enough already. With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince bolting from its November 21st opening date for potentially greener pastures next summer, the entire fall landscape has been altered. First there was the very wise decision to move the young adult-friendly Twilight to Potter's old opening date - so now instead of a mid-December opening, it's on the 21st of November - and now Quantum of Solace has moved back a week, too. Columbia and MGM announced today that the next 007 movie will open on November 14th instead of November 7th. Acknowledging that the move was made in part because of the decision by Warner Bros. to move Potter to 2009, Columbia distribution ace Jeff Blake says that moving the film gives Bond a better chance to make more money.

"We believe November 14^th is a great date that allows us to play straight through Thanksgiving and right into Christmas," said Blake. The Bond films have a long history of entertaining audiences in this holiday corridor going back to Goldeneye in 1995. The studio enjoyed tremendous success opening Casino Royale in North America on November 17, 2006, and we believe this decision will give the public a wider opportunity to see the film over the holiday.”

When reached for comment about the change, Daniel Craig replied, "I'm shaken, not stirred." I've got to buy a new calendar, damn it. I really hope we don't see this becoming a trend in Hollywood. Granted, there are a few influences that helped create this scenario. For starters, the writer's strike kind of forced some things into funny places, both this year and next year, so we've seen delays and setbacks and unexpected holes in the schedule because of that, and we'll probably feel the slight sting of the work stoppage for another year. It's not a tragedy or anything, but it clearly had some influence. With Potter, I think you need to look at the studio's 2009 slate. They're probably going to have to sacrifice major change with Watchmen due to the Fox lawsuit, and because The Dark Knight pretty much made their year this year, they're better off with another moneymaker next summer than adding to their magnificent 2008. At least that's one theory. Does shifting Bond seven days make much of a difference? Yes. I'm not saying the Madagascar sequel would hurt 007 very much, but I think it stands a better chance of being huge if it's against Australia and Soul Men. And if I can build off what Jeff Blake said, I think you can see a three-week run at number one for Quantum of Solace if it opens on the 14th, particularly if everything else stays where it is.

Comments

[Will]

Even Quantum of Solace doesn't like the way it smells...geez!

[Orinn]

Lets just release movies in summer and Christmas break, thats when they will make the most money, and the DVD's well those sell best around Christmas as well, lets just make the month of December DVD month and the only time we sell them to maxamize sales. But then we loose 11 months, so then lets create a new commercial Holiday in summer Antchristmas to maximize sales.

[Lengthy Johnson]

Box office planning is turning into a science reminiscent of astrology or alchemy.

I would like to think that if the film is good enough, people will want to see it regardless of when it is released.

But I'm obviously no boxofficeologist.