Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Pixar vs. DreamWorks

As Ratatouille knocks Shrek 3.0 out of the Top Ten domestically, the green ogre and associates ascend the pinnacle of foreign box office:

Despite the trio of fresh summer tentpoles nipping at its heels, "Shrek the Third" dominated the international circuit for the weekend, grossing an estimated $69.6 million from 6,489 screens in 52 markets to push its overseas total to $259 million.

The DreamWorks Animation/Paramount Pictures International release, which began a graduated international rollout May 17, hit full stride by recording its biggest weekend yet, grossing $4.2 million more than its two closest competitors combined. It is the No. 1 overseas attraction for the third consecutive weekend.

By our calculations, the latest Shrek is closing in on a $600 million worldwide gross. Not quite up to Shrek the 2nd's high standard, but not shabby.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've seen both.

One's a jewel.

One's a turd.

You guess which.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, but how much will Ratatouille 3 make!?!?!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...I wonder which Box Office Pixar/Disney would rather have?

Anonymous said...

I'm so fucking sick of that lame-assed "YEAH BUT SHREK MAKES MORE MONEY SO IT'S BETTER!" arguments...

Here's a bit of sobering news for you people: Someday - maybe sooner, maybe later - you're going to be DEAD... and that money won't mean shit.

Yes, the SHREK franchise makes money by exploiting society's utter desperation to be distracted from the troubles of the modern world, and yes it makes more money than Brad Bird's films...

However...

Brad Bird's films make money, entertain AND actually reach out to the audience in a meaningful and insightful way... they remind the audience that - no matter who they are - they have potential to do great things with their lives.

Brad Bird's films actually elevate the medium and inspire the audience to think of things in a different way... perhaps even helping them grow or giving them a perspective that they wouldn't have considered otherwise.

Shrek merely panders and will be forgotten with the rest of its ilk... Brad Bird's films will leave behind a legacy of quality, heart and soul.

Now, Mister "If-it-makes-more-money-it-must-mean-that-it's-better" Hack... which kind of films would YOU rather make?

On second thought... don't answer that. We already know.

Anonymous said...

touched a nerve...?

Anonymous said...

I'll tell you this: Brad Bird the real live person has more class than to diss an entire crew of people like you just did.

Robiscus said...

Ratatouille could still surpass Shrek in ticket receipts. Shrek has a months head start so i don't understand why the comparison is even being made at this point... or why that Donkey is smiling.

Anonymous said...

Hahaa... ranting animators are so funny.

Let me try to get him going again.

AHEM...

Maybe Ratatouille would have made more money if it used Motion Capture~!1!!!

Anonymous said...

I got news for you.. when people are dead, they aren't giving a shit about superior (or not) story qualities either.

Anonymous said...

this is pretty funny actually.

yes Shrek most likely is the animation champion when it comes to bottom line reciepts. And Yes the Pixar film is a better film.

General audiences have become increasingly unintelligent, look at the films Hollywood has been feeding the Fast and Furious future horror generations.

classic films have to really fight to be noticed. maybe Pixar should of returned to a fall release slate.

Anonymous said...

I wondered where vfxhell.com went. It moved here!

Anonymous said...

I wondered what happened to the Bluthies...they've become Pixies!!

Anonymous said...

Heated thread, no doubt.
We, animators do seem to lose perspective a lot of the times.

Talking to my brothers wife, I got a bit of her perspective. My niece is a big fan of Shrek. To my shagrin!!

Let's face it, Shrek 2 did make me laugh and forget about this world, if only for 90 mins.Shrek 3 was not as funny however, and I don't expect it to go in the annals of cinema as a great achievement.

Y expect my niece to love Ratatouee. I haven't seen it yet...

The problem with "Surf's up" is it's documentary style. My niece lost interest about four minutes in. But we, animators, or some of us, might have thought that (the documentary style) was cool or a good idea. How wrong we can be sometimes....

rufus out!

Anonymous said...

Of all the movies I've seen this summer, Ratatouille is hands down the best, most charming, well crafted movie not only of the summer, but the year. I look forward to seeing what quality changes Lasseter does at Disney.

Anonymous said...

" Hahaa... ranting animators are so funny."

Obviously you're a hack who will never create anything worth feeling passionate about.

Anonymous said...

Lets not focus on the dollars because if you do that it puts Dreamworks far at the top Blue sky next with Ice Age 2 and then Pixar. all 3 studios make quality products. I do personally prefer Pixar's films on a more consistent basis.

Anonymous said...

"Obviously you're a hack who will never create anything worth feeling passionate about."


Well, duuuuh. That's why I work at Disney's.

Anonymous said...

Pixarians don't ever seem to get tired of tutting their own horn...

It's getting off putting.

Anonymous said...

Saw Shrek 3 - enjoyed it. Saw Surf's Up - Loved it. But clearly, not everyone did. Was it, as Rufus says, the documentary style? Or was it more penguins? or just bad marketing? or that people think surfing isn't an interesting topic? Whatever, I thought the movie was well done -good story, great visuals- and enjoyable. The kids I was with thought so too. Solid movie thru and thru - too bad audiences didn't go see it. And Ratatoille looks good and is well done too. Audiences are seeing it a lot more than they saw Surf's Up. But right now it seems audiences prefer seeing a sequel to anything new. They feel secure that if they part with $10 to see a Shrek 3 or a Pirates 3 or whatever that they know what level of entertainment they are getting. when they are spending that much money (plus food and drinks), that's reassuring. Pixar has a golden brand that reassures people. Maybe Rat won't top Shrek 3, but give it time....Rat 3 anyone?

Anonymous said...

"Well, duuuuh. That's why I work at Disney's."

So do I. I'll be happy to see you go with the rest of the dead weight around here.

Anonymous said...

"So do I. I'll be happy to see you go with the rest of the dead weight around here."

Anton Ego, is that you?


Hey, it's all about the money and keeping the kids quiet. Who needs art? My kids prefer a farting animal film far more than that that highbrow stuff. Who did you like more as a kid, Three Stooges or Masterpiece Theatre?




(Let's see if I can give him an anyurism, heeh!)

Anonymous said...

surfs up was a good film technically but a big dissappointmen with its dialogue and situations, not really for the kids. the rat is the best family film by far this summer.

Anonymous said...

i think i know this guy (yes, i work at disney too). his rants are very similar to his emails. you need anger control. i'm contacting HR to make sure they get a copy of this thread so they can request the IP info. you are on the edge dude.

Steve Hulett said...

IP info?

What IP info?

Anonymous said...

"IP" =internet provider. In cases of harrassment or whatnot whoever provides the hosting for a blog--Wordpress or Blogger, etc,--can track the footprint of even an anonymous commenter. The IP address aka the internet host of the offending person, once contacted, then has the option of releasing the personal details of the user in some cases. I wouldn't think they'd bother with what's been said here, though!

Anonymous said...

Actually "IP" = "Internet Protocol" address.

But yes, almost anything you post on blog comments or message boards can be traced to your IP address which is the unique "fingerprint" of your personal computer. However, it's very easy to fake an IP address through the use of a proxy server , so if someone really wants to be "Anonymous" (gosh there's so many of 'em here) then they could be by using a proxy server screen .

Anonymous said...

Or somebody could use a library computer.

Easy to cover tracks when you're at Rent-A-Machine.

Anonymous said...

or do what I do...

use my bosses computer when he/she is out to lunch!

tee hee!

Anonymous said...

btw...factoring in merchandise and dvd sales, Pixar's "Cars" has made more money than all 3 shrek films put together. And good for them.

"Ratatouille" is the best film this year. And the best animated one, too.

Anonymous said...

"Cars" sucked!!

Rufus.

Anonymous said...

"factoring in merchandise and dvd sales, Pixar's "Cars" has made more money than all 3 shrek films put together"

SO the way you determine a successful film is how good a commercial it is to sell crap?

Anonymous said...

Ratatouille was a fun little film, but in no way deserves all the ridiculous praise it's been receiving. It's severly flawed and it's ranks way below Bird's other efforts.
Only Pixar could get away with have opening narrartion and then main character narration - and if that wasn't enough explanation for you the main character then had to talk to a 'ghost' to help explain more about what you're seeing.
If they were going to use so many forms of narration then they could've at least tried to explain why in such a real world a mouse was able to magicly make a human move by pulling on his hair! They would've been better off having the mouse talk to the guy. But I guess that wouldn't have been realistic!!

Anonymous said...

"Meet the Robinsons" sucked
"Chicken Little" sucked

Disney is old and rotten.

Will Lasseter revive it? Time will tell, but the eight ball says: "don't count on it!"

Anonymous said...

me think it all just a big con to make money out of kids i feel more sorry for the single parent kids tuggin on mam or dads arm for the dvd or the toy of the film all a money making scam if you ask me

Anonymous said...

i would say its all entertaiment and every show has a goog lesson to learn from...kids also need entertainment and i enjoy all of these movies and who cares who made it, everyone needs to work and find something good for other people to enjoy....can't we all get along............

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shrek is better ha ha ha ha said...

well gues what m.f. shrek makes more money so that means theat it is better

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