[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Not at all. What I find interesting is that they're really banking on the fact that it'll probably do really well without any critical support prior to release. Transformers 2 did plenty well despite bad reviews. Wonder if it'd done even better if it didn't have any press screenings.

I actually think it'll be interesting to see how blockbuster summer check-your-mind-at-the-door fare like this will proceed in the future. Will the Michael Bay movies skip pre-releases altogether, knowing the movie will rake in the dough without the critics talking it up (or down)?

Transformers 2 lost about half it's audience each week. That's not good. Word of mouth is what kills a movie that doesn't screen for critics. They may have a decent opening, but then there will be a huge drop the next week after people realize it really DOES suck.

They don't screen movies in the hopes that at least the first weekend will be bigger.

Date (click to view chart)	Rank	Weekend Gross	% Change	Theaters	Change / Avg.		Gross-to-Date	Week #
Jun 26–28	1	$108,966,307	-	4,234	-	$25,736	$200,077,255	1
Jul 3–5	1	$42,320,877	-61.2%	4,234	-	$9,995	$293,355,885	2
Jul 10–12	3	$24,213,875	-42.8%	4,293	+59	$5,640	$339,221,800	3
Jul 17–19	3	$13,691,487	-43.5%	3,857	-436	$3,550	$363,808,123	4
Jul 24–26	6	$8,124,427	-40.7%	3,237	-620	$2,510	$379,214,172	5
Jul 31–Aug 2	10	$4,688,329	-42.3%	2,626	-611	$1,785	$388,189,320	6