
“Battleship,” based on the Hasbro box game, is now a movie. You wouldn’t know it, but “Battleship” has just opened in over 20 countries. By the time it opens in the US on May 18th, it will played all over the world and — with any luck– made of money. It has to since it cost well over $250 million and has some of the worst reviews ever. So far it has a 45% score on Rottentomatoes.com–not too good. Both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter have called it “ridiculous” and “silly.”
It has the same star as the other big turkey of the season–Taylor Kitsch, of “John Carter.” Peter Berg directed the movie with other actors including Liam Neeson (on a tear to make the worst movies he can find), the singer Rihanna (in her acting debut!), and Alexander Skarsgard of “True Blood.” Universal Pictures isn’t stupid. Realizing “Battleship” was just a lot of explosions splashed over a video game, it simply avoided the US entirely.”Battleship” has already had star studded premieres in at least Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Spain.
We are now in the era of reverse releases, where the US sees a movie last so the studio can avoid disaster. Last year, “The Adventures of Tin Tin” was released this way. This year, Julia Roberts‘ stinker, “Mirror Mirror” went the international route first. The numbers aren’t in yet from the Wednesday opening in those 20 or so countries, but if they liked “John Carter”–and they did — “Battleship” should roll up on American shores with at least $150 million in the bank. At some point you’d think foreign audiences would realize they’re being used as guinea pigs at best, and counted on to be idiots at worst. But until then, this is the new best way to prop up the box office.
forbes