snakes on the internet

Who doesn’t like Samuel L. Jackson? That’s something of a rhetorical question. After all, with unforgettable and overly-quotable scenes such as this:

the recently opened film, “Snakes on a Plane” was touted by all as a sure-fire hit. Only, few people went to see it.

From the NY Times:

“The tepid opening dashed the hopes of Hollywood and especially of New Line Cinema, which released the movie, that vigorous marketing on the Internet would be a powerful new way to propel fans into the theater at a time when movies are working hard to hold their own against other forms of entertainment.”

In short, the movie made half of what was expected in opening days, $15.2 instead of $20-30 million.

“We see that Internet interest in a movie doesn’t necessarily translate to good box office,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, a company that tracks the box office. “To some, the marketing was more exciting than the movie. Everyone was talking about the movie. But you have to convert that talk into moviegoing, otherwise it’s just talk.”

thus…

the wildly hyped high-concept movie, turned out to be a Web-only phenomenon this weekend

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