Box office prophets unsure of Sydney White future at the box office

**pranksalot** · 09-17-2007, 09:48 PM

http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/tic....cfm?tmID=4022

Hollywood consistently relies on classic stories as sources for modern movies, especially when the modern movies center on young people. In the last decade, we’ve seen Shakespeare’s plays get re-imagined as teen flicks, from 10 Things I Hate About You (source: The Taming of the Shrew) to O (Othello) and She’s the Man (The Twelfth Night). Now it seems age-old fairy tales are becoming a reliable device for studios to cash in on.

This fall, Amanda Bynes (who also starred in She’s the Man) headlines Sydney White, a modern take on Snow White, which most people will know through the Brothers Grimm fairy tale and Walt Disney’s first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Bynes plays Sydney White, a college freshman with ambitions to join her late mother’s sorority at Southern Atlantic University. To her dismay, Sidney finds the mechanics and downfalls of popularity and social politics have taken over the once-respected organization. She's banished by the wicked Rachel (Sara Paxton) to another Greek house, where she befriends seven nerdy outcasts. Together, they organize to subvert the student government and reinstate justice and equality on campus.

The premise for Sydney White feels light and jolly, and its playful but truthful social commentary may have the power to win over critics, but Universal Pictures isn’t showing they have much faith in the movie by releasing it in September, which has earned the reputation as Hollywood’s “dumping ground” for movies with low box office potential. Then again, such a release schedule could turn out to be smart marketing as many college and high school students will have returned to campus and may feel the need to check out a movie that's similar to their own lives.

This year hasn’t been particularly kind to the young female demographic that Sydney White is obviously aiming to please. Movies like Nancy Drew and Bratz barely made a dent at the box office. It helps that Bynes is fresh off the unexpected success of Hairspray, which could be used as a marketing tool, and the well-known source material could spark mild interest. Thanks to its low production budget, Sydney White won’t have to make too much to become a hit, but if it does, rest assured Hollywood will take notice and start to update other classic fairy tales for a new generation of moviegoers. (Matthew Huntley/BOP)

wonderboy · 09-17-2007, 09:54 PM

I think it's still too early to tell about how this will do. I wasn't worried about it coming out in September, but the low theater counts isn't a good sign. Amanda's fans will hopefully get behind it and bring in other people. And maybe it will expand if it does well in opening weekend. And I don't think it'll flop because it has a low budget. I just hope it does good.

**open32** · 09-17-2007, 10:41 PM

This is the sentiment from most box office sites and people. The main concern is always that Universal abandoned the movie. That probably adds to the reason for the low theater count. But Amanda has always had a fan base, so we will be able to see how much affect not advertising and a low theater count have. Even though I would have liked to see a lot more suport from Universal.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

**pranksalot** · 09-18-2007, 08:18 AM

nancy Drew opened in over 2,600 theaters for Warner Brothers compared to Sydney White with 1,900. A major difference. It's makes me wish Sydney White was part of Warner Brothers.

wonderboy · 09-18-2007, 04:40 PM

I think Sydney will find an audience, I just don't know what it's biggest threat is. I haven't seen any previews for Resident Evil but those movies are kind of popular, aren't they? But it's like the third one so maybe people won't be that interested in it. Jessica Alba is hot right now but I don't really see what's so great about her. And Dane Cook's last movie only made like 25 or 30 million didn't it? Those are really the only 3 coming out, the rest are limited

I also think it's annoying that it's coming out on such a busy weekend and isn't opening in more theaters. Amanda's movies have never lost money. And she's been promoting the movie by herself, what about the other cast members.

charlespt · 09-18-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feedtheflame

Jessica Alba is hot right now but I don't really see what's so great about her.

IMO Jessica Alba sucks

I don't like her and I even think she's not a good actress.

Sorry to Jessica Alba fans.
It's only my opinion.

wonderboy · 09-18-2007, 08:06 PM

^I totally agree. She has this attitude that she thinks she's so hot, and that's not attractive to me, at least that's what it seems like to me.

studio100fan · 09-20-2007, 11:14 AM

I really think that to!

09-17-2007, 09:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
pranksalot Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,501 My Profile	Box office prophets unsure of Sydney White future at the box office http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/tic....cfm?tmID=4022 Hollywood consistently relies on classic stories as sources for modern movies, especially when the modern movies center on young people. In the last decade, we’ve seen Shakespeare’s plays get re-imagined as teen flicks, from 10 Things I Hate About You (source: The Taming of the Shrew) to O (Othello) and She’s the Man (The Twelfth Night). Now it seems age-old fairy tales are becoming a reliable device for studios to cash in on. This fall, Amanda Bynes (who also starred in She’s the Man) headlines Sydney White, a modern take on Snow White, which most people will know through the Brothers Grimm fairy tale and Walt Disney’s first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Bynes plays Sydney White, a college freshman with ambitions to join her late mother’s sorority at Southern Atlantic University. To her dismay, Sidney finds the mechanics and downfalls of popularity and social politics have taken over the once-respected organization. She's banished by the wicked Rachel (Sara Paxton) to another Greek house, where she befriends seven nerdy outcasts. Together, they organize to subvert the student government and reinstate justice and equality on campus. The premise for Sydney White feels light and jolly, and its playful but truthful social commentary may have the power to win over critics, but Universal Pictures isn’t showing they have much faith in the movie by releasing it in September, which has earned the reputation as Hollywood’s “dumping ground” for movies with low box office potential. Then again, such a release schedule could turn out to be smart marketing as many college and high school students will have returned to campus and may feel the need to check out a movie that's similar to their own lives. This year hasn’t been particularly kind to the young female demographic that Sydney White is obviously aiming to please. Movies like Nancy Drew and Bratz barely made a dent at the box office. It helps that Bynes is fresh off the unexpected success of Hairspray, which could be used as a marketing tool, and the well-known source material could spark mild interest. Thanks to its low production budget, Sydney White won’t have to make too much to become a hit, but if it does, rest assured Hollywood will take notice and start to update other classic fairy tales for a new generation of moviegoers. (Matthew Huntley/BOP)

09-17-2007, 09:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
wonderboy Bynes=Love Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,411 My Profile	I think it's still too early to tell about how this will do. I wasn't worried about it coming out in September, but the low theater counts isn't a good sign. Amanda's fans will hopefully get behind it and bring in other people. And maybe it will expand if it does well in opening weekend. And I don't think it'll flop because it has a low budget. I just hope it does good.

09-17-2007, 10:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
open32 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,069 My Profile	This is the sentiment from most box office sites and people. The main concern is always that Universal abandoned the movie. That probably adds to the reason for the low theater count. But Amanda has always had a fan base, so we will be able to see how much affect not advertising and a low theater count have. Even though I would have liked to see a lot more suport from Universal.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

09-18-2007, 08:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
pranksalot Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,501 My Profile	nancy Drew opened in over 2,600 theaters for Warner Brothers compared to Sydney White with 1,900. A major difference. It's makes me wish Sydney White was part of Warner Brothers.

09-18-2007, 04:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
wonderboy Bynes=Love Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,411 My Profile	I think Sydney will find an audience, I just don't know what it's biggest threat is. I haven't seen any previews for Resident Evil but those movies are kind of popular, aren't they? But it's like the third one so maybe people won't be that interested in it. Jessica Alba is hot right now but I don't really see what's so great about her. And Dane Cook's last movie only made like 25 or 30 million didn't it? Those are really the only 3 coming out, the rest are limited I also think it's annoying that it's coming out on such a busy weekend and isn't opening in more theaters. Amanda's movies have never lost money. And she's been promoting the movie by herself, what about the other cast members.

09-18-2007, 08:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
wonderboy Bynes=Love Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,411 My Profile	^I totally agree. She has this attitude that she thinks she's so hot, and that's not attractive to me, at least that's what it seems like to me.

09-20-2007, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
studio100fan Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 101 My Profile	I really think that to!

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