Sept. 7, 2015
Kyle Guthrie
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This summer provided a handful of movies, some of which were hits, and some duds. Here is a list of what films rocked, and what reeled at the box office:
“Fantastic Four” – Rotten Tomatoes score: 9 percent
The lowest-reviewed film this summer hoped to gain $80-100 million on its opening weekend, Fox’s “Fantastic Four” only opened to $25 million on its first weekend. The biggest superhero flop since 2011’s failed “Green Lantern”, “Fantastic Four” continues to underperform at the box office.
With rumors regarding director Josh Trank’s original cut and the studio’s interference with the film, we might never know what Trank’s original project may have looked like; the movie’s sad performance at the box office guarantees that Fox won’t care enough to release it.
“Tomorrowland” – Rotten Tomatoes score: 50 percent
While Disney was hoping for a success story similar to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” a muddled story, baffling ad campaign and poor choice for a release date led to the disastrous release of Disney’s newest sci-fi adventure film.
While the negative reviews for the film certainly didn’t help matters, “Tomorrowland” is the biggest bomb Disney has released since the disastrous 2013 “Lone Ranger.” In addition, it’s expected to cost the studio over $140 million in lost revenue from its poor box office performance.
“Jurassic World” – Rotten Tomatoes score: 71 percent
The king of the 2015 summer blockbusters, “Jurassic World” not only grossed $1.6 billion worldwide, but was met with generally favorable reviews from critics.
Taking place 20 years after events in the prequel, 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” the film tells the story of Jurassic World scientists trying to wrangle in a genetically modified attraction that has escaped and threatens the park visitors.
While the film had several flaws, particularly head-scratching logic when discussing science, it still managed to deliver many thrills.
“The Avengers: Age of Ultron” – Rotten Tomatoes score: 74 percent
The latest entry in Marvel’s expanded universe, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” continues the story of Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk and the other Avengers as they tackle a new enemy threatening the world.
After Tony Stark inadvertently creates an artificial intelligence bent on world destruction, it’s up to the Avengers to stop him before he can follow through with his ultimate goal.
It may not have lived up to the expectations set by its wildly successful predecessor, but there are still aspects to love about the newest entry to the franchise.
“Inside Out” – Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
Pixar’s newest film masterpiece, “Inside Out,” manages to restore the CG pioneer to its status as the master of animated features.
The film tells the story of a young Riley Andersen and her internal emotions, played out by actual characterizations, as she moves with her family to a new town. The film was touching, powerful, beautifully animated and managed to gross a respectable $344 million domestically.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” – Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
While George Miller’s latest installment in his nearly 40-year-old franchise may not have grossed as much as the other entries on this list, it was the most critically acclaimed film of the summer, achieving a rare 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” continues the postapocalyptic story of antihero Max and his quest for survival. This time, he teams up with fellow road warrior Furiosa as she attempts to free a group of women from a tyrannical fanatic.
The film introduced the world to one of the greatest strong female characters in Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron).