Mark Millar On Kick-Ass' Box Office Performance!

Mark Millar On Kick-Ass' Box Office Performance!

The comic book writer issued the following statement to MTV with his official response to the film's big-screen debut...

News
By JoshWilding - Apr 19, 2010 03:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Kick-Ass
Source: MTV Splash Page

Here's what Millar had to say:

I'm just back from a weekend's break to find messages from Lionsgate, Matthew Vaughn and various actors on the movie buzzing that we were #1 in America this weekend. We were top Friday, Saturday and Sunday — which is amazing, considering we're in the middle of a holiday season and up against 3-D competition with an R-rated superhero movie.

It's also worth remembering that we only cost $28 million after the U.K. tax breaks, and our U.K. and U.S. gross alone is already at $38 million as of last night.

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We're looking at a very nice profit here and word of mouth is spectacular — the reviews being among the best I've ever seen — and so we're all very proud to find ourselves in this position. Positive advance reviews had some people hoping for a $25 million domestic opening. I wanted 'Avatar' numbers myself, but as Matthew sensibly pointed out, we were made on a Tarantino budget and should be more than happy with Tarantino numbers.

This is a great place to build on, and I'm very excited to see if we stay in the #1 position next weekend. 'Sherlock Holmes' benefited by having 'Avatar' getting people into cinemas again, and I'm hoping we can do the same when 'Iron Man 2' is launched the week after next. #1 is brilliant news for all concerned, and it's amazing to see a movie at the top of the charts that was rejected by every studio when we pitched it.

The whole gang are feeling very pleased and, since most of us took deferred payments, pretty relieved, too.

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-Mark Millar

Kick-Ass is out now everywhere and if you havent already, I implore you to go and see it! It is one of the best comic book adaptations that I've ever seen and a great movie in it's own right! In fact, if you've already seen it then go and see it again...you know you want to!

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lc
lc - 4/19/2010, 4:04 PM
i know i would love to kick someone ass dose that count josh lol.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 4/19/2010, 4:11 PM
lc: Lol, let me guess - LEE's? ;)

Keven: Nope, Lionsgate released this statement earlier:

"LIONSGATE® emerged from a neck-and-neck box office race to claim the #1 spot with its action/comedy KICK-ASS. Director Matthew Vaughn's critically lauded, R-rated film took in $19,828,687 for the weekend, edging past the 3D animated family feature HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. The latest release in Lionsgate's Tyler Perry franchise, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED, TOO?, reached $54.8 million in its third week in release. Lionsgate secured over 6,500 screens this past weekend, representing 16% of the North American marketplace.

Based on the groundbreaking, best-selling comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., KICK-ASS stars Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong and Chloe Grace Moretz, and features Nicolas Cage. The screenplay is written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. The producers are Matthew Vaughn, Brad Pitt, Tarquin Pack and Kris Thykier; Millar and Romita Jr. are co-producers. Lionsgate acquired North American distribution rights for $15 million last year.

Said Joe Drake, Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President, "KICK-ASS is fantastic, highly original entertainment, and our marketing and distribution teams have brilliantly positioned it for a long and successful run. That kind of run is precisely what we are seeing on the international front, where KICK-ASS has demonstrated a very strong hold at the box office; in Great Britain alone, it's taken in nearly $13.8 million in 17 days."

Guys, check out my ASSASSIN'S CREED II Fan Cast!!! Just click the link!!! :)
InTylerWeTrust
InTylerWeTrust - 4/19/2010, 4:12 PM
It deserves a whole lot more than that.

Time fo' some pimpin' :)

Trinity Cast: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/default.aspx?a=17220

Read and comment :P

End of pimpin'
Checkmate
Checkmate - 4/19/2010, 4:15 PM
That movie was amazing, it even gave me a newfound love for bazookas.
CRITIC17
CRITIC17 - 4/19/2010, 4:15 PM
Sweet!!! I still have to see it/read it!!!!
1chris2
1chris2 - 4/19/2010, 4:17 PM
i heard it only made 19 mill and is under how to train your dragon.
Starjammer
Starjammer - 4/19/2010, 4:21 PM
Am I the only one that hated this movie? Seriously, I really tried to enjoy it but it was so horrible on so many levels...bad script with strange plot holes, terrible acting, not very funny (unless maybe you're in High School...oh wait, it's rated R) and an annoying, nasally-voiced whiny-ass protagonist that has virtually nothing to do with the plot of the 2nd half, has almost no growth and development and pretends he's gay...At least Hit Girl's action scenes were pretty...since, ya know, she did EVERYTHING worth anything in the movie. It should have been called: Hit Girl (And A Bunch Of Other Failures That Don't Matter)

Maybe all these people that loved it are just really big Nic Cage fans...he's always good for a laugh. Ok, I'm done.
Tobuttica
Tobuttica - 4/19/2010, 4:26 PM
You and that douche Ebert are the only ones that didn't like it. Well, then there's the parents that don't supervise their children and let them watch the movie and are apalled that it was as profane as it was. Might just be me, but I didn't notice any plot holes. Every movie might have plot cracks because no movie is perfect, but holes, I think not.
Tobuttica
Tobuttica - 4/19/2010, 4:28 PM
Boxoffice.com shows it ahead of Dragon by like $200,000. So I think he was accurate in his reporting of being #1.
thatiscrazy
thatiscrazy - 4/19/2010, 4:35 PM
@Starjammer... yes
lc
lc - 4/19/2010, 4:47 PM
@josh well yeah but he never gets off his ass lol
oh maybe i could kick someones else just for fun <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< looking at you josh lol only jk hun
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 4/19/2010, 4:51 PM
starjammer@ tomorrows LOST episode should wash the bad taste outta yer mouth;)
topgooner187
topgooner187 - 4/19/2010, 4:57 PM
kick ass was [frick]ing awesome, iron man's got a lot to do to beat this movie mother[frick]ers POW!
Starjammer
Starjammer - 4/19/2010, 4:59 PM
It wasn't that I was shocked at the obsceneties of it or anything like that. There were plenty of things that made me just sit there and go...wait, what? I won't go into a lot of the strange "Sam Raimi"-esque plot holes, I'm kind of sick of talking about them. But I'm actually a screen writer, so I'm not just some moron when it comes to storylines, if that means anything.

It's just weird that it lacks a lot of the most basic concepts of plot structure. Like,your protagonist is responsible for moving the plot forward...wasn't the case here. Or, you know, having a likable hero that has some kind of redeemable value. Nope. He's still a failure at the end (and I don't just mean physically. He never grew mentally either.)

Personally, I just wanted to slap this kid in the face for being so utterly annoying. And although I know this movie meant to be different and less traditional, which can totally work if done in the right way, it didn't here, and it showed.

And don't say the jet pack machine gun or the bazooka at the end counts as him growing emotionally and succeeding as a hero. Hit Girl did 95% of the work, and it was her Father they were avenging (he had nothing personal at stake). All he did was appear at the last second and push a button. It wasn't even his
weapon or his idea/plan.

I also have a sense of humor that stems beyond listening to jack-off jokes or little girls saying [frick] in every sentence. I dunno, just one guy's opinion. If you enjoyed this movie immensely, more power to you.

I dunno, sorry if I offended anyone, just one guy's opinions I felt I should express. Take it or leave it.
Starjammer
Starjammer - 4/19/2010, 5:00 PM
@odinsbeard Yesssss...it's going to AMAZINGGGG
topgooner187
topgooner187 - 4/19/2010, 5:04 PM
number 1 baby
Gose
Gose - 4/19/2010, 5:06 PM
Cool ! thats exactly why I myself don't listen to CRITICs, I watch movies .....
topgooner187
topgooner187 - 4/19/2010, 5:06 PM
LOST!! lol no wonder you didnt like kick ass you have no taste.
CaptainAmerica
CaptainAmerica - 4/19/2010, 5:16 PM
he wanted avatar numbers? lmfao
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 4/19/2010, 5:18 PM
topgooner@ lol says the guy with the spider-boner avatar!

get outta here!

lol ;P
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 4/19/2010, 5:21 PM
Star@ not the place for it here (i dont wanna hi-jack this thread with lost discussion lol) but yes, i agree!

we'll talk on Wednesday over on earthsmightiest.

and all of your criticisms about the movie were all my fears confirmed. i dropped the book for that very reason. i didn't give a damn about any of the characters. but in a comic you can get away with a lot more than film. i.e. less character development and action for the sake of it. sounds like the movie was adapted a little TOO close.
Starjammer
Starjammer - 4/19/2010, 5:24 PM
and this is why I always regret contributing to boards...there's always THAT guy that has to make everything personal insults...

When I want to be immature, I just say poop a lot. And on occasion, poopnasty
Starjammer
Starjammer - 4/19/2010, 5:28 PM
@Odinsbeard
I 100% agree, my thoughts too. Others were done amazingly like 300, Sin City and Watchmen. But ya, I think this for sure didn't translate quite right.

@Gaston
And that was the problem lol
peterparker420
peterparker420 - 4/19/2010, 6:07 PM
All I got to say is that KICK ASS ROCKED!! I havn't had that much fun at the movies since the first Iron Man!

Great story! acting! and of course violents!!

I can't wait for the extended Director cut!!
topgooner187
topgooner187 - 4/19/2010, 6:19 PM
someones got sand in their vagina
superdog
superdog - 4/19/2010, 6:49 PM
odinsbeard & starjammer@ see you guys tommorow at the ror lost review party :)

as for kickass, it is a good number for this type of movie. as they said, it was never going to make big money, but a small budget can easily make up for that. good for them.
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 4/19/2010, 6:52 PM
topgooner@ you can't change your avatar! now my put down too you makes no sense!

haha jk.
topgooner187
topgooner187 - 4/19/2010, 6:57 PM
dogs of war made me. what you think of my new one. can you guess what it is yet?
Minotauro
Minotauro - 4/19/2010, 7:03 PM
25 Million??.. Tanked.
DarkWebs
DarkWebs - 4/19/2010, 7:06 PM
@ keven I told you dude #1 let me say that again #1 OH did I say that twice?? OOPS
Nightwing09
Nightwing09 - 4/19/2010, 7:16 PM
it was such a great movie ranks up there with Watchmen and TDK
Starjammer
Starjammer - 4/19/2010, 7:36 PM
All I know is I couldn't wait to get the crap out of that movie theater...pleaaasse god don't let this ruin my IM2 experience.
TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/19/2010, 7:48 PM
/agree Starjammer's first comment
gurugeorge
gurugeorge - 4/19/2010, 9:40 PM
I can understand some of Starjammer's comments, but on the main thing, I don't agree K-A himself had no redeeming features, I kind of liked his "quest" - as someone said, he has almost nothing going for him except "heart", but that's kind of the essence of a hero, powers or not. I thought his turning into a "real" superhero at the end was a bit cheesy, but on the other hand it was viscerally satisfying.

I was disappointed that there wasn't more swearing and vulgarity from HG - after all, if you're going to do that sort of thing, why the half-measures? (*SPOILER* The redline bits everyone's probably already seen are pretty much the ONLY bits of her swearing.) But then I guess if that's all there is in the comic ...

Overall, I think the hype and PR campaign made it out to be better than it actually is, but it's still an enjoyable film with some great action sequences, some funny one-liners, and a bit of food for thought (esp. re. the whole concept of superheroes, and how, when they were invented and became popular during wartime, nobody batted an eyelid at the thought of people "taking the law into their own hands" - how have we become so risk-averse as a society that the very concept of a superhero in real life is now seen as utterly ridiculous and we feel we must hand our right to self-defence over to a state police force, and that's somehow morally more right than defending ourselves or defending our own community ourselves?)
fanerdityflicks
fanerdityflicks - 4/19/2010, 10:18 PM
@Keven

How TO Train Your Dragon is a 3D movie and is playing in more theaters and has higher ticket prices if u see it in 3D. For all purposes Kick-Ass was actually the number 1 movie this week. How To Train was number 3 last week and I think parents just took their kids to see that because they didn't want to take them to see a rated R comic book action movie!
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