By Scott Mendelson, Contributor
It’s no secret that I didn’t much care of G.I. Joe: Retaliation when I saw it at the All-Media screening just under two weeks ago. Heck, I’m one of maybe ten critics on the planet who actually preferred Stephen Summers‘s first (and I’d argue, underrated) G.I. Joe picture from summer 2009. But despite my personal preferences, the film is a solid hit worldwide, ushering in an almost immediate green-light for G.I. Joe 3. Paramount did a few very smart things during the production of this Jon Chu-helmed sequel. In fact, other than the fact that it’s not a very good movie (arguably the hardest variable to plan on, natch), Paramount Pictures‘s handling of G.I. Joe: Retaliation may be a primer on how to successfully launch a tentpole film in today’s specific marketplace. First of all, that much-debated nine-month delay from June 2012 to March 2013 turned out to be the right call. Aside from the obvious 10-20% bump in ticket prices per 3D-ticket sold, overseas audiences went for the 3D, and the delay in order to convert the film to 3D is partially responsible for its strong $232 million-and-counting worldwide total, or already within reach of the $300 million that Rise of Cobra earned altogether. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
