Prospects for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ uncertain

What with prevailingly cool temperatures, and that onslaught of April showers through which most of the East Coast recently suffered, it certainly doesn’t feel like summer outside. But try telling that to Hollywood. The movie industry is eager to kick off its slate of summer blockbusters, the first of which opens today in a whopping 4,323 theatres: The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Spidey 2 is an interesting case. It’s the first Spider-Man film, including the Sam Raimi trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, to garner mostly negative reviews. The consensus has top marks for lead Andrew Garfield and the chemistry he shares with off-screen girlfriend Emma Stone, but has decried the movie’s bloated runtime, stuffed to the 2.5-hour hilt with villains and a busy, read: dull, string of setpieces.

To be fair, the franchise has been on the decline for years and through most of its run. The first two Sam Riami Spider-Mans performed the best, but each offering since 2004’s Spider-Man 2 has earned less than its predecessor. The 2012 Amazing Spider-Man grossed $262 million, which was down 22 percent from the first Tobey Maguire film.

Sony, which, as has been widely publicized, is in great need of a lucrative tentpole, is attempting to recapture the success of a few Spideys past by opening the film this first week in May. Sam Raimi Spider-Mans one and three set opening-weekend records when they debuted over this same weekend in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Box Office Mojo, however, believes Captain America: The Winter Soldier may have preemptively stolen some of Spider-Man’s thunder by performing as well as it did in April. Spidey may be the first of the summer blockbusters, but it isn’t exactly filling a dearth of blockbuster fare.

So, what does all this mean in cold, desirable dollars and cents? Depends whom you ask. Some pundits believe an opening north of $100 million is likely. Others have more tempered expectations, and see the film shooting for $95 million at most. But these are provincial concerns. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has already earned $155 million overseas and is poised to open in several more international markets this weekend, including the world’s second-largest, China. Look for China to play a major role in the movie’s success: The first Amazing Spider-Man grossed $48 million from the region, and there’s little reason to believe this second outing should prove any different. In terms of worldwide gross, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 could certainly match its predecessor’s $490 million haul.

For non-superhero fans (despite the current Hollywood fixation, they do exist), the specialty film Belle opens in four locations today. This second feature from director Amma Asante has positive reviews and a star turn by newcomer Gugu Mbatha-Raw to recommend it. Comedy Walk of Shame, starring Elizabeth Banks, is screening in 51 locations this weekend, and is also available on VOD.