How long can Nemo stay afloat at the top?

Jake Lipson · Post by **Jake Lipson** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 4:32 pm

As we all know, Finding Nemo recently found itself the #1 animated film of all time. Prior to that day, The Lion King held the record for roughly 9 years. Prior to that, Aladdin managed to stay up top for a couple years.

So - how long do you guys all think Nemo can stay where it is? Traditionally, each Pixar movie goes higher than the last one and continued to rival Simbauntil Nemo finally took the crown. But Nemo was in no doubt helped by the early summer release, and a lack of well-promoted, quality family competition until Disney distributed another two hits, Spy Kids 3-D and its own Freaky Friday. Next year Pixar's movie, The Incredibles, will do very well, and probably break Nemo's opening records, but in the long run I don't think it will beat it. It's back in the early holiday season, when kids are still in school and can't go to the movies as often, although adults will. But the holiday season probably means a shorter overall run for Incredibles as opposed to Nemo because of the vast number of new releases. Not to mention that next fall is clock full of opposing kids movies: Sharktale (formerly Sharkslayer), The Polar Express, and several others. So, for right now at least, Nemo is safe at the top for a while.

So how long do YOU think Nemo can stay up there?

indianajdp · Post by **indianajdp** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 4:42 pm

Who knows, but I suspect it will be quite awhile.
Nemo had a lot going for it, but I think a HUGE contributor to its success was the fact that it was set entirely underwater. I think there were quite a few "casual" fans of CGI that really wanted to see just how good this film really looked in that kind of setting. And it truly was amazing.

Mermaid Kelly · Post by **Mermaid Kelly** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:08 pm

I personally don't consider Nemo an animated movie...I consider it to be a computer movie. Man, Disney movies sure are not like they used to be...sigh.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:15 pm

The only animated movies I know of thats going to have chances at topping Finding Nemo's success are the upcoming Pixar films. I kind of doubt Incredibles will be able to do it, since it doesn't have the benefit of kids being off, which helped Nemo to get over 300 million. Depending on the release dates of Cars, it has a chance.

Post by **Luke** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:18 pm

Jack wrote:The only animated movies I know of thats going to have chances at topping Finding Nemo's success are the upcoming Pixar films. I kind of doubt Incredibles will be able to do it, since it doesn't have the benefit of kids being off, which helped Nemo to get over 300 million. Depending on the release dates of Cars, it has a chance.

Well, kids are off for Christmas, and I'm sure The Incredibles will be (to quote New Kids on the Block) "hangin' tough" by the December recess, even with competition.

Though topping Nemo might be impossible for a November release, considering all that competition, and the fact that Nemo was one of only a handful of universally-acclaimed films released this summer, had just about no serious family film competition (outside of other Disney films!), and has the near-universal appeal that Pixar has gotten down to a T.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:21 pm

Thats true Luke, but 2 weeks off isn't the same as 3 months off. If you look at Finding Nemo's day-by-day performance, what really helped propell it over $300 Mill. was its strong weekdays. During the vacation, it was only dropping around 40%-50% on Mondays after the weekend and held strong throughout the week - thats incredibly good.

Even if Incredibles had as good legs on the weekends as Nemo did, it'd be tough to beat the deformed fish because of the lower weekdays through most of its run.

Prince Phillip · Post by **Prince Phillip** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:24 pm

I look forward to Chicken Little, who knows that mat just be the movie to do it, or maybe Brother Bear or Home on the Range will do it.

It would be nice if it were a traditional animated peice...

I don't know aboutr Pixar, I have a feeling they are going to start on more adult oriented movies, cause that's what they were really about, before disney and probably what they want to go back to, they had a few that were kinda kiddie, and some that spoke to the adult audience but also appealed to kids, but I think they're gearing up to mainly do their adult humoured movies...

Lady · Post by **Lady** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 10:34 am

nod. i also feel that cars will be able to top nemo's performance. just the premise of the movie (talking vehicles and their lives) is an interesting concept that i feel will have a lot of appeal to adults.

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:49 pm

Mermaid Kelly wrote:I personally don't consider Nemo an animated movie...I consider it to be a computer movie. Man, Disney movies sure are not like they used to be...sigh.

Still takes a lot of work and TLC on the part of the animators.
It is like saying War & Peace would be a lesser book if written today and published as a webpage.

And of course Disney movies aren't what they used to be. If they were, we would say Disney had become stagnant and irrelevant. The trial of new things (to various degrees of success for the Studio) is what makes Disney great.

I think Nemo was a great looking film, and loads of fun. But maybe that is just me. And all the other punters who put it in the top 10.

And and just to nit-pick, but Nemo is a Pixar film so it is unfair to compare it to Disney of old anyways.

Sorry if I sound short (but I am and it just comes out that way:D), but I always get a little annoyed at CGI-bashing (or "computer film" bashing) without actually saying why. I understand there are arguments that it is cheaper and more efficient for studios, but simply dismissing Nemo because it is 'a computer film' doesn't make a lot of sense - at least to me.

I hope it stays there for years, and if not, I hope it gets knocked off by something that is just as innovative and fun.

Mermaid Kelly · Post by **Mermaid Kelly** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 7:00 pm

Loomis wrote:

I think Nemo was a great looking film, and loads of fun. But maybe that is just me. And all the other punters who put it in the top 10.

Sorry if I sound short (but I am and it just comes out that way:D), but I always get a little annoyed at CGI-bashing (or "computer film" bashing) without actually saying why. I understand there are arguments that it is cheaper and more efficient for studios, but simply dismissing Nemo because it is 'a computer film' doesn't make a lot of sense - at least to me.

I wasn't saying that Nemo is a bad movie. I thought it was pretty good

, I just don't like Pixar movies as much as 100% pure Disney movies. Lilo and Stich for example, I thought that was great! It had the "older style" of animation, not flashy new technology.

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 7:08 pm

Mermaid Kelly wrote: I wasn't saying that Nemo is a bad movie. I thought it was pretty good , I just don't like Pixar movies as much as 100% pure Disney movies. Lilo and Stich for example, I thought that was great! It had the "older style" of animation, not flashy new technology.

OK

You aren't going to get any arguments from me in the Lilo v Nemo debate. I'm on your side there.

I just misunderstood what you meant by "I consider it to be a computer movie. Man, Disney movies sure are not like they used to be...". I thought you were implying Nemo was somehow lesser than the old school by virtue of it being a CGI film.

But yeah - I wholeheartedly agree that 'flashy' does not make a good film. But I think both Lilo and Nemo will become all-time faves for me because they both had solid stories...

BasilOfBakerStreet427 · Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:03 pm

Nothing will break Nemo's record for a decade or two.

G'Day!

rodis · Post by **rodis** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:34 pm

y'all I have a question, how much did the film gross worldwide?
Boxofficemojo.com says $334 mil in the US and $82 mil overseas.
Well, obviously it's inaccurate so if anyone can help...

Jake Lipson · Post by **Jake Lipson** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 10:11 pm

Actulally, I don't think that is an inaccurate figure. Finding Nemo has yet to open in many countries overseas, and Disney will be rolling it out internationally over the course of the holiday season. Taking this into account, I'm guessing that figure is pretty much accurate for now, but it is by no means the final gross and will definitly change extremely significantly by year's end.

rodis · Post by **rodis** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:40 am

Oh, got it. It does make sense now

hokeyboy · Post by **hokeyboy** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 2:43 pm

I think it will be awhile. Nemo is the best animated film released since The Iron Giant and succeeded on levels that many other animated films (especially Lilo and Stitch, Shrek, and Ice Age) couldn't compete: it had a perfect story that appealed to both children and adults, eyepopping visuals, and a sophistication that generated real humor without resorting to gimmicky schtick, dated gags, or childish dick/fart/poo humor.

And it is real animation, not just a "computer movie". Even if a computer does the rendering, there are teams of artist behind every single movement. Nemo is as much a labor of human love as any 2D movie.

Now: who's into brownies?

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How long can Nemo stay afloat at the top?

How long can Nemo stay afloat at the top?