Surviving Christmas: Hollywood's fastest theaters-to-DVD?

Post by **Luke** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:24 pm

So, do you guys remember Surviving Christmas? This, Dreamworks' holiday comedy, opened in theaters on October 22, which means as of today, it's been playing for three weeks. The DVD has been announced as coming December 21, a turnaround time of just 2 months.

I can't think of another turnaround this fast in Hollywood. The Blair Witch Project was around 3 months, as was Mighty Joe Young. But this is crazy.

Which raises the issue. Did they decide to open this Christmas movie at such an inopportune time as to get it on DVD in time for Christmas? Or did they just assume that as a bomb if it went the typical holiday film route and didn't come to DVD for another year that no one would remember it or want anything to do with it?

Obviously, this is probably a freak occurrence. But I thought it was interesting. Maybe I'm the only one?

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:38 pm

Man, you're right that is crazy! I'm sure it's just that they didn't want to wait a whole year, coupled with the fact that bombs always come to DVD quicker anyway.

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:55 pm

Umm.... the movie didn't have a great box office opening so I guess they want to put it out of it's misery before people actually forget about it ever exist.
What I could remember it got low reviews and it only made about a disappointing $6 million on the first weekend. Come on who wants to see Ben Affleck since he did a horrible movie called Gigli

? I feel bad about James Gandolfini first The Sopranos is coming to an end and now this horrible movie.
I hope that Daredevil 2 doesn’t fall in to this same hole.

TheZue · Post by **TheZue** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 4:21 pm

That movie should have just gone direct to video. They could have at least saved on the marketing costs.

Come on who wants to see Ben Affleck since he did a horrible movie called Gigli

I may rent it, even though it does look terrible, mainly cause Ben Affleck is cute

I can still handle seeing him, even though almost all of his movies have been terrible. He just has terrible terrible terrible taste in scripts. He just reminds me of the Pearl Harbour song in Team America now...so now he's cute and makes me laugh hahaha. [/quote]

yoda_four · Post by **yoda_four** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:33 pm

From Justin to Kelly was apparently on DVD within 6 weeks.

As for Surviving Christmas; I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was a throughly funny flick. Prob a 2.5/4, only because 3 seems rather high; more like a 75%. It'd make a decent rental.

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:19 pm

yoda_four wrote:Prob a 2.5/4, only because 3 seems rather high; more like a 75%. It'd make a decent rental.

3/4 is 75%

Post by **Luke** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:26 pm

yoda_four wrote:From Justin to Kelly was apparently on DVD within 6 weeks.

Actually it looks like it took about 1 week longer than Surviving Christmas's transition.

Theatrical Release: June 20, 2003
DVD Release: August 26, 2003

I'm sure there are exceptions which outdo this, but I can't think of any other major Hollywood film with a somewhat A-cast.

deathie mouse · Post by **deathie mouse** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:26 pm

Doesn't a movie has to have a theatrical release during x amount of time on between certain dates to qualify for the oscars? Maybe there's Oscar material there! so no direct to video no no no.

or maybe the guys realized that theatrical exhibition is not all that it used to be after seeing high rez captures (*winks at Luke for that ;P)

btw who's Ben Affleck? I think i've never seen any of his movies

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:55 pm

deathie mouse Wrote:

btw who's Ben Affleck? I think i've never seen any of his movies

These are some of the movies that Ben Affleck came out in.

I bet girls would do anything to date him or marry him.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/searc ... 37-7732860

Just Myself · Post by **Just Myself** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 9:38 pm

I actually enjoyed this film, mainly because the point is Ben is supposed to be psychotic and piss people off, which he does with humor. I'm glad this comes out in time for Christmas.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 2:11 am

MickeyMousePal wrote: Come on who wants to see Ben Affleck since he did a horrible movie called Gigli ?

How would want to see Eddie Murphy since he did a horrible movie called Daddy Day Care? Oh, and I Spy. And The Adventures of Pluto Nash. And Dr Doolittle 1 and 2. And Both Nutty Professors. And Life. And... Well, you get the point. Still, it doesn't stop him pulling in the big bucks for Shrek 2 playing the annoying audio open-sore-wound that is called "Donkey".

Never judge a film by its stars (unless one of the stars is Chris Walken, in which case the film will be freakin' awesome. And yes, that does mean Gigli is freakin' awesome!

For a few minutes anyway)

lord-of-sith · Post by **lord-of-sith** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:58 am

Lets not forget a little film called Lost in Translation which came out on DVD while it was also in theaters.

Post by **Luke** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:00 am

lord-of-sith wrote:Lets not forget a little film called Lost in Translation which came out on DVD while it was also in theaters.

I saw that opening day (September 12, 2003), and it didn't come out on DVD until February 3, 2004. That's nearly five months, although most parts of the country didn't get it as early as NY/LA.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:59 am

2099net wrote:(unless one of the stars is Chris Walken, in which case the film will be freakin' awesome. And yes, that does mean Gigli is freakin' awesome! For a few minutes anyway)

Normally, I find CW to be funny, but have you seen Envy? He's awful awful awful in that.

Kram Nebuer · Post by **Kram Nebuer** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 5:46 pm

A local newspaper movie review gave Surviving Christmas not 2, not 1, but NO stars! I thought that was pretty funny! I wanted to see this movie because it looked like it would be funny, but now I HAVE to see it to see why it got NO stars!

JaneMccoy · Post by **JaneMccoy** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:03 pm

MickeyMousePal wrote:deathie mouse Wrote:

btw who's Ben Affleck? I think i've never seen any of his movies
These are some of the movies that Ben Affleck came out in.

I bet girls would do anything to date him or marry him.

lol. date, maybe. marry, no, doesn't look like the settling type. i always thought matt damon was the smarter, cuter, nicer one.

anyways, the movie did come out at an awkward time, i saw a preview for it while i was putting together my halloween costume for goodness sakes. i didn't realize that the movie is supposedly not that good. it's a movie i wanted to see when it came out on dvd, now i don't have to wait as long as i thought i would. it looked a little funny in the commercials, i guess that's as funny as it gets?

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Surviving Christmas: Hollywood's fastest theaters-to-DVD?

Surviving Christmas: Hollywood's fastest theaters-to-DVD?