Ever a worst summer for film?

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Lathspell
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9:21a, 7/10/24
AG
I was working on figuring out my favorite movie each year, going back as far as I could. When starting with 2024 and working backward, I was absolutely amazed when I got to 2019 and started working back from there. Easily 3-4 each year that I had a hard time ranking over each other. After 2020, it is been crap. I had completely forgotten what it was like to expect so many good movie releases every year.

Yeah, there have been some great films in that time, half of which are probably attributed to two of the greatest directors of my lifetime being at the top of their game (Nolan and Villeneuve). We then had Top Gun: Maverick, which harkened back to that time of great summer blockbusters that were unabashedly pro-American and just worried about entertaining the audience.

However, there has also been a lot of utter trash. I don't buy the argument that it's all COVID's fault. I think the proportion of good to bad movies is much worse than it was when there were more movies released. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to make the hypothesis that Hollywood, in it's growth back to the same level of production and more stringent resources, is choosing greenlighting movies that are pushing some agendas over others
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RAB87
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In reply to FL_Ag1998 • 11:34a, 7/10/24
AG
FL_Ag1998 said:
RAB87 said:
Cannot think of one. My local theater has a dozen screens. There has not been a damn thing worth watching all summer. Why does Hollywood suck so much?


OP, I'm legit curious what movies, in your opinion, from the past would be worth watching if they were released this summer?
No Time to Die, Oppenheimer, Top Gun Maverick, and Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning. The only great films since 2021.
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BadMoonRisin
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In reply to TCTTS • 11:37a, 7/10/24
AG
Out of all of those, I have only seen TG:M (on your recommendation i believe)

I think maybe as I get older I'm just out of touch or dont have time for movies. Maybe it's having young kids who are stir-crazy "glass generation" kids that need stimulation at all times and cant sit through a movie in a dark theatre.

I think you said something the other day, maybe about Horizon, but most good-great movies have a 3+ hour running time. Im cool with that in my house, but not so much in a theatre setting anymore.

I'm not even 40.

Old man yells at clouds, I know.
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FL_Ag1998
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In reply to RAB87 • 11:44a, 7/10/24
AG
RAB87 said:
FL_Ag1998 said:
RAB87 said:
Cannot think of one. My local theater has a dozen screens. There has not been a damn thing worth watching all summer. Why does Hollywood suck so much?


OP, I'm legit curious what movies, in your opinion, from the past would be worth watching if they were released this summer?
No Time to Die, Oppenheimer, Top Gun Maverick, and Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning. The only great films since 2021.


Gotcha. All great movies, but I would bet most people would argue there have been other good/great movies worth watching in the theater besides just those four. But to each his own. Thanks for answering.

Just personally from last year I liked and am glad I watched the following movies (not all in the theater of course): Poor Things, The Holdovers, Spiderman Across the Spiderverse, American Fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, John Wick 4, and GoTG 3.
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Danger Mouse
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In reply to Kraft Punk • 11:56a, 7/10/24
AG
Kraft Punk said:
Foreign films are the way to go these days

Hollywood has been dog**** since 2017 or so when those idiots all became woke nazis


Sad but it's reality
Here comes the F16 brigade. Turning every single topic into a politicized rant. Some of you are absolutely insufferable.
Class of '91 (MEEN)
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WoMD
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In reply to Danger Mouse • 11:57a, 7/10/24
Danger Mouse said:
Kraft Punk said:
Foreign films are the way to go these days

Hollywood has been dog**** since 2017 or so when those idiots all became woke nazis


Sad but it's reality
Here comes the F16 brigade. Turning every single topic into a politicized rant. Some of you are absolutely insufferable.

To be fair, Hollywood did that first...
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HTownAg
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In reply to TCTTS • 10:16a, 7/11/24
AG
TCTTS said:
So far...

- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was damn good.
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was fun (if not a bit too long).
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die was dumb fun.
- A Quiet Place: Day One was incredibly solid.
- The Bikeriders is, IMO, the second-best movie of the year so far.

Not my cup of tea, but most people seemed to like...

- The Fall Guy
- Horizon: An American Saga - Part One

While we still have (in order of release date)...

- Fly Me to the Moon (getting decent to great reviews)
- Longlegs (currently at 94% on RT after 49 reviews)
- Sign Sing (has legit Oscar buzz)
- Twisters (great early reactions so far)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (will likely set box office records)
- The Instigators (looks fun)
- Trap (buzz is building/looks incredibly fun)
- Alien: Romulus (hell yeah)
- Horizon: An American Saga - Part Two

If you can't find at least a couple movies out of that list to enjoy, I don't know what to tell you. That said, due to the strikes, we knew this year/summer was going to be subpar, something I've tried explaining to the board as much as I can.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but 2025 and 2026 will absolutely be a return to form, in the best way. We just have to get through the rest of this admittedly down year.
Only saw two on this list.........

Enjoyed Horizon: An America Saga and agree on A Quiet Place: Day One
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NoahAg
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In reply to AggieOO • 10:19a, 7/11/24
AggieOO said:
Summer of 1526 was probably worse. Zero films released.

Yeah but watching the Reformation unfold was wild!
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Legal Custodian
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1:09p, 7/11/24
AG
Is two blockbusters a month a decent average to be considered a good summer? Starting in Late May thru Labor Day if there are 7 great blockbusters that would be a banger of a year, correct?

That might be a little high but understandably this year we might have got 3?

Twisters
Deadpool & Wolverine
Alien: Romulus

You could maybe bring that up to 5 with Inside Out 2 and one of A Quiet Place: Day One or Longlegs?

Definitely a down year but I'm curious what 2025 currently has slated to see.
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Fenrir
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In reply to Legal Custodian • 1:10p, 7/11/24
A Quiet Place definitely should be considered a hit. It was my favorite new movie I've seen in theaters in the last year or so.
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Legal Custodian
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1:18p, 7/11/24
AG
So 2025 looks like this:

May 23rd - Missing Impossible - Dead Reckoning
June 27th - F1
July 2nd - Jurassic World 4
July 11th - Superman
July 25th - The Fantastic Four

Honorable Mention:

May 30th - Karate Kid
June 13th - How to Train Your Dragon
June 20th - 28 Years Later
July 18th - I Know What You Did Last Summer 2
July 18th - The Naked Gun
August 1st - The Bad Guys 2


And potentially more for Disney and/or Marvel. So yeah, 2025 is shaping up to be a lot better.
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TCTTS
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In reply to Legal Custodian • 2:29p, 7/11/24
AG
I would also add...

Marvel's Thunderbolts
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20969586/
May 2, 2025

Flowervale Street
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27165187/
May 16, 2025
(Anne Hathaway/Ewan McGregor dinosaur movie)

John Wick Presents: Ballerina
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7181546/
June 6, 2025
(starring Ana de Armas)

Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Project
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30144839/
August 8, 2025
(starring Leonardo DiCaprio, in IMAX)

Mercy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31050594/
August 15, 2025
(Chris Pratt/Rebecca Ferguson sci-fi movie)
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TCTTS
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In reply to Legal Custodian • 2:33p, 7/11/24
AG
Legal Custodian said:
Is two blockbusters a month a decent average to be considered a good summer? Starting in Late May thru Labor Day if there are 7 great blockbusters that would be a banger of a year, correct?

That might be a little high but understandably this year we might have got 3?

Twisters
Deadpool & Wolverine
Alien: Romulus

You could maybe bring that up to 5 with Inside Out 2 and one of A Quiet Place: Day One or Longlegs?

Definitely a down year but I'm curious what 2025 currently has slated to see.

Yeah, two a month is probably a good barometer.

That said, I would absolutely add Inside Out 2 (as it will likely be the highest grossing movie of the summer, if not the year) and A Quiet Place: Day One. While Longlegs is, indeed, looking to be a breakout hit, as is Trap, which could be really big if it's actually good.
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Big Ed Bookman
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3:54p, 7/11/24
My wife and I went to see the new Kevin Costner movie Horizon - we both thought it sucked. Maybe the word had spread - there were only about 20 people there. At the end, some guy in the back said loudly, "Don't quit your day job Kevin" - he got a lot of laughs and applause.
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Lathspell
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In reply to Legal Custodian • 4:26p, 7/11/24
AG
Legal Custodian said:
So 2025 looks like this:

May 23rd - Missing Impossible - Dead Reckoning
June 27th - F1
July 2nd - Jurassic World 4
July 11th - Superman
July 25th - The Fantastic Four

Honorable Mention:

May 30th - Karate Kid
June 13th - How to Train Your Dragon
June 20th - 28 Years Later
July 18th - I Know What You Did Last Summer 2
July 18th - The Naked Gun
August 1st - The Bad Guys 2


And potentially more for Disney and/or Marvel. So yeah, 2025 is shaping up to be a lot better.
You think that looks good? A summer filled with sequels and reboots?

I mean, we won't know until we see them, but nothing about that list of movies is exciting or original. That looks like the epitome of "meh".
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Legal Custodian
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In reply to Lathspell • 4:32p, 7/11/24
AG
Lathspell said:
Legal Custodian said:
So 2025 looks like this:

May 23rd - Missing Impossible - Dead Reckoning
June 27th - F1
July 2nd - Jurassic World 4
July 11th - Superman
July 25th - The Fantastic Four

Honorable Mention:

May 30th - Karate Kid
June 13th - How to Train Your Dragon
June 20th - 28 Years Later
July 18th - I Know What You Did Last Summer 2
July 18th - The Naked Gun
August 1st - The Bad Guys 2


And potentially more for Disney and/or Marvel. So yeah, 2025 is shaping up to be a lot better.
You think that looks good? A summer filled with sequels and reboots?

I mean, we won't know until we see them, but nothing about that list of movies is exciting or original. That looks like the epitome of "meh".
Yes I do think that looks like a better Summer of blockbusters than this year. Do you not?

Did you like the originals of any of those movies not taking into account F1 as it's an original? I think those first 5 movies will have a ton of hype and will be considered blockbusters.

I'm assuming your definition of blockbuster is different than mine as I mean for hype and box office numbers. Doesn't matter if it's original screenplay or not.
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Lathspell
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In reply to Legal Custodian • 4:35p, 7/11/24
AG
I think this year sucks, too. But nothing about that list is at all exciting for me. When comparing to summers 5 years ago and earlier, this is pretty ****ty.
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Legal Custodian
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In reply to Lathspell • 4:41p, 7/11/24
AG
Lathspell said:
I think this year sucks, too. But nothing about that list is at all exciting for me. When comparing to summers 5 years ago and earlier, this is pretty ****ty.
Okay, that's fair. That doesn't mean they don't classify as blockbusters though which was the meaning behind my post.

I doubt I'll see many of those but that doesn't mean they won't be big hits next summer.
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TCTTS
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In reply to Lathspell • 4:46p, 7/11/24
AG
Combining the movies I added to the list...

- Flowervale Street
- F1
- Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Project
- Mercy

... are all massive, original blockbusters, and more than I can remember any summer featuring in the past decade or so, in terms of scale. For a summer without Nolan, Villeneuve, or Spielberg, that's pretty damn good.

As for the sequels and reboots mentioned, that's A) simply the reality of the times we live in (and have been living in for decades now, frankly), and B) I don't know that we could ask for much better. We get...

- Another Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible movie, which I could not be more excited for.
- A James Gunn-directed Superman movie.
- A new Jurassic Park movie written by the original's screenwriter, with Spielberg more hands on than he's been in the past.
- A Fantastic Four movie with an awesome cast, that looks to take the MCU in a direction.

... in addition to everything else named.

If you're fan of summer blockbusters, given the reality of modern Hollywood (meaning the last 20 years or so), I just don't know how someone couldn't be excited for next summer. It has so much potential.
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Captain Winky
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In reply to Legal Custodian • 12:21p, 7/12/24
The only ones I would consider paying money to see in a theater are Mission Impossible and 28 Years Later. The rest look like stale franchises or unnecessary sequels. Who wants to see another Fantastic 4 movie and more boring superhero movies?
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maroon barchetta
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12:30p, 7/26/24
This is as good a place as any to share this.

Prices will keep some people away.


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Aggie Dad 26
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In reply to HTownAg • 12:51p, 7/26/24
HTownAg said:
TCTTS said:
So far...

- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was damn good.
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was fun (if not a bit too long).
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die was dumb fun.
- A Quiet Place: Day One was incredibly solid.
- The Bikeriders is, IMO, the second-best movie of the year so far.

Not my cup of tea, but most people seemed to like...

- The Fall Guy
- Horizon: An American Saga - Part One

While we still have (in order of release date)...

- Fly Me to the Moon (getting decent to great reviews)
- Longlegs (currently at 94% on RT after 49 reviews)
- Sign Sing (has legit Oscar buzz)
- Twisters (great early reactions so far)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (will likely set box office records)
- The Instigators (looks fun)
- Trap (buzz is building/looks incredibly fun)
- Alien: Romulus (hell yeah)
- Horizon: An American Saga - Part Two

If you can't find at least a couple movies out of that list to enjoy, I don't know what to tell you. That said, due to the strikes, we knew this year/summer was going to be subpar, something I've tried explaining to the board as much as I can.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but 2025 and 2026 will absolutely be a return to form, in the best way. We just have to get through the rest of this admittedly down year.
Only saw two on this list.........

Enjoyed Horizon: An America Saga and agree on A Quiet Place: Day One


You won't be disappointed in any of the others then
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HummingbirdSaltalamacchia
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In reply to maroon barchetta • 2:27p, 7/26/24
AG
maroon barchetta said:
This is as good a place as any to share this.

Prices will keep some people away.


Honestly, makes it harder for me and my family for sure. Granted, when the wife and I get date night and want to go see something, we dont mind dropping a little more to go to an iPic or one of those typs of theaters, pay for adult drinks, etc. I'm willing to pay for some niceties/convnience.

At the same time, we went to go see Despicible Me 4 with the kids, and invited my inlaws. Wife paid for the tickets(early afternoon showing), and my FIL paid for the snacks and drinks, which was roughly an even split. I think we calculated grand total to go was around $150. 4 adults, 1 kid (my sleeping 1yr old didnt need a ticket thankfully). And its not like we went ham on the snacks. A couple popcorns to share, drinks for 5, and a candy or two. As a family that loves going to see movies (and does pretty well financially), this makes it really difficult unless its an absolute "must see".
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vmiaptetr
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2:37p, 7/26/24
AG
I wrote the entire year off when they postponed Beyond the SpiderVerse.
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toucan82
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In reply to vmiaptetr • 3:37p, 7/26/24
And that's fair
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Iowaggie
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4:45p, 7/26/24
AG
I think there is some aspect of having so many options that diminishes the appeal to everything that is in the theater.

Waaay back in HS my friends and I would meet in some parking lot and decide what movie to go to. Sure, there were some movies we knew would be good that delivered (RoboCop, Lethal Weapon, an Arnold movie), but there were also those movies that weren't super appealing, but we went to and end up loving (Princess Bride, Raising Arizona, Willow). The top entertainment option was the movie theater. Now, studios have to not only advertise to get you to pick their movie, but to actually go to the movie theater.


There are so many options with streaming, social media, YouTube, etc, that theaters are so far down the list for many of us, including a lot of teens, that I don't believe movies in theaters have gotten a lot worse*, but the other options are just so much better. Going to a movie theater is completely off the radar for a lot of people that it is really going to take strong WoM and advertising to get them there, so little looks appealing.




*Note: Anything that Kathleen Kennedy has been a part of since Clinton's re-election has gotten worse. Some studios like Disney have had ups and downs for last few decades, but I just wanted to include this footnote specifically about Kathleen Kennedy produced work, which is also known as feces.
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Counterpoint
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In reply to maroon barchetta • 5:22p, 7/26/24
AG
maroon barchetta said:
This is as good a place as any to share this.

Prices will keep some people away.


"Adult Long Legs" on the receipt makes it sound like Dwight went to see a porn flick.
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to Counterpoint • 7:09p, 7/26/24
He was not specific.
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Jugstore Cowboy
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7:13p, 7/26/24
AG
The BEST Summers for new releases were from the late 80s to mid 90's.

Coincidentally when I was in elementary school thru high school ages, and the biggest multiplex in the country was near my neighborhood and I was far less picky about an excuse to get out of the house.
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to Jugstore Cowboy • 8:04p, 7/26/24
That 30 screen theater at 45 south and the beltway?
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JABQ04
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In reply to Definitely Not A Cop • 8:37p, 7/26/24
AG
Definitely Not A Cop said:
jokershady said:
Look….i ain't exactly high on Hollywood….like….at all…..

But come on man there's been way worse years for summer than this….

1997 for example….

Had several good summer films like Men in Black, Air Force One, Face/Off, and Con Air…..

But also had:

Jurassic Park The Lost World
Batman and Robin
George of the Jungle
Contact (I like now as an adult)
Spawn
Speed 2 Cruise Control
Out to Sea
Goodburger
Gone Fishin'
Airbud

There's been way worse in the 90s…..


Airbud is a national treasure.



Some people just can't appreciate the classics
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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to maroon barchetta • 6:12p, 7/27/24
AG
maroon barchetta said:
That 30 screen theater at 45 south and the beltway?
Nah mang, I grew up in the city. Meyer Park 14 held the distinction when it opened. Later they reduced to 12, and eventually closed all together.
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Cinco Ranch Aggie
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In reply to Jugstore Cowboy • 6:19p, 7/27/24
AG
Meyer Park was my go to after I graduated and lived in Missouri City for a couple of years. Early 90s. Then moved out west to Richmond, and that was too far to go for a movie. Switched to West Oaks and the Cinemark that used to be right off the Sam Houston tollway between Westheimer and Richmond.
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TCTTS
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4:44p, 7/28/24
AG
Meanwhile…

This weekend just became the eighth highest grossing weekend of all time in terms of total weekend box office.

While next weekend kicks off what is increasingly looking to be the best August box office of the decade so far.

Pretty good for what is apparently one of the "worst summers for film"!
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Definitely Not A Cop
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In reply to JABQ04 • 4:53p, 7/28/24
AG
JABQ04 said:
Definitely Not A Cop said:
jokershady said:
Look….i ain't exactly high on Hollywood….like….at all…..

But come on man there's been way worse years for summer than this….

1997 for example….

Had several good summer films like Men in Black, Air Force One, Face/Off, and Con Air…..

But also had:

Jurassic Park The Lost World
Batman and Robin
George of the Jungle
Contact (I like now as an adult)
Spawn
Speed 2 Cruise Control
Out to Sea
Goodburger
Gone Fishin'
Airbud

There's been way worse in the 90s…..


Airbud is a national treasure.



Some people just can't appreciate the classics



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