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Brett Beach: Although I don't want to incite anyone's anger by suggesting yet again the interchangability (in my mind at least) of this and the Resident Evil franchise, I was gobsmacked to look at the figures for the last Resident Evil installment, where the international take was $140 million more than the third installment, and the domestic take, though the highest of the series at $60 million, was just enough to make back the budget. Since Underworld performed within similar margins prior to this first entry in 3D and may be in store for a similar global bump, then, as we have been trumpeting in recent years, the domestic gross is piffle in the big picture.

David Mumpower: What we are seeing with this result is a combination of the damage done to the franchise by Rise of the Lycans offset by the price increases that come with 3D ticket sales. Yes, demand went up a bit with the return of Kate Beckinsale, but overall what we have witnessed here is a relative draw from the various mitigating factors. $25 million is almost exactly what I was expecting so there are no surprises here. And for what it is worth as a fan of both franchises, Resident Evil is the deluxe version while Underworld was a solid movie that shouldn’t have become a franchise.

How do you know George Lucas hates you? Cuba Gooding Jr. is in this film.

Kim Hollis: Red Tails, a rare Lucasfilm release, opened to $18.8 million. Should Fox be pleased with this result?

Matthew Huntley: Yes, because that figure surpassed most industry expectations, and with Black History Month right around the corner, not to mention a 44% audience surge between Friday and Saturday, the film could show strong legs. Plus, the budget was relatively modest (less than $60 million), so this could become a mid-level hit for the studio. You can't say that about too many films released this time of year.

Bruce Hall: Absolutely, since Tuskegee Airmen: The Phantom Menace appeared sure to crash and burn (ha, ha) prior to Tyler Perry's pre-release Internet appeal. And before you say I'm reading too much into that, remember that Tyler Perry wields enough grassroots influence to raise at least $5 million in box office for a film just by mentioning it. It's a shame Oprah isn't still on, because he'd have been sitting on her couch with Cuba Gooding, weeping openly over what a fantastically important film this is, even though HBO already made it, only better, and with Larry Fishburne, and without the flashy CGI and Spongebob Squarepants dialogue. Then we're talking about the number one movie in America. I sound so cynical because while there's no doubt this is an important historical subject, George Lucas as executive producer only ensured that this was going to be a comically bad children's film.

And trust me - it is. It'll be interesting to see how it does next weekend, when its only real competition will be Liam Neeson fighting computer generated wolves with busted shot bottles taped to his hands.

Brett Beach: I think also, Lucas making the rounds and discussing how this was turned down by every studio (a la Raiders) added to the underdog vibe (or at least helped create one, which when Lucas is involved is so disingenuous as to seem absurd). Yes, this is a great start, Fox should be pleased in theory (although since Lucas ended up financing it himself, I am not sure what they might have gotten out of the final bargain) and with a fairly weak slate of potentially dreadful/audience underwhelming films filling up the next few weeks, the chances are there for this to maintain low drops and at least recoup its budget domestically.

To jump back to Lucas once more - I have made no bones that I have no intention of ever seeing SW EP II or III, but if the man makes good on his promise to do avant-garde fare available only at the local cineclub or repertory (and lord knows I am a sucker for artists making sweeping proclamations about their career) then I will show up in support.

Reagen Sulewski: I think we're seeing the triumph of niche marketing, which is an odd thing for such a populist medium. Audiences that have been traditionally ignored or marginalized are responding to films that seem to be made specifically for them to the exclusion of the so-called mass audiences, and it's a canny strategy to try and feed them. The history of box office is filled with low-rent action movies that didn't open to half this much, so good on Lucas for realizing there was an audience hungry for this story.

Edwin Davies: I imagine that Fox is pretty happy with this, if only because, as Brett pointed out, Lucas funded the film out of his own pocket, so the cost to them is probably pretty small in comparison to the $60 million budget. If the film holds up well in the coming weeks, and as similarly niche focused films like Courageous have demonstrated that may be a big ask, then it will probably do okay in the long run. However, I can't help but think that this is a better than expected start that still won't be good enough to ensure Red Tails makes its budgets back. Maybe when they re-release it and have the Germans shoot first, then it'll finally be accepted.

David Mumpower: Bringing this discussion back to basics, a movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr. opened to roughly $19 million. That strikes me as a huge win in 2012, 15 years after Jerry Maguire made him famous. I am also amused that it has been 16 years since Cuba Gooding Jr. made virtually the same movie with The Tuskegee Airmen.

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