New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Shalimar Sahota: When I first heard about this my first thought was that maybe Seth MacFarlane viewed Artificial Intelligence and wanted to add his own spin on the character Teddy. I don't really watch a lot of Family Guy or American Dad, but I've been interested by the zany concept and that was before I viewed any trailers. A teddy bear that just happens to be one of the guys. Simply taking a toy associated with childhood and subverting it has worked. I wouldn't have expected it to open to over $50 million, though despite the R-rating I also wouldn't be all that surprised if kids were drawn to the film too. It's nice to see audiences opting for original films this summer. I guess the success here means that it won't be long before we get a movie where Barbie leaves Ken and moves in with Sindy.

David Mumpower: We have touched upon the Seth MacFarlane aspect quite a bit. One aspect I would like to address is the direct comparison to The Simpsons Movie. No, Ted is not a Family Guy adaptation, but it is a foul-mouthed creature voiced by McFarlane. To a degree, this is the unleashed version of Family Guy themes, possibly even a South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. Obviously, Ted did not do as well as The Simpsons Movie, while it decimated South Park, even adjusting for inflation. The point is that we have seen scenarios such as this one before where consumers did not realize that they had long awaited something until its release approached.

The other key to Ted's blockbuster debut is its universality. Every kid growing up has a stuffed animal that they love to an obsessive degree. We remember this from our childhood just as the parents among us know what a nightmare it is when a child loses that toy. Now, I think MacFarlane has ruined my youth with this concept that my beloved teddy bear could have grown up to become a chronic-addicted fuzzy sex machine. Still, I understand exactly why so many consumers connected to this them. Yes, I believe that 80% of them are Family Guy fans, but that other 20% represents $10 million more in the coffers, which is what was needed to break this (admittedly arcane) record.

One final note: Mark Wahlberg is having a great year. First, Contraband earned almost $100 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. Now, Ted becomes a $54.4 million opener and appears likely to become one of the strongest surprise hits of the summer.

How can we miss her if she won't go away?

Kim Hollis: Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection, the latest in a series of movies featuring the character, opened to $25.4 million. What do you think of this result?

Jason Barney: For this film to open at #4 with $26 million is pretty significant, if only because of the strength of the other films at the top of the box office. I haven't seen any of these films, but I am starting to wonder if I should. I am not in the demographic they are marketed to, but with this many of them being made, this might be the one I go and see. I understand it is in line with the other films in the franchise. I still think it is pretty impressive based on other openings, though.

Bruce Hall: On one hand, it's hard to insist that people are bored with Tyler Perry when the latest item off his assembly line opened so strong against such solid competition. It didn't hurt that GI Joe cut bait this week, and that since so many people have at least part of the coming week off, there was a lot of business to go around this weekend. On the other hand, I believe Witness Protection's $25 million makes it the third highest of those featuring the Madea character. I could be a little off on that, but my point is that Witness Protection finished right in the middle of the pack in every respect.

Continued:       1       2       3