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Edwin Davies: I think it's a combination of factors, first and foremost of which is that it's a hard-R rated science fiction film, and there are precious few of those that turn into huge successes. It's a shame that this is the case, but it is, and it would take a really special film to overcome that hurdle. By most accounts, Dredd might have been that film, but that brings us to the second important, possibly fatal, factor: Sylvester Stallone. Whilst Judge Dredd is rightly regarded as an iconic character in Britain, where he originated in 2000 AD, American audiences know him primarily, possibly solely, from that POS 1995 Stallone vehicle, and no matter how much distance Dredd puts between it and its forebear, that is a stink that it was always going to shake off. This is especially true since it's indicative of the general lack of awareness of the character himself. Dredd's not a known quantity, and in the few cases where he is known it's for all the wrong reasons.

Bruce Hall: This is what happens when you let the fanboy demographic drive the creative process. Stallone's version did not fail because Dredd took off his helmet, it failed because it was a horrible film. I think the problem with the 2012 version was that despite being a pretty decent movie, I am having trouble seeing a target demographic outside the ComiCon set. I have to agree that despite being solid, gritty and action packed, this one just didn't have much of an audience. The R rating made it a better movie, but severely curtailed the potential audience. Even with the eventual foreign take, Dredd is still going to be a dud.

Matthew Huntley: Unfortunately for Dredd, I think its good buzz/reviews arrived too late to the table. It wasn't until earlier in the week that I started hearing how good this movie was, and then Saturday, when friends of mine actually substantiated it. This all came as a surprise given how lousy the trailer made it seem. It's a shame that's what most moviegoers go off to decide whether or not to see something.

Jason Barney: I was shocked that this one opened so low. A $6.3 million opening weekend is nothing but a disaster, even if the reviews are good. The only thing Lionsgate can hope for from American theaters is exceptional holds, but even that isn't going to matter much. This film could (it won't) get a 10% drop next week and it would still be a long way from the goal line. International receipts are going to have to be huge for this one, just for it to draw even. Again, I am really amazed at how low this opening is.

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