There was quite a backlash from the rabid fans of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince being delayed to next summer.
I think that the same number of Harry Potter fans would go to a Harry Potter movie if it was in the summer or winter. At this point it doesn’t really matter. The fans will go to this movie in droves. They will even carpool now that the core fanbase is now old enough to drive.
So when the movie was delayed we, as well as MANY other news sites all called bullshit on this move claiming they were abusing fan loyalty in an attempt to get more money. Well WB’s Alan Horn made a statement to try and explain in better detail why the film was delayed.
In that announcement, Warner Bros. President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn stated the studio’s reasons for moving the film. He said the reasons are twofold: “we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release… [and] we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films—changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of.”
So let me translate this media fertilizer for the International Friends.
“Money. Money money money. Take advantage of money. Vague reference to writers strike that didn’t affect this film, and money.
So the fans can relax because its just about money. You have it, we want more of it. Money.”
And they figured this announcement was going to easy the tidal wave of complaints they are getting from their loyal fans?
I guess it is better news than saying “It sucks and we have to fix it” but it seems they will blow the dust off this finished and ready movie next summer just to dig deeper in your pockets.
Firstly I would like to thank you for your simple and to the point explanation of the Warner Brothers’ decision last month to push back the film release date of the sixth installment of the Harry Potter franchise. President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn’s announcement rocked the world for a large and loyal fan base. Due to the skyrocketing costs associated with producing blockbusters the marketing aspect of film production appears to be taking the front seat to film quality and consumer (viewer) delight. I agree with you, Warner Brothers is abusing fan loyalty in attempt to get more money. I don’t believe that the writers’ strike has anything to do with the delay, do you? At least the WB was brave enough and smart enough to admit that the change in release dates had less to do with the quality of the film and completion status than marketing and overall studio business. With the type of loyal built-in fan base that Harry Potter receives do you think that the box office numbers of July instead of those in November will be that different? Large studios heavily seek both release dates. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is expected to have a final budget of around $200 million. With $200 million at risk companies must do anything and everything to minimize costs and reduce risk as much as possible. Are loyal Harry Potter fans willing to have a film produced on a $30 million dollar non-studio budget in trade for not dealing with the business and marketing ploys of the large studios? Are we as consumers addicted to the high-octane special effects and major star power that drives up the production costs of films today? Is it too much to ask the large studios to be honest and great at making big-budget films?
Soooo many other things go into the state of the economy than “bad attitude” or “good attitude”.
Just think, during the housing boom, when people were being sold all those mortgages they couldn’t afford, people had all kinds of “good attitude”!
Wow, whose writing these comments? He-who-must-not-be named Deatheaters? Why not focus on how great it is going to be when it gets here? Bad economy, greeeedy, boycott, grumble, grumble…what do you thinks causes a bad economy? Attitude and focus. use your magic in a way that helps not detracts. Luna suggests to Harry that maybe the way to disempower him is to make it seem there’s no hope or friends. Cheer up. It will be here soon enough. I am glad they are doing such a good job. How many sequels can you count on your right hand that have been so consistantly good? And in these numbers? Appreciate the anticipation. I am hoping they make the movie a little longer due to the delay. Hmmm, an intermission would really help popcorn sales…
@Janet, Boycotting this movie is only effective if you boycott it forever. If they get the money at the boxoffice or from dvd sales or even rental is going to line WB’s pockets. Its like those lame emails you get telling you to boycott gas… you will just buy it tomorrow instead so it sends no message.
And honestly, they pushed it back because despite all the fuss and trash talk they know they are STILL going to make a metric pantload of cash on this. The fans are not fans of WB, they are fans of Harry Potter and they will STILL go to this movie.
Boycotts are only effective if everyone does it. And no boycott convinces everyone to not go.
I intend to boycott this movie in the theatres; I will wait to watch it on DVD. We have to wait so long anyway, now, what’s a few more months until the DVD comes out? I hope Warner Brothers’ opening weekend box office is negatively impacted. The fans should be treated with more respect. I intend to boycott other WB movies as well.
My son was sad to hear this. We have been trying to read the books according to release dates. Well its just a movie. Father and son reading tops that big time! I’ll go see it when it comes. WB will get their money. But they have lost my respect as they dont respect the fans. does loss of respect mean less money for WB? No but it means that fans will expect only the best of the best. Will this movie be THAT good? It’s a nice twist. I bid this challenge welcome! ;o)
Ha! I’ll just wait until someone pyrates it and take it then, they’ll get o money from me for doing this! I was so exited! I was going to go for my birthday and now my birthday is ruined!
According to a story on the bbc website, financing for films is drying up big time due to the American and European economies going into the crapper–yes, the impact of the sub-prime mortgage loan crisis is spreading out globally.
A major German bank had a $450 million investment deal with Paramount, which they just pulled out of, as well as closing down their entire film financing department.
Major studios are no doubt anticipating further recession and that means fewer films being invested in now to anticipate fewer people having the supplemental income to spend their money at the movies. That, to me, makes more sense than blaming the writers’ strike for a lack of scripted material to make films with.
It does make financial sense for WB to move a moneymaker in order to balance the books for the next year. Having said that, however, I must confess my astonishment over the amazingly unprofessional way that the new release date was announced. It’s as if this decision was made at the highest levels of WB, and then everybody forgot how to run a business.
Building anticipation for a film to an extremely devoted fan base and then pulling the rug out from under them is nothing short of absolute public relations STUPIDITY. As soon as the decision for the new release date was made, someone should have been on the phone to Entertainment Weekly to pull the six-page spread, the trailer should never have gone out, and publicity personnel should have been marshalled to anticipate fan reaction and plan a strategy to help ease the disappointment and start setting up anticipation for the summer release. Either way he tries to slice it, Alan Horn has a lot of esplainin’ to do. I mean, come on, the official website for the movie still had the old release date listed on it seven days after the announcement made the press. How retarded do you have to be to let that happen?
My heart goes out especially to very young fans and their parents, who were planning to make HBP part of their Thanksgiving holiday. It’s heartbreaking to read posts by parents who say their kids are crying in their beds because they won’t get to see Harry this holiday season. That’s the kind of fan base you have for HP, Warner Bros., and if you don’t know that by now–after five friggin’ films already–what the hell are you doing in this business? I also can’t help feeling sorry for the filmmakers–they worked hard and produced the film on time and now they have to wonder about the bad feeling that’s been created around the film that was obviously not their fault. Hopefully, that will be remembered if HBP is not the financial success, when released, that the studio hopes for.
As for all truly disgruntled fans, if you are talking about boycott, I hope you are aware of the resolve and strategy that boycott involves. Not only do you have to stay away and not buy WB media products and persuade others to do so, you have to create press around your boycott, so that all the studios take notice of the impact. Good luck.
first off
@ kryptonite why the hell r u even on this site? Frances basically summed it up 4 u. @ Blah Blah DON’T U DARE accuse twilight!
@Sound Desinger Dan LOL! that pretty much makes sense!
@Moggie J.K. Rowling has the WORST taste in editing her movies u saw the dip shit she let on as harry pottr 5!
@Cleo, as much as I applaud your enthusiasm, Petitions rarely do anything at all, and online petitions are even weaker.
Online petitions are the easiest things to manipulate. I guarantee that WB will not change their mind on this move no matter how many virtual signatures you get.
Sorry.
petitionspot site is down!! Tens of thousands of Harry Potter fans have signed the petition at petitionspot.com to have The Half Blood Prince released in Nov 2008. As of Sunday Aug 24th the total signatures was 42871 signatures. I noticed thru out the day the number did not change but the voting box was still there. I emailed petitionspot and they finally responded say “We are currently upgrading our site and someone forgot to remove the box for signing the petition. But don’t worry it will be back up Monday morning. the 25th”.
So anyone who signed the petition on sunday will not be counted. It is now Tuesday Aug 26th and the site is still not working. I have tried to contact petitionspot again, with no results. Everyone who have signed this, please email them and find out what is going on. These are our signatires and our voices!!
@Moggie, that same video has been resubtitled to mock any number of topics. From Hitler’s Hacked XBox live account being suspended to telling him he is paying too much for insurance.
By far the best reaction I’ve seen about the Half Blood Prince delay is the following youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXnt8_okeRA
This is hysterical and even though it is satirical, it actually captures the feelings of many of the fans.
Trust me when I say this, I am pissed, upset, angry, annoyed, hurt.. any emotion you can think of besides happy.
I was one of those fans to check the web EVERYDAY looking for a Half Blood Prince Trailer.. Hoping and Waiting.
When I finally saw it, I was extactic and couldn’t stop screaming if I tried.
This really blew my mind.. 3 months from the release? That’s not fair. To add to that what silver lining?
We already knew we would have to wait a long time after Half blood Prince for Deathly Hallows. BUT ATLEAST WE KNEW!!!!
Honest question? Who really thinks that this fan outrage will actually change anything? I want hope.. but realistically?
They should have thought about this further before they decided to change it. A lot of people were excited to see it over Thanksgiving!
@Blah, Blah…. that is the least likely explaination EVER.
NO studio is going to fork out money to another studio to move their launch date. Doesn’t make ANY sense. Why PAY to tell your competition that they will cut into your profits?
If Twilight was worried about its release date, they would change it themselves instead of giving up perfectly good money to make someone else move.
That is just dumb.
*****every one just think for a moment*****
The movie twilight has been pushed up by 3 weeks into this November when harry potter was supposed to come out. everyone knew that there would be competition between them. so summit entertainment (makers of twilight) obviously paid warner bros. a hell of a lot of money to move harry potter back so as others have said that both companies would make alot more MONEY. if you understand and agree with what i have said then please pass it around.
i am more intrested in the hobbit movie than the potter sixth movie.
any release date for hobbit??
e said the reasons are twofold: “we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release… [and] we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike,
What is this guy on? Last time I checked Thanksgiving and Christmas are great times for families to go see a movie. Delaying a movie that is perfectly on schedule is bullshit, and with a series like Harry Potter, DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHEN ITS RELEASED? Seriously. You could release a Potter movie in October or February and it would still make a shit ton.
Kryptonite, so how do you propose to justify how much money they are NOT making for this year? I guess they took that out of the budget for the little guys THIS YEAR.
It makes no sense to push it back short of this gamble (which I predict won’t pay off) and does nothing but upsetting the fans for the same money.
No one is beating up on them for making money. We are beating up on them because its the same money later for no reason. 3 months before release they pull the carpet out from under us. Its ignorant.
Rodney: “@Kryptonite, They still made Little Miss Sunshine with all their tentpoles bringing in the cash. Delaying a finished and paid for movie is not going to give them more budget for “the little guys”
Its all the same money. They just want you to give them more.”
Actually, this is very simple. If delaying Potter 6 to bring in more money (and it will bring in more money in the summer–more kids will be able to see the movie multiple times in the summer months) then OF COURSE it means more money for the little guys. Whether the studio decides to actually SPEND that extra money on smaller films is another point entirely, but the money will be there.
Once again, why are we beating a for-profit company up for wanting to make more money?
Can someone explain to me how they make more money releasing it a few month later than they originally intended? I would actually think it would cost them more to do so, more dollars for advertising in a season where all the summer blockbusters are fighting for your attention. Potter fans and casual movie goers are going to see this whenever it is released and they are going to line up doing so.
My guess is that the delay is because of problems with the film itself.
And since when are we surprised by a movie studio’s “greed”?
First off whoever is coming on here to say “its just a movie, get over it” why the hell are you going through the trouble, if it doesn’t matter to you dont take time to post.
Also WB is so greedy and disappointing obviously the commitment of fans is second to the money they pay to them but this delay is just ridiculous and nothing should take 8 MONTHES!!! it’s insane and highly disappointing I’m aware that the movies will never bring the same excitment and imagination as the books but honestly HP fans are glad to atleast have a poorly potrayed version than holding out 8monthes for something that still wont live up
WB continues its antics to enrage fans all over again….why can’t they get anything right, i mean they seemed to have got it with The Dark Knight, but wait, no, we fans have to pay with more than just money for their favor to us, making a great superhero movie that actually delivered the fans’ expectations and stuff, we have to live through the emotional turmoil of another sucky Superman movie or just go the cheap way to Shatter, smash and burn alive the fans’ love for a franchise and by pushing back the release date of a Potter movie. come on, greedy execs at the studio know that a potter movie will make enough money to buy an African nation, but no, they want more, they want to buy one smack dab in the middle of the Big Apple, so they gotta make more money……i think i know what Lex Luthor does when he’s not busy going to jail…he actually runs WB!!!!
A boycott is only effective if you never see the movie. Going the week after still puts the money in their hands.
I anticipate that this movie will get leaked in some pirated form and the fans will all have seen this long before it comes out. Now THAT will hurt the boxoffice results.
I have never hoped for piracy before, but this is tempting
We were going to wait 2 years at some point, why make us believe we are getting something and yank it away from us.
If I had my choice…2 years now or 2 years after the release of HBP, I would take it after since I was already prepped and excited about this pending release. I am planning on BOYCOTTING the opening weekend. If I have waited almost 2 years I can wait one more weekend. I will still unfortunately see the movie even though they are, well I can’t say here…but they won’t make their opening weekend numbers from me. I hope you can hold out too. Remember
BOYCOTT
How do they make more money during the summer with this film? This is one of the most recognizable film franchise in history and I don’t think more people are going to see just because it’s summer.
People go see this regardless of the season.
So the movie’s production will be all finished at this year’s end and then Warner Bros. will just put it into the closet for over six months. Way to go, Warner Bros, way to go.
Syd, Rowling has seen it and is happy. WB are delaying this purely for what they think is a better timeslot.
That is it.
David Yates butchered Order of the Phoenix, I wouldn’t be surprised if JK Rowling saw the final version of HBP and said it was Rubbish….no doubt those Prats at WB are trying to salvage it.
So basically all they said was the same thing they said in the initial outcome anyway. There’s no REAL explenation cause all they did was reword or word-for-word repeat the original reasons and just added in a ‘silver lining’.
I am still annoyed and pissed off by this delay. Especially since the BS decision was made three months before the movie comes out. Though it certainly explains why they may have waited for so long for the “teaser” trailer release.
Sure, I’ll go see it come July and I’ll be excited by then, but this delay has deflated a lot of my excitement. I’m considering not going to see it opening weekend like some other Potter fans. I know it doesn’t keep Warners from making the eventual big bucks, but right now I’m feeling spiteful and would like to see the next HP movie open to a mediocre number.
So I guess Horn thinks HP is not “too English” for the American audiience to comprehend (i.e. Horn’s comments about Guy Ritchie’s “Rocknrolla”). More fertilizer for the pile.
And anyone is surprised by this? Who the Feck wouldnt want to maximise their profits?
As far as I’m concerned I’m just ANNOYED that this film has been delayed and also that I will have to make time next summer to see it. I already see lots of movies and spend money on other things every summer and this will just add to that. I wish the studios would save some blockbusters for the off season so I have something to do.
I’m only wondering what people I know who are Harry Potter fans are going to do with themselves until this movie comes out. I will have to just make them feel better until that happens, which is the task that usually falls to me anyway. A huge project I want to undertake will be to read the entire Harry Potter series and watch all the movies. This will happen. Someday.
And yet, as mentioned above, the lowest grossing HP film was released in the summer.
if they need these films to cover their flops, why not get that money in a few months instead of a year from now?
They think they will make more money off it. Thats all.
I honestly don’t think they will.
Yeah it is all about MONEY. This has nothing to do with the writer’s strike and everything to do with the HUGE success of The Dark Knight. Summer is the best time to release these tentpole films. It maximizes the box office results and then they can have the dvd ready for the thanksgiving/christmas holiday time…. But so what? Seriously, it’s the film industry. Why is this a surprise or shock to many people. Besides, studios need films like this to cover their flop films for that year.
“….it’s not about money. It’s about sending a message….”
Where the fuck is the Joker when you need him.
Ajax, you suggested that this would somehow free up some money for them. Its already paid for… and not making any money back yet.
This doesnt help financially unless their gamble that it makes them more money actually pays off. My prediction is that next summer it makes no more or less than the last film did with a fall release.
‘That might make sense if they hadn’t already spent the money on this film”
?
What difference does that make? They know they are going to get their money back regardless of when they release it.
Summer doesn’t guarantee maximum profits. On the worldwide box office, the lowest earning Potter was a summer release. Yes, it still wound up on the Top 30 of the highest grossing films ever, but these Potter films make tons of money no matter what.
Cramming all these movies into summer is like shoving an entire cake in your mouth. I’d rather have things in slices, gradually throughout the year. Virtually any time is profitable if you have a product people want to see. People have even driven through snow just to watch “Epic Movie” for some reason. And the highest grossing film of all time is still a December release. But in summer, films aren’t just competing against each other; they’re also competing against outdoor activities and the stress that comes with families trying to cram everything into one weekend. I’ve spent more time at weddings, family reunions, local events, and the lake this summer than I could find for movies. It’s really annoying.
@AjaxLou, “I interpret WB’s statement more about spreading out income on a per annum basis rather than WB thinking the movie will make more money with a different release date.”
That might make sense if they hadn’t already spent the money on this film. All they want is a date they speculate will put more money in their pockets.
@Kryptonite, They still made Little Miss Sunshine with all their tentpoles bringing in the cash. Delaying a finished and paid for movie is not going to give them more budget for “the little guys”
Its all the same money. They just want you to give them more.
They wont get a cent from me. %$@&!
Their are all ….fffergorbn..bjbnbjbnjk..brnobn%$$”
And he think that we’ll stop, if he makes some Lame excuse!!!
I’m so angry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AGHHAHAGHH!
I’m still pissed! Does it really matter?!?! The same amount of fans that were going to see it in the Fall are the same fans that are going to see it next Summer… Money, Schmoney… This sucks!
You mean a company in a capitalist economy wants to maximize its profits? Say it isn’t so!
Come on, everybody. I don’t want to wait for this movie any more than you do, but maximizing profits on guaranteed properties like Harry Potter makes it possible for the studio to take bigger risks on smaller films that may be great, but may or may not make a profit at all. If not for the gigantic profits of Potter, the Batman movies, Star Wars, etc., we may not ever get films like Little Miss Sunshine.
Think about it.
I interpret WB’s statement more about spreading out income on a per annum basis rather than WB thinking the movie will make more money with a different release date.
The Dark Knight has already allowed WB to meet their financial goals for this year. Moving HP to next year guarantees them another year of dependable income.
Earning more with a summer release will be a bonus.
@Steve, If WB finds that the movie makes more money in the summer then count on Deathly Hallows to be pushed back too.
Then the money grubbing studio will have to find a new excuse to say “we just want more money”
It’s retarded. Potter films make a lot anyway.
There was also mention that it was so there would be less than 18 months between movies instead of the current 2 years between Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows.
why did they have to wait till the release date was 3 months away? wasnt the writters strike back in noov ’07? they pushed it back 8 months, & they even said its 100% completed????
i hope someone steals a screener & puts it online…
get over yourselves, it’s just a movie.
Nice try, WB. Change it back.
Money. Money money money. Take advantage of money. Vague reference to writers strike that didn’t affect this film, and money.
So the fans can relax because its just about money. You have it, we want more of it. Money.” :-))
i was really exited to watch this movie.
Greedy idiots