Who knew that a breakout horror hit in 2004 would turn into one of the biggest grossing, and longest lasting francise in history. The Australian distributor is Hoyts, and Saw II became the companies biggest grossing film since it's reform in 2002, and Saw III then became it's best less than a year later. Saw III still remained Hoyts best grossing picture until they aquired the rights to the Twilight in 2008.
Released all around the world in late 2004, Saw grossed over $100m worldwide. The film was released in the first week of December 2004 and opened with a respectable $1.1m. That is in the range of what an average horror film openes with these days on our shores. A couple of weeks of nice holds and the film wound up being the 65th best grossing film of the year in Australia with a cume of $4.3m, not bad for a low budget horror flick.
A year later and Saw II was released globally. The film was hyped to the extreme. In Australia, the film was released with a #1 opening, scoring a $1.7m cume in it's first four days. It became the years 46th best grosser with $5.8m.
Another year, another Saw film. 2006 traditinally saw Saw III hit our screens. The film also opened at #1 in Australia with a terrific $2.6m, on it's way to a $6.7m cume. There was no stopping this all conquering franchise. #3 was the 39th biggest film of the year.
Saw IV was the first film of the frachise to be released just before Halloween in Australia (the first three all were released in November or December) and scored the franchises 3rd consecutive #1 opening with $1.8m. That opening weekend was slightly dissapointing to many as it was expected to either come alot more closer or outgross the previous installments opening tally. With a total of $4.9m, the 52th best grossing film of 2007 started the downward trend in the franchise where each film after it couldn't quite math the success of previous installments.
Saw V was released in 2008 and opened with a fine $1.3m in 2nd place. That opening was great for a fifth film in a franchise, but below expectations. The film was the 67th best grossig film of the year, and finished with $3.6m total.
It was in 2009 that the franchise really hit rock bottom. The 6th installment of the franchise bombed in the US, and failed to live up to expectations in Australia aswell. The film ranks 95th for the year with a $2.5m total and was the first film in the franchise to open with under $1m ($914k). This films failure is why I think that the next installment was marketed as the films last.
Saw 3D, also known as Saw VII: The Final Chapter was marketed heavily as the franchises last film ever. Clearly a ploy to get people to see it. The 3D is always fun in a horror film. The films main theatrical flaw in Australia was the fact it was rated R18+ which restricted anyone under 18 to see the film with no exceptions. All previous six films were rated MA15+, with under 15s allowed to see it with a parent or guardian present. This franchise is really teen based I think, so the restricted rating really maked marketing the film hard because adults only usually make up a small portion of an already traditionally small gross for a horror film which teenagers lap up. The film opened with $930k which is actually pretty decent for such a restricted film, and even opened better than it's less restricted preceeder. Also not working in the films favour was the all conquering sequel to Paranormal Activity which eentually outgrossed Saw 6 + 7 combied and that franchise would go on to become the new yearly traditional release.
Will there ever be Saw VIII, or will there come a remake/reboot in the next few years that will spit in the face of the franchise. One thing for sure is that the Saw series is the 4th longest running horror franchise in the English language behind Friday The 13th (12*), Halloween (10, an 11th is in production), A Nightmare On Elm Street (10*). The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series is in a tied 4th place with the 7th film getting a release in early 2013.
Will Paranormal Activity last seven films?. The first two sequels have been prequels and the 4th one is also rumoured to be a prequel. I think they could probably stretch it to seven, but it will never have the impact that Saw has made in horror.
*I included Freddy vs Jason in each franchise total.
Released all around the world in late 2004, Saw grossed over $100m worldwide. The film was released in the first week of December 2004 and opened with a respectable $1.1m. That is in the range of what an average horror film openes with these days on our shores. A couple of weeks of nice holds and the film wound up being the 65th best grossing film of the year in Australia with a cume of $4.3m, not bad for a low budget horror flick.
A year later and Saw II was released globally. The film was hyped to the extreme. In Australia, the film was released with a #1 opening, scoring a $1.7m cume in it's first four days. It became the years 46th best grosser with $5.8m.
Another year, another Saw film. 2006 traditinally saw Saw III hit our screens. The film also opened at #1 in Australia with a terrific $2.6m, on it's way to a $6.7m cume. There was no stopping this all conquering franchise. #3 was the 39th biggest film of the year.
Saw IV was the first film of the frachise to be released just before Halloween in Australia (the first three all were released in November or December) and scored the franchises 3rd consecutive #1 opening with $1.8m. That opening weekend was slightly dissapointing to many as it was expected to either come alot more closer or outgross the previous installments opening tally. With a total of $4.9m, the 52th best grossing film of 2007 started the downward trend in the franchise where each film after it couldn't quite math the success of previous installments.
Saw V was released in 2008 and opened with a fine $1.3m in 2nd place. That opening was great for a fifth film in a franchise, but below expectations. The film was the 67th best grossig film of the year, and finished with $3.6m total.
It was in 2009 that the franchise really hit rock bottom. The 6th installment of the franchise bombed in the US, and failed to live up to expectations in Australia aswell. The film ranks 95th for the year with a $2.5m total and was the first film in the franchise to open with under $1m ($914k). This films failure is why I think that the next installment was marketed as the films last.
Saw 3D, also known as Saw VII: The Final Chapter was marketed heavily as the franchises last film ever. Clearly a ploy to get people to see it. The 3D is always fun in a horror film. The films main theatrical flaw in Australia was the fact it was rated R18+ which restricted anyone under 18 to see the film with no exceptions. All previous six films were rated MA15+, with under 15s allowed to see it with a parent or guardian present. This franchise is really teen based I think, so the restricted rating really maked marketing the film hard because adults only usually make up a small portion of an already traditionally small gross for a horror film which teenagers lap up. The film opened with $930k which is actually pretty decent for such a restricted film, and even opened better than it's less restricted preceeder. Also not working in the films favour was the all conquering sequel to Paranormal Activity which eentually outgrossed Saw 6 + 7 combied and that franchise would go on to become the new yearly traditional release.
Will there ever be Saw VIII, or will there come a remake/reboot in the next few years that will spit in the face of the franchise. One thing for sure is that the Saw series is the 4th longest running horror franchise in the English language behind Friday The 13th (12*), Halloween (10, an 11th is in production), A Nightmare On Elm Street (10*). The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series is in a tied 4th place with the 7th film getting a release in early 2013.
Will Paranormal Activity last seven films?. The first two sequels have been prequels and the 4th one is also rumoured to be a prequel. I think they could probably stretch it to seven, but it will never have the impact that Saw has made in horror.
*I included Freddy vs Jason in each franchise total.