X-Files 2 Negotiations Wrap This Week, Says Duchovny

[HighPlainsDrifter]

i recieve instant news from google thats related to X-Files-MillenniuM-Lance Henriksen and David Duchovny. The only thing i have come across is a news blurp from Australia about Duchovny's statement regarding XF2 but still i havent seen anything offical+

[The Old Man]

I don't see why 20th Century Fox wouldn't be interested in the movie since their only concern is profit. Is it possible that a franchise like X-Files would make them lose money? Look at all the big budget films every studio are doing right now, I'm not sure 1013 would aim at an epic horror movie. X-Files has always been into a more sober style of horror; more atmospheric and psychological horror (especially comparing to the Reaping which is coming out this week - this is one movie that is not going to get my 8$).

I was quite surprised to read this factlet on the X-Files Wikipedia entry when catching up with some episode and character information last week:

"The film had a strong domestic opening and got mostly positive reviews from critics, however, its box office dropped sharply after the first weekend. Although it failed to make a profit during theatrical release, due to a very high promotional budget, The X-Files film was more successful internationally."

Out of interest, I checked to see how much it (the first film) eventually made:

Budget

$66,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend

$30,138,758 (USA) (21 June 1998) (2,629 Screens)

£2,506,148 (UK) (23 August 1998) (419 Screens)

AUD 2,861,496 (Australia) (25 July 1998)

Gross

$83,892,374 (USA) (11 October 1998)

$83,869,857 (USA) (4 October 1998)

$83,826,398 (USA) (27 September 1998)

$83,740,861 (USA) (20 September 1998)

$83,604,125 (USA) (13 September 1998)

$83,120,023 (USA) (30 August 1998)

$82,766,285 (USA) (23 August 1998)

$82,248,041 (USA) (16 August 1998)

$81,733,980 (USA) (9 August 1998)

$81,202,634 (USA) (2 August 1998)

$80,326,680 (USA) (26 July 1998)

$78,261,565 (USA) (19 July 1998)

$74,549,379 (USA) (12 July 1998)

$67,053,755 (USA) (5 July 1998)

$54,886,848 (USA) (28 June 1998)

$30,138,758 (USA) (21 June 1998)

$83,898,313 (USA) (sub-total)

£8,280,945 (UK) (27 September 1998) (sub-total)

£8,065,802 (UK) (20 September 1998)

£7,639,620 (UK) (13 September 1998)

£6,794,394 (UK) (6 September 1998)

£5,108,046 (UK) (30 August 1998)

£2,506,148 (UK) (23 August 1998)

$189,198,313 (Worldwide) (sub-total)

$99,700,000 (Non-USA) (20 December 1998)

$79,600,000 (Non-USA) (25 October 1998)

$74,000,000 (Non-USA) (18 October 1998)

$71,500,000 (Non-USA) (11 October 1998)

$36,900,000 (Non-USA) (23 August 1998)

$23,400,000 (Non-USA) (16 August 1998)

$14,000,000 (Non-USA) (9 August 1998)

$105,300,000 (Non-USA) (sub-total)

AUD 7,454,285 (Australia) (sub-total)

Weekend Gross

$3,871,798 (USA) (12 July 1998) (1,909 Screens)

$6,253,038 (USA) (5 July 1998) (2,602 Screens)

$13,282,430 (USA) (28 June 1998) (2,650 Screens)

$30,138,758 (USA) (21 June 1998) (2,629 Screens)

£108,426 (UK) (27 September 1998) (144 Screens)

£210,426 (UK) (20 September 1998) (229 Screens)

£421,644 (UK) (13 September 1998) (312 Screens)

£772,807 (UK) (6 September 1998) (414 Screens)

£1,192,131 (UK) (30 August 1998) (427 Screens)

£2,506,148 (UK) (23 August 1998) (419 Screens)

Admissions

120,736 (Finland)

176,300 (France) (27 October 1998) (opening week)

873,491 (France) (27 October 1998) (opening week)

24,407 (France) (21 October 1998) (opening day)

333,280 (France)

1,758,391 (France)

2,441,012 (Germany) (30 October 1998)

2,369,959 (Germany) (13 September 1998)

2,272,690 (Germany) (6 September 1998)

1,719,109 (Germany) (23 August 1998)

1,206,266 (Germany) (16 August 1998)

600,075 (Germany) (9 August 1998) (opening weekend)

246,000 (Portugal)

1,376,296 (Spain)

Rentals

$40,268,161 (USA)

Source: IMDB

[Raven Wolf]

Well, unless I'm reading that wrong, it looks like they made themselves a VERY nice profit!

[Guest Laurent.]

I just wonder what numbers FOX could expect for the second movie if it was to be made. Fight the Future came out when X-Files were at their prime; now the series has been dead for five years and even then the ratings dropped significantly in the final years. Will the fans be there for the second movie? Would FOX be able to gather younger and non-initiated viewers?

[The Old Man]

These are good questions that I bet Fox will be asking before they give the go ahead.

I think it would do somewhere around the same as the first film, there are always new 'moviegoers' and fans aswell as existing and even dedicated fans. I think the DVD Rental and Sales aspect provides a good back up too when it comes to making the money back on the film. Thats the thing with cinema here where I live, it can cost you more for the snacks than the price of the film!

[Guest ZeusFaber]

Fight the Future came out when X-Files were at their prime; now the series has been dead for five years and even then the ratings dropped significantly in the final years.

Remember that FTF being released when the show was still on TV can also work against it as well as in its favour. People can be hesitant to go out and pay to see something they've been getting for free in the comfort of their own homes every week. Now that's no longer the case, it could actually motivate people to get up and go see it.

And just for the record, the ratings drop was most pronounced at around Seasons 6-7, not the final years.

[Guest Laurent.]

When I said the final years I actually meant the three last season. But I did a little research and found out that the most significant loss in ratings was still season 9. It's the only season that scored worst than the first one. The first one had bad ratings because it was new and didn't have a lot of publicity but the ratings of season 9 can only be explained by a lost of the audience interest or of the quality of the show.

People can be hesitant to go out and pay to see something they've been getting for free in the comfort of their own homes every week. Now that's no longer the case, it could actually motivate people to get up and go see it.

Yeah I really didn't see it like this, I guess you're right. I just hope FOX will be willing to take the risk.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

i tend to think that the bad writing cause the viewership to falter in Season 9. There where some good episodes for the X-Phile

[Guest SouthernCelt]

I saw a teaser where Duchovny was going to be on David Letterman's show last night. Did anyone see it? Did Duchovny mention the XF movie?

[The Old Man]

I checked on Youtube and it doesn't seem to be on there yet.