As a gamer with a soft spot for blockbuster movies and a deep-rooted love for both board games and superhero sagas, I can’t help but reminisce about the summer of 2012. It was a time when two titans clashed, one hailing from the realm of Hasbro, the other from Marvel Studios.
In the summer of 2012, Hasbro went head-to-head with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and lost.
With a whopping budget of $209 million, Universal Pictures and director Peter Berg (known for Hancock) embarked on a mission to translate the classic game Battleship (currently streaming on Peacock) onto the big screen. The cinematic rendition boasted state-of-the-art CGI effects, high tension, and an impressive ensemble cast featuring Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgård, and none other than Rihanna herself. Yes, that Rihanna. The entire project, which revolves around the U.S. Navy battling an alien invasion, appeared robustly seaworthy initially. However, a disaster was lurking just beneath the surface, poised to sink Battleship to the freezing depths of the box office when it premiered in domestic theaters on May 18 that year.
Undoubtedly, that iceberg you see was the initial “Avengers” movie from Marvel Studios, marking the grand finale of Phase One and helmed by Joss Whedon. It hit the screens just two weeks before “Battleship,” and with its comic book crossover plot, it became the talk of the town, shaking up the conventional notion of summer blockbusters. This film raked in an impressive $1 billion worldwide, leaving nothing – neither Liam Neeson nor a popular music sensation – able to challenge it… at least when it came to North American box office earnings.
Stream ‘Battleship’, a Movie Known for Its Unparalleled Stupidity, Yet Perfect in Its Own Way.
Battleship vs. Avengers at the Box Office
When The Avengers entered the domestic scene, Battleship had already been successful in various international markets and had grossed approximately $129.6 million after ten days. However, once it faced competition from The Avengers on U.S. soil, its success began to wane.
“The movie performed exceptionally well on a global scale, but we encountered a roadblock when ‘Avengers’ continued to dominate. Berg shared this with MTV News. ‘Avengers’ outshone everything else, making it difficult for ‘Battleship’ to even breathe. If we could have released the film three weeks prior to ‘Avengers’ in the U.S., as we did internationally, things might have been different. We managed alright, but looking back – a piece of advice my grandmother often gave is as valuable as a spit bucket – we should have released it earlier, before ‘Avengers’, not knowing it would go on to become one of the biggest films ever made, second only to ‘Avatar’.”
Upon its final voyage back to the harbor, the Battleship brought in only $65 million from North American sales. However, international earnings were significantly more substantial, totaling approximately $237 million, pushing the overall global gross to an impressive $303 million. Unfortunately, unfavorable reviews from critics and spectators didn’t help the domestic market and the ongoing curse that haunts all film adaptations based on games (be they board or video) continued. As a result, no sequel was made, and any dreams of creating a franchise were dashed and sank to the ocean floor.
The Legacy of Battleship
In the years that followed, I deliberately veered away from grandiose blockbuster space epics and instead chose to focus on more intimate, character-driven dramas like Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, and Patriots Day, all spearheaded by Mark Wahlberg. As I reflected upon my experience with Battleship during a 2013 interview with The New York Times Magazine, I couldn’t help but say yes to the challenge it presented. I felt that I had gained a fresh perspective on what goes into creating a blockbuster, and experienced a film’s global impact. However, I underestimated the influence of Will Smith in Hancock’s success. I was convinced that I could replicate Battleship’s success without a major star to lead it.
The director’s main conclusion was clear: “I won’t be involved in a project of that economic nature for some time.” And true to his word, he has held onto this stance for the past ten years. As it turns out, Mr. Berg will collaborate with Rihanna again, but not on Battleship this time. Instead, they are working together on a documentary chronicling her career.
He playfully remarked to /FILM in 2018 that she is an exceptionally talented young lady and the article provided a detailed overview of the various factors contributing to her prowess. “Her dedication, skill, a bit of luck, her tenacity, and vision make her a truly fascinating individual…”
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2024-08-12 18:01