Jaws closing for good on Jan 2

[Billabongi]

Just seems logical to me to expand WWOHP to the lost continent and bring transformers "land" to the Studios. The studios need their own big draw and besides HP and Pirates, Transformers is the only other massive hit that Universal could get it's hands on.

I for one am sad that jaws is leaving but if they replace it with a large Transformers land I'm down!

I'd have to figure with the success of WWOHP and the potential for similar success with Transformers, Disney has to be worried.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

Just seems logical to me to expand WWOHP to the lost continent and bring transformers "land" to the Studios. The studios need their own big draw and besides HP and Pirates, Transformers is the only other massive hit that Universal could get it's hands on.

I for one am sad that jaws is leaving but if they replace it with a large Transformers land I'm down!

I'd have to figure with the success of WWOHP and the potential for similar success with Transformers, Disney has to be worried.

Universal never had the chance to get its hands on Pirates because Disney made the ride before the movie....so that doesn't even apply.

As far as other massive hits...Transformers in my opinion is not exactly a "massive hit", at least when you put it next to HP. And there are, in fact, several other "hits" that Universal can get their hands on, such as LotR and Twilight.

 

[mcjw2011]

As far as other massive hits...Transformers in my opinion is not exactly a "massive hit", at least when you put it next to HP. And there are, in fact, several other "hits" that Universal can get their hands on, such as LotR and Twilight.

That franchise doesn't have many aspects that lends itself to a theme park attraction. I guess they could make a ride simulating the vampires jumping through the trees and being 'chased' by wolves through the forest, but certainly not big enough to take up the Amity spot.

If Universal planned a 'Twilight'-themed attraction, it would probably only take a fraction of the space.

 

[DCTooTall]

That franchise doesn't have many aspects that lends itself to a theme park attraction. I guess they could make a ride simulating the vampires jumping through the trees and being 'chased' by wolves through the forest, but certainly not big enough to take up the Amity spot.

If Universal planned a 'Twilight'-themed attraction, it would probably only take a fraction of the space.

I'd also expect a lot of twinkly vampires to get their butts kicked. There are a LOT of people who just can't see anything that sparkles as intimidating or scary.... (or serious.)

 

[Billabongi]

Universal never had the chance to get its hands on Pirates because Disney made the ride before the movie....so that doesn't even apply.

As far as other massive hits...Transformers in my opinion is not exactly a "massive hit", at least when you put it next to HP. And there are, in fact, several other "hits" that Universal can get their hands on, such as LotR and Twilight.

I'm going to guess that you're not a fan right? When a single movie makes over a billion dollars and ends up as one of the highest grossing movies of all time that qualifies as a massive hit

The other movies I added are recent movie hits that are already taken.

 

[RMulieri]

I'm going to guess that you're not a fan right? When a single movie makes over a billion dollars and ends up as one of the highest grossing movies of all time that qualifies as a massive hit

The other movies I added are recent movie hits that are already taken.

It may have grossed alot but I don't think it has nearly the staying power as some others out there...and no I am not a transformers fan.But of they were doing Transformers it would probably be like the ride they already built..which is essentially Spiderman with a transformers overlay.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I'm going to guess that you're not a fan right? When a single movie makes over a billion dollars and ends up as one of the highest grossing movies of all time that qualifies as a massive hit

The other movies I added are recent movie hits that are already taken.

Universal wants to attract more people. Not just teenage girls who paid to see Twilight ten times each.

 

[nytimez]

Universal never had the chance to get its hands on Pirates because Disney made the ride before the movie....so that doesn't even apply.

As far as other massive hits...Transformers in my opinion is not exactly a "massive hit", at least when you put it next to HP. And there are, in fact, several other "hits" that Universal can get their hands on, such as LotR and Twilight.

I've never seen the Transformers films. But it's got huge name recognition and cross-generational appeal. I can see why they'd put it in their parks -- especially since they already have a very expensive working relationship with the film's producer (Spielberg).

Not saying that's what they're doing here -- but don't discount the franchise simply because it doesn't meet your opinion of "massive hit." FWIW, I believe the most recent film is actually one of the highest grossing movies of all time, if my memory of the headlines is correct.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Just for the record...here are the Top 100 Domestic films of all time (adjusted for inflation). The first dollar amount is the adjusted for inflation number and the second is the actual gross in the year it came out. Twilight is nowhere to be found. The latest Twilight is $259,000,000 as of this weekend. If you divide that by an average ticket cost of $7.96 in 2011 vs $2.05 in 1975 that means 94.3 MILLION MORE PEOPLE BOUGHT A TICKET TO SEE JAWS.

1 Gone with the Wind MGM $1,608,275,200 $198,676,459 1939^
2 Star Wars Fox $1,417,832,000 $460,998,007 1977^
3 The Sound of Music Fox $1,133,626,400 $158,671,368 1965
4 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $1,129,160,500 $435,110,554 1982^
5 The Ten Commandments Par. $1,042,760,000 $65,500,000 1956
6 Titanic Par. $1,021,633,200 $600,788,188 1997^
7 Jaws Uni. $1,019,507,400 $260,000,000 1975
8 Doctor Zhivago MGM $988,118,200 $111,721,910 1965
9 The Exorcist WB $880,126,600 $232,671,011 1973^
10 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Dis. $867,640,000 $184,925,486 1937^
11 101 Dalmatians Dis. $795,341,300 $144,880,014 1961^
12 The Empire Strikes Back Fox $781,517,900 $290,475,067 1980^
13 Ben-Hur MGM $780,080,000 $74,000,000 1959
14 Avatar Fox $774,151,900 $760,507,625 2009^
15 Return of the Jedi Fox $748,712,900 $309,306,177 1983^
16 The Sting Uni. $709,577,100 $156,000,000 1973
17 The Lion King BV $709,165,900 $422,705,430 1994^
18 Raiders of the Lost Ark Par. $701,609,200 $242,374,454 1981^
19 Jurassic Park Uni. $686,198,500 $357,067,947 1993
20 The Graduate AVCO $681,148,300 $104,901,839 1967^
21 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Fox $675,213,400 $431,088,301 1999^
22 Fantasia Dis. $661,026,100 $76,408,097 1941^
23 The Godfather Par. $628,223,600 $134,966,411 1972^
24 Forrest Gump Par. $625,223,100 $329,694,499 1994
25 Mary Poppins Dis. $622,327,300 $102,272,727 1964^
26 Grease Par. $612,297,200 $188,389,888 1978^
27 Thunderball UA $595,408,000 $63,595,658 1965
28 The Dark Knight WB $591,285,400 $533,345,358 2008
29 The Jungle Book Dis. $586,492,100 $141,843,612 1967^
30 Sleeping Beauty Dis. $578,501,400 $51,600,000 1959^
31 Shrek 2 DW $565,565,400 $441,226,247 2004
32 Ghostbusters Col. $563,015,700 $238,632,124 1984^
33 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Fox $561,640,500 $102,308,889 1969
34 Love Story Par. $557,185,200 $106,397,186 1970
35 Spider-Man Sony $553,098,600 $403,706,375 2002
36 Independence Day Fox $551,380,200 $306,169,268 1996
37 Home Alone Fox $539,164,200 $285,761,243 1990
38 Pinocchio Dis. $536,530,500 $84,254,167 1940^
39 Cleopatra (1963) Fox $534,780,400 $57,777,778 1963
40 Beverly Hills Cop Par. $534,514,100 $234,760,478 1984
41 Goldfinger UA $527,748,000 $51,081,062 1964
42 Airport Uni. $526,245,800 $100,489,151 1970
43 American Graffiti Uni. $523,085,700 $115,000,000 1973
44 The Robe Fox $521,018,200 $36,000,000 1953
45 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest BV $514,441,800 $423,315,812 2006
46 Around the World in 80 Days UA $514,338,500 $42,000,000 1956
47 Bambi RKO $507,151,100 $102,247,150 1942^
48 Blazing Saddles WB $503,291,000 $119,500,000 1974
49 Batman WB $501,118,800 $251,188,924 1989
50 The Bells of St. Mary's RKO $499,451,000 $21,333,333 1945

 

[Mad Hattered]

51 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King NL $490,652,000 $377,845,905 2003^
52 The Towering Inferno Fox $488,550,300 $116,000,000 1974
53 Spider-Man 2 Sony $478,863,600 $373,585,825 2004
54 My Fair Lady WB $477,600,000 $72,000,000 1964
55 The Greatest Show on Earth Par. $477,600,000 $36,000,000 1952
56 National Lampoon's Animal House Uni. $476,726,500 $141,600,000 1978^
57 The Passion of the Christ NM $475,250,500 $370,782,930 2004^
58 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Fox $472,223,700 $380,270,577 2005
59 Back to the Future Uni. $470,043,200 $210,609,762 1985
60 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers NL $459,493,200 $342,551,365 2002^
61 The Sixth Sense BV $458,329,900 $293,506,292 1999
62 Superman WB $456,570,700 $134,218,018 1978
63 Tootsie Col. $452,955,400 $177,200,000 1982
64 Smokey and the Bandit Uni. $452,390,100 $126,737,428 1977
65 Finding Nemo BV $448,446,300 $339,714,978 2003^
66 West Side Story MGM $445,523,500 $43,656,822 1961
67 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone WB $445,067,300 $317,575,550 2001
68 Lady and the Tramp Dis. $443,649,700 $93,602,326 1955^
69 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Col. $442,381,300 $132,088,635 1977^
70 Lawrence of Arabia Col. $440,853,100 $44,824,144 1962^
71 The Rocky Horror Picture Show Fox $438,352,600 $112,892,319 1975
72 Rocky UA $438,118,200 $117,235,147 1976
73 The Best Years of Our Lives RKO $437,800,000 $23,650,000 1946
74 The Poseidon Adventure Fox $437,019,600 $84,563,118 1972
75 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring NL $436,202,300 $315,544,750 2001^
76 Twister WB $435,317,500 $241,721,524 1996
77 Men in Black Sony $434,748,700 $250,690,539 1997
78 The Bridge on the River Kwai Col. $433,024,000 $27,200,000 1957
79 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen P/DW $429,051,400 $402,111,870 2009
80 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World MGM $428,848,300 $46,332,858 1963
81 Swiss Family Robinson Dis. $428,311,700 $40,356,000 1960
82 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest UA $427,335,400 $108,981,275 1975
83 M.A.S.H. Fox $427,326,300 $81,600,000 1970
84 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Par. $426,121,200 $179,870,271 1984
85 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Fox $425,609,000 $310,676,740 2002^
86 Mrs. Doubtfire Fox $419,367,700 $219,195,243 1993
87 Aladdin BV $417,441,100 $217,350,219 1992
88 Toy Story 3 BV $415,526,900 $415,004,880 2010
89 Ghost Par. $409,663,200 $217,631,306 1990
90 Duel in the Sun Selz. $406,122,400 $20,408,163 1946
91 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl BV $403,165,200 $305,413,918 2003
92 House of Wax WB $402,234,000 $23,750,000 1953
93 Rear Window Par. $400,823,700 $36,764,313 1954^
94 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Uni. $397,283,200 $229,086,679 1997
95 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Par. $393,355,300 $197,171,806 1989
96 Spider-Man 3 Sony $389,357,700 $336,530,303 2007
97 Terminator 2: Judgment Day TriS $387,304,800 $204,843,345 1991
98 Sergeant York WB $383,060,600 $16,361,885 1941
99 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Uni. $382,930,300 $260,044,825 2000
100 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 WB $381,011,219 2011 2000

 

[AJA]

I've never seen the Transformers films. But it's got huge name recognition and cross-generational appeal. I can see why they'd put it in their parks -- especially since they already have a very expensive working relationship with the film's producer (Spielberg).

Not saying that's what they're doing here -- but don't discount the franchise simply because it doesn't meet your opinion of "massive hit." FWIW, I believe the most recent film is actually one of the highest grossing movies of all time, if my memory of the headlines is correct.

I totally agree. To say transformers doesn't have staying power is dead wrong. It revived itself through the years and became a huge success. I don't know about others, but, as a parent in my mid thirties I used to love transformers as a child and loved being able to share it with my daughter.

Any franchise that's been around almost 30 years has staying power IMO.

 

[andyman8]

For full disclosure, the only experience I have had with Transformers was hearing a small portion of the movie on a crowded overnight bus ride at 2am. Anyways, I was tired and trying to sleep and it did not help to hear every special effect in Hollywood in one movie. It's a long story (chaperone for son's school trip; not to say it wasn't fun just not that part).

But I digress, personally, a Transformers area would not necessarily appeal to me, but I am sure to many it would. I just hope HP does not expand into USF because then I would feel that I am being drowned in HP (not to mention, make both parks crowded). I think Transformers would be Universal's next option for a new ride or area, but if these rumors are true, I don't know what they will replace it with (most likely MORE Harry Potter).

Although, I have heard on a few sites rumors of the return of Nickelodeon Studios? Doubt it, but still fun to imagine! Any thoughts?

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

I'm going to guess that you're not a fan right? When a single movie makes over a billion dollars and ends up as one of the highest grossing movies of all time that qualifies as a massive hit

The other movies I added are recent movie hits that are already taken.

I have seen the movies with exception to the last one, and I liked them well enough but I'm not a HUGE fan of them. I know some people are, and that's ok.

I know you meant that the other movies you listed were already taken, but you made it sound like Transformers was the only thing they could go after, and that's simply not true. And I think that they could do better than Transformers, but that's JMHO.

And for all you people freaking out over Twilight, I only mentioned it as an example of another franchise they could go after. I never implied that they in fact would or that I wanted them to.

And if anybody read my earlier post, I said "at least when you put it next to HP." I really doubt that if they made a Transformers land, or attraction, or whatever, that people will literally cry over it the way they did at WWoHP, and, probably, the way some will at Avatar "land".

 

[Mad Hattered]

And for all you people freaking out over Twilight, I only mentioned it as an example of another franchise they could go after. I never implied that they in fact would or that I wanted them to.

And if anybody read my earlier post, I said "at least when you put it next to HP." I really doubt that if they made a Transformers land, or attraction, or whatever, that people will literally cry over it the way they did at WWoHP, and, probably, the way some will at Avatar "land".

I'm not freaking out over Twilight, just for the record. If you've read my earlier posts you will clearly see that I am against HP, Transformers AND Twilight!

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

I'm not freaking out over Twilight, just for the record. If you've read my earlier posts you will clearly see that I am against HP, Transformers AND Twilight!

I know, I know, you want Jaws to stay.

Maybe "freaking out" wasn't the right phrase...it's just that as soon as someone mentions it, even in passing as I myself have, people go into Twilight sucks mode ("Oh god, PLEASE don't make me see any sparkly vampires...nooooooooooooooooo!").

ANYWHO.....I rode Jaws last night for the first time at night, and I have to say it is definitely better than riding it in the daylight, because then at least it's harder to see all the fake-y-ness.

 

[nytimez]

The problem with comparing Jaws to anything current is that Jaws is simply no longer is culturally relevant.

Yes, it's engrained in our collective unconscious -- especially to those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s. But it's not something people watch, discuss, read, etc. anymore.

Things like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Transformers and more have had a constant stream of movies in relatively recent years... not to mention cartoons (for Star Wars & Transformers), toys, and more. Things like Star Wars, Transformers and (to a lesser extent because it's newer) Harry Potter all have widespread cross-generational appeal as well.

Twilight is a huge success and has books, movies, toys, etc. but no one would invest in it for a theme park because its appeal is so narrow. Guys -- and many adults -- simply wouldn't be caught dead (pun intended) in a Twilight themed area... whereas people who aren't particularly interested in Star Wars, Potter or Transformers will in general still go on those rides/areas/etc.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I know, I know, you want Jaws to stay.

Maybe "freaking out" wasn't the right phrase...it's just that as soon as someone mentions it, even in passing as I myself have, people go into Twilight sucks mode ("Oh god, PLEASE don't make me see any sparkly vampires...nooooooooooooooooo!").

ANYWHO.....I rode Jaws last night for the first time at night, and I have to say it is definitely better than riding it in the daylight, because then at least it's harder to see all the fake-y-ness.

It's all good. My point of posting the movie grosses was to show that today's movies just don't hold a candle when you do the math when you consider how many tickets were sold.

Of course movies are easier to download, stream, etc than years ago so I'm sure that has some say in overall grosses. They also have every other movie in 3D now so there is extra money brought in that way to add to recent movie totals. What the grosses don't take into account are the BOOKS that are sold. There are a lot of fans out there for both HP and Twilight. But then again, if they bought the books then they more than likely saw it in a theater.

94.3 million more people buying a movie ticket for JAWS vs Twilight is pretty impressive no matter which way you look at it. And look where Deathly Hallows Pt 2 ends up....100?? Transformers is at 79??

I would be more than happy (well not THAT happy) if they put Kong 360 in there. I understand it's pretty impressive and it would give us long time fans of USO a little homage to the park's past.

 

[Mad Hattered]

The problem with comparing Jaws to anything current is that Jaws is simply no longer is culturally relevant.

Yes, it's engrained in our collective unconscious -- especially to those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s. But it's not something people watch, discuss, read, etc. anymore.

Things like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Transformers and more have had a constant stream of movies in relatively recent years... not to mention cartoons (for Star Wars & Transformers), toys, and more. Things like Star Wars, Transformers and (to a lesser extent because it's newer) Harry Potter all have widespread cross-generational appeal as well.

Twilight is a huge success and has books, movies, toys, etc. but no one would invest in it for a theme park because its appeal is so narrow. Guys -- and many adults -- simply wouldn't be caught dead (pun intended) in a Twilight themed area... whereas people who aren't particularly interested in Star Wars, Potter or Transformers will in general still go on those rides/areas/etc.

See above. I understand. Just consider me a mean old man (that wouldn't be caught dead in Twilight land)

 

[nytimez]

It's all good. My point of posting the movie grosses was to show that today's movies just don't hold a candle when you do the math when you consider how many tickets were sold.

Of course movies are easier to download, stream, etc than years ago so I'm sure that has some say in overall grosses.

There are some other big differences you're not taking into consideration: Multiplexes and cable.

"Jaws" came out at a time when many theaters still had one screen. You didn't have 14 choices at the theater -- you had one. Also, many people still had only the VHF channels available at home. VCRs weren't really on the scene yet -- I'm sure they were around in 1975, but most people still didn't know what they were, much less own them (and when they did first hit the scene, there were no rental stores -- you had to buy the tapes, which cost a ridiculous amount of money). And cable? Cable was in very few homes -- and those people who did have it had only a handful of extra channels, mostly public access.

 

[TIGGERGUY]

Jaws was a phenomenon when it first came out. Beach attendance went down 25%. The movie has lines that are a part of the popular culture.

Having said this, when I take the boys they don't care much about the ride or the area. If there was a Transformers section they would be all over it, as they are about HP.