'Superman' speeds to earlier bow
WB shifts Man of Steel to June 28
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The change in dates, designed to maximize grosses over the July Fourth holiday -- which falls on a Tuesday -- essentially gives the studio a seven-day weekend.
WB had been eyeing a June 28 bow, but didn't make it official until it was certain the movie could be completed in time. Also, there were issues involved with the pic's release on Imax screens.
"We were always considering this an option," Warners Bros. Pictures prexy of domestic distribution Dan Fellman. "I'm glad that we are in a position to do it and take advantage of the summer holiday playtime."
Studios have been enjoying lucrative results by opening films the Wednesday before the July 4 holiday.
Last summer, when the holiday fell on a Monday, Paramount and DreamWorks' "War of the Worlds" amassed $112.7 million in the six-day stretch. The year before that, Sony's "Spider-Man 2" did even better, racking up $180 million during the same six days.
Warners is looking to mine similar results. Studio has much riding on the pic, particularly after the dismal showing of its first summer tentpole, "Poseidon." The production budget for "Superman Returns" hovers around $200 million.
