NOTE: Mega Markets are designed to generate long-range forecasts and close approximately one month before the currently scheduled opening weekend. All participants still in the market at the close of trading will immediately receive $200 in fantasy money for their participation.
THE MARKET: “Tropic Thunder” goes into wide release on Friday, August 15, 2008. How much will it gross in its opening weekend as first reported by Variety on August 18? Each dollar of the share price represents millions of dollars in sales. Shares bought at $45, for example, would be worth $78 if the movie grosses $78 million. Trading closes July 17 at midnight, PT.
THE DATA: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. headline the upcoming satire “Tropic Thunder,” the first film Stiller has written and directed since 2001’s idiotically sublime “Zoolander.” That spoof only took in $15 million in its opening weekend, a number “Tropic Thunder” should surpass with ease. Think more along the lines of “Get Smart” ($39.2 million), but don’t forget to account for its R rating.
OUR TAKE: How does Robert Downey Jr., fresh off the biggest role of his career, follow it up? By going blackface, of course. The trailer makes the movie look less than stellar, but then again so does the trailer for “Zoolander.” The three musketeers seem to be having a good time promoting the flick, however, whether it’s directly through the faux shooting of a “viral video” for the MTV Music Awards, or indirectly in an appearance as the Pips on “American Idol.”

LEARN MORE:
See the “Tropic Thunder” home page.

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