Global Destruction Proves Profitable

Roland Emmerich, who appears to hate the planet earth, just had a monster opening for his latest end of days flick, 2012. Emmerich, who's previously trashed cities in Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow easily won the weekend with a $65 million haul, but the movie went supernova world wide. 2012, amazingly, just had the fifth biggest global opening of all time (move over Da Vinci Code) with a mind boggling $225 million over the weekend. The film opened simultaneously in 105 different markets and finished first in all of them.

During this global economic downturn, I've often read about how Hollywood is "recession proof" and the box office numbers certainly back up this notion. I get it, too. It makes sense to me that people would want that escape, even if it is for a few hours, that going to the movies provides. But I do think that it's interesting that in a time when our planet isn't exactly coasting on easy street; when there is so much uncertainty in the world; so much fear; that the planet has collectively chosen to find their escapist release by watching a film about the end of the world.

But what the hell do I know?