You know that feeling when everybody around you has heard some terrible news, yet just hasn’t had the heart to tell you? I felt that very same feeling this morning and as soon as I checked my e-mail inbox, I found out why. After just a few weeks at the box office, Sony Pictures has decided to greenlight a second Smurfs movie.
To be honest, none of us can pretend to be that surprised. After all, Alvin and the Chipmunks just recently got the go ahead for a third installment, so it really was only a matter of time before these little blue menaces got a second shot. So far, Sony’s Smurfs film has grossed over $135 million dollars, but with a budget that is rumored to have been around $110 million, it most certainly is too early to be gambling on the success of a second film.
Sure, the Smurfs movie appeared to have mass appeal, but there was virtually no competition in the children’s demographic, and across the board, the film has garnered some of the worst reviews I’ve seen since Ang Lee’s Hulk movie hit theaters. If parents have nothing better to take their kids to, of course you’re going to see a spike in Smurfs ticket sales. Sony should be focusing on creating higher standards for kids movies instead of lowering them just to make a few quick bucks. Nonetheless Sony Pictures has slated Smurfs 2 for release August 2, 2013.
Thanks to Variety for having the courage to break the bad news!
