First off, the franchise started off with a bang. The ending of SAW was one of the best twist endings I have ever seen. No one saw that coming. If you claim to have predicted that the first movie would end the way it did, then you are straight up lying to yourself. It is probably one of the TOP TEN most memorable moments in cinema for me.
Second, the SAW franchise has, by far, been the most consistent and coherent. From the first to the last film, the writers of the franchise have been further defining and expanding the mythology of the series while managing to keep the same tone. There haven't been any major hiccups in the continuity or general direction of the franchise. Which, in its self, is a major achievement. Look at all the other major players out there.
HALLOWEEN went strong for the first two films and then totally changed the format for the third, making it a stand alone film that has nothing to do with Michael Myers. Further into the franchise, the writers couldn't seem to decided what to do with Michael; so from film to film he would be pure evil, a crazed killer, a supernatural being, some bizarre cult's evil weapon, and eventually they just tried to humanize him and explain him off as some abused child.
In A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, Freddy began as a sinister supernatural murderer only to gradually be made into a campy cartoonish version of his former self.
As for Jason of FRIDAY THE 13th fame, he started off as the deformed son of the original murderer until he was finally vanquished only to be resurrected by unexplained supernatural forces. Over the course of the series, he went from man, to supernatural killer, to evil demon worm, to an undead cyborg in outer space.
I'm pretty sure you are starting to get the picture.
Third, Regardless of what you think about the series in regards to overall quality, The SAW franchise IS the most successful horror franchise in box office history. That's not debatable. Check out the numbers:
Box office
| Film | Release date | Revenue | Budget | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Foreign | Worldwide | ||||
| Saw | October 29, 2004 | $55,185,045 | $47,911,300 | $103,096,345 | $1,200,000 | [8] |
| Saw II | October 28, 2005 | $87,039,965 | $60,708,540 | $147,748,505 | $4,000,000 | [9] |
| Saw III | October 27, 2006 | $80,238,724 | $84,635,551 | $164,874,275 | $10,000,000 | [10] |
| Saw IV | October 26, 2007 | $63,300,095 | $76,052,538 | $139,352,633 | $10,000,000 | [11][12] |
| Saw V | October 24, 2008 | $56,746,769 | $57,117,290 | $113,864,059 | $10,800,000 | [13] |
| Saw VI | October 23, 2009 | $27,693,292 | $40,540,337 | $68,233,629 | $11,000,000 | [14] |
| Saw 3D | October 29, 2010 | $45,710,178 | $87,600,000 | $133,310,178 | $20,000,000 | [15] |
| Total | $415,914,068 | $454,565,556 | $870,479,624 | $67,000,000 | N/A | |
The franchise has grossed over 870 million dollars world wide. The closest that any of the other major contenders has come is the SCREAM franchise which has grossed just over 507 million dollars world wide.
Here's how the major horror franchises stack up:
- SCREAM $507,253,139
- FRIDAY THE 13TH $465,239,523
- A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET $455,293,334
- HALLOWEEN $366,893,444
- THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE $203,672,393
All in all, I think that if you look at the facts and compare the franchises, SAW is far and away the winner. It might not be your favorite collection of horror movies, but it's definitely the overall best.
Your thoughts? What's your favorite horror franchise?
I know you won't believe me, but I had a passing (a passing!) thought when watching the first film: "What if that body in the middle of the floor wasn't dead?"
ReplyDeleteSure, I didn't think he was the puppetmaster or anything, but still.
I watched the first three and didn't really care after that. Hell, I don't even know if I cared for them at all. Ever.
"It is probably one of the TOP TEN most memorable moments in cinema for me."
Really? Either you need to watch more movies or YOU are lying to YOURSELF.
Sorry for all the guff. But come on. There have got to be more memorable moments for you.
That moment stands out because I was completely and utterly surprised by the end. I never saw it coming. I thought it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteGary and I have seen every one of these movies...It was actually the first movie we ever saw (no pun intended lol) together. I LOVE them only one I didn't care for was the last 3D one I think that if it wasn't in 3D it would have been much better, and I agree it is the only horror movie that I have seen (and yes I love horror movies) that I look forward to the next in the series. Always keeps you guessing. Kinda like the sixth sense (not a horror movie but same effect on me) never saw that coming. Have heard rumors that the 3D one was the last in the series... I'm really hoping that isn't true.
ReplyDelete