Will ‘Pacific Rim’ Open Better Than Predicted? Advance Ticket Sales Up on Del Toro Tentpole

“Pacific Rim” may open better than early tracking suggested. According to Fandango, Guillermo del Toro’s kaiju-vs.-robots tentpole has nabbed 60% of the company’s advance ticket sales for the weekend.

In a Variety article from July 9, they predicted a grim future for “Pacific Rim,” estimating a $25 to $35 million opening for the $185 million-plus film.

But the film is outpacing “World War Z,” which itself exceeded expectations with a $66 million opening weekend in June, at the same point in the pre-sales cycle. Additionally, “Pacific Rim” has scored a 90 out of 100 on Fandango’s “Fanticipation Buzz” indicator, putting it as the most anticipated film of the weekend, slightly ahead of the 4th of July weekend’s mighty “Despicable Me 2.”

The proof will be in the pudding. In the meantime, read our TOH! review of del Toro’s film, which likens the film’s non pre-branded original story — trying to survive in the wilds of sequels and familiar franchises — to James Cameron’s “Avatar.”