Dead or Alive movie dead on arrival

by Kyle Orland { Jun 18th 2007 at 12:58PM }

Recently spared from a straight-to-DVD release, the Dead or Alive movie limped into theaters this weekend without anyone much noticing or caring. The film earned $232,200 from 505 screens, finishing the weekend behind months-old thriller Disturbia and art house favorite La Vie en Rose. It's a sad day for our country when audiences would rather watch a subtitled French love story than see girls in bikinis kicking each other.

Given the reviews, it's not that surprising that audiences stayed away in droves. Rotten Tomatoes' rating page, which gives the movie a score of 46 percent, is punctuated with quotes like "unquestionably brain dead" and "a genuinely terrible film." And those are from some of the good reviews.

[Thanks Anthony]

Tags: adaptation, dead or alive, DeadOrAlive, DOA, game to movie, GameToMovie, Itagaki, movie, tecmo

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

MosquitoControl @ Jun 18th 2007 1:08PM

It has a better tomato rating than Fantastic Four, which somehow made almost $55 million...

Audiences are mostly idiotic.

megaStryke @ Jun 18th 2007 1:10PM

46%? That sounds too high.

konajinx @ Jun 18th 2007 1:14PM

Who even knew about this turd? I didn't until whenever Joystiq reported on it last. Why anyone would think this shouldn't have been straight to video (let alone made in the first place) is beyond me. Seriously, does the fanbase for this game justify a cheeseball movie? Someone could have just done an Anime flick of it for DVD and made more money that way.

konajinx @ Jun 18th 2007 1:15PM

synce @ Jun 18th 2007 1:16PM

How much did they spend on marketing for this movie? Bout 2 bucks? Besides everyone who wanted to see it is a nerd and knows how to work torrents. I'm one of those people and let me say the movie makes for a great comedy.

konajinx @ Jun 18th 2007 1:16PM

Blah double post. My apologies.

Xvalue @ Jun 18th 2007 1:21PM

-$232,200 / 505 screens = $459/screen.

-$459 / 10 showings per weekend (roughly) = $45.90/showing.

-$45.90 / $10 per ticket = 4.5 people per theatre.

AWESOME!

Joe @ Jun 18th 2007 1:25PM

It was showing in three theaters in my state.

I saw Ratatouille instead, it was excellent.

Matthew @ Jun 18th 2007 1:33PM

46% is extremely high for a movie of this type among critics

Its one of those "it's so bad it's good" movies.

Rob Accomando @ Jun 18th 2007 1:37PM

How did they even manage to get this into the theatre? Brilliant name too. I yet to see FF2: Fantastic Four 2 or POTC: Pirates of the Carribean

chenry @ Jun 18th 2007 1:39PM

Trying to make a story out of the Dead or Alive games is like trying to stretch your underwear over a Buick.

Mr. Shen @ Jun 18th 2007 1:40PM

I would have enjoyed it more if Earl and Crabman took the place of ANY of the characters in the movie.

Except Helena. I liked her.

konajinx @ Jun 18th 2007 1:47PM

Oi! I was just on imdb reading the message baords for this thing and will quote the four posts here from a thread called "Surprisingly great" (just doing so because you need to register to read the boards, so I'll save everyone the time just to see this hilarity).

"This movie was great. It was everything a movie should be. It was entertaing from start to finish."
(berkalex03012)

"are u like serious?" (freitax)

"I totally agree, i really wasnt expecting much from it, but it greatly exceded my expectations, i really only went to see it because im a huge devon aoki fan.

but the movie did what it was supposed to do, entertain. sure, it isnt an oscar contender, but it wasnt trying to be. it stayed true to the spirit of the game. threadbare plot with lots of action.

if you go to this movie expecting the next best thing since gone with the wind, youre going to be dissapointed, and your probably a little stupid." (Shinra_Y3K)

"I loved it, and will definitely be buying this when it comes out on DVD." (yellowday123)

Jeff @ Jun 18th 2007 1:51PM

See, this is why you're not a studio exec. You're not thinking in terms of money. These movies are cheap to produce. They're low-risk. They only need to make a small amount of money to turn a profit, especially when you consider the downstream revenue. These people aren't stupid. They know how to make money, and they know that the best strategy is to spread themselves out and cover their bases. These cheap, low-risk, niche-targeted movies that most of us scoff at will be what covers the studio when they have a high-profile, expensive flop.

Shagittarius @ Jun 18th 2007 1:53PM

"-$232,200 / 505 screens = $459/screen.

-$459 / 10 showings per weekend (roughly) = $45.90/showing.

-$45.90 / $10 per ticket = 4.5 people per theatre.

AWESOME!"

It costs an extra half a ticket if you plan on letting Mr.Winkie make an appearance during the film.

Damn I'm stupid.

jovin6 @ Jun 18th 2007 1:59PM

With Jaime Pressly and Devon Aoki starring, could it really have been that cheap?

Martez @ Jun 18th 2007 1:58PM

I saw this movie a long time ago- it's been floating around the internet for months. It was way better than Bloodrayne (which I stopped watching 30 minutes in), so give it a little bit of a break. The fights were about on par with Mortal Kombat. It even has a beach volleyball scene! So true to the series!1! It has hot girls kicking the crap out of each other- I haven't seen such an accurate video-game movie in years.

Plus, the opening scene had my friends and I rolling on the floor laughing. The movie sucks, but at least it was somewhat entertaining. Just don't pay to see it and you'll enjoy yourself.

losttoys @ Jun 18th 2007 2:02PM

There was also no marketing for the release of the movie in theaters. It seemed like the movie was ninja dropped into theaters without a whisper.

They could have easily pulled in a million for an opening weekend if they had spent a little money a week prior to release with television advertisements.

losttoys @ Jun 18th 2007 2:03PM

BPM @ Jun 18th 2007 2:03PM

I don't care how bad it may be, I wanna see it for a good laugh.

losttoys @ Jun 18th 2007 2:05PM

Sorry for the double post.

And here is my little "review":
I can say, without a doubt or hesitation, that the movie was in no way shape or form a good movie. However, I can say with absolute conviction, that it was one of the most entertaining movies I have seen in a long while. You will begin your first 15 minutes of the film weeping from laughter. You will then spend the rest of the movie awestruck by how entertaining the sum of the parts are.

Jaime Pressly was the movie. If it wasn't for her portrayal as Tina, I think the entire movie would have collapsed under its own cheesinesses. Devon Aoki, as Kasumi, was deplorable. Her acting was stale, she couldn't fight worth a crap, and a Kasumi without large breasts that bounce around for no apparent reason is not Kasumi. The script writer, for some reason unbeknown to me, decided to castrate both Ayane and Hayabusa, making them the worst ninjas and characters in the movie. The only Ninja saving grace was Collin Chou, who played a rather badass Hayate. If you can go into the movie without any expectations about the acting or the story (Helena, for example, is a 21 year old valleygirl who enjoys her Rollarblades), I think you will be pleasantly entertained with the entire experience. If anything, go for Jaime Pressly. It is like watching an ass kicking Joy from My Name Is Earl

Arno @ Jun 18th 2007 2:06PM

iMDB seems to agree with a combined 4.8/10 spread over 5421 votes.

Arno @ Jun 18th 2007 2:07PM

iMDB seems to agree with a combined 4.8/10 spread over 5421 votes.

Rob Accomando @ Jun 18th 2007 2:12PM

I wonder if part 2's plot will be a volleyball tournament. DOA2EBV: Dead or Alive 2 Extreme Beach Volleyball

spikepoint @ Jun 18th 2007 2:21PM

@21:

I couldn't have said it better myself. I had a blast, and am really glad I saw it.

horngreen @ Jun 18th 2007 2:22PM

The losers who actually knew about the films release and actually attended should have been gassed in the theaters. How pathetic does your life need to be to see this POS? These same losers will buy it on DVD when released.

DarkTetsuya @ Jun 18th 2007 2:32PM

@24

Actually volleyball was already in the movie... Not so sure how much sense it made, but whatever. And yeah most people probably already saw it on Google Video anyway (myself included) so they knew there wouldn't be a ticket purchase in the future.

Matt @ Jun 18th 2007 2:34PM

I think you can blame the studio for any commercial failure of this movie. Sure, it is a stupid premise and probably a weak movie, but there was little or no promotion for this film. I'm a gamer and I watch a little television. I knew nothing about this movie other than hearing last year they were in fact making it. I seem to hear about every other release but had no idea this was coming out, let alone this last weekend.

CapAmerica @ Jun 18th 2007 2:52PM

I really had wanted to see this in theaters, But the F*cktards in charge of distrubuing the movie roally screwed me over. I would have had to drive about 2 hours to the cloest theater showing it.

They must have really wanted the movie to tank cause their is no other reason why this movie should have gotten such a limited release.

As I said over on cinematical I thought DoA actually turned out to be a fairly good movie. I watched it a little over a year ago when the movie was released to everywhere outside North America and I even imported a copy and gladly display it with the rest of my DVD collection.

I found DoA to be a great popcorn flick, if your looking for something to watch and have fun watching with a group of friends DoA is a great movie. Its like a modern day example of a classic old style 'B' Kung Fu movie.
What really helped the movie was the fact that it didn't take itsself to seriously. It has a small serious story to it but over all it's almost a fighting spoof movie.

I would have loved to have seen a DoA movie that was based on the cut scense from the DoA games But I have to admit a serious DoA film would never work as a live action movie. Their is just to many things that just don't work good in reality but works fine in a Anime/Vidoe game. maybe we'll see a Anime based on DoA some day, but thats the only real way I could see the True DoA story be told.

I have to say that DoA is defiantly one of the better Video game based movies. Thou that is not saying alot. But I will say this, I enjoyed DoA ALOT more then I did Fantastic Four 2, Spiderman 3 and Shrek the Third.

Freezer @ Jun 18th 2007 5:57PM

Hell, I thought DOA was still in production. I saw a still in the Weekend Movies section of the local paper. That's how I found out about.

And yet, I still can't bring myself to care.

nick @ Jun 18th 2007 3:17PM

I'm not surprised by the low numbers. There's been no advertising. I doubt anyone knew it was in theaters this last weekend. And it had already been released a long time ago online via Google Video.

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Jun 18th 2007 3:20PM

@chenry

"Trying to make a story out of the Dead or Alive games is like trying to stretch your underwear over a Buick."

I lol'ed.

losttoys @ Jun 18th 2007 3:27PM

horngreen -

"The losers who actually knew about the films release and actually attended should have been gassed in the theaters. How pathetic does your life need to be to see this POS? These same losers will buy it on DVD when released."

I first and foremost go to the theaters to be entertained. The film was definitely worth my $6.00 (AM showings at AMC are Child prices). It was not a good movie, it was an entertaining movie. And that is all I asked from it.

Adv2k1 @ Jun 18th 2007 3:54PM

i didn't see a single ad for this movie. meh I wouldn't be surprised if it appeared on xbox live marketplace this week and do equally as good

Dark-Pen @ Jun 18th 2007 4:02PM

Seriously, the movie's okay. Its really campy and charming in its own way, and any gamer with a nail up their ass will obviously dislike it like the nerd they are.

There was nearly no promotion for this film, so its no surprise that its doing poorly. I'm surprised it came out in theaters, though.

MONGO @ Jun 18th 2007 4:40PM

LOL @ #4! It's a turd sandwich.

Ashley Boyd @ Jun 18th 2007 4:52PM

Hmm. This was released in the UK last September....how unsual. Although in effect, we still lose out for having it first...

jojo29 @ Jun 19th 2007 8:10AM

I didn't watch it because they picked the worst person to represent Kasumi EVER

scott @ Jun 18th 2007 5:09PM

Even people who were waiting for this to come out (like me) didn't know it was released already, except by accident. I was one of only two people in the movie theater watching it Saturday afternoon. That said, it is still far more entertaining than FF:ROSS.

It has as much plot as a DOA game, so what do you expect. Still, if you want to see a movie full of high-kicking girls (with several crotch-shot angles) in unbelievable shape and beauty, than it's worth the matinee price.

Cory Yuen's fight choreography is pretty neat too.

Just don't think too hard. And don't take your girlfriend.

clo1_2000 @ Jun 18th 2007 5:10PM

If they really wanted to rake in the money, they should have just made an adult cosplay porno. Now *that* would have raked in the cash.

ferrarimanf355 @ Jun 18th 2007 5:17PM

I heard that Itagaki hasn't seen it yet. Not a ringing endorsement, IMHO...

Kritz @ Jun 18th 2007 5:51PM

Whoa.

Didn't this movie release a year and a half ago in Australia? That's when we got advertisements for it, at least.

One of my friends rented the DVD a few months back. Kept complaining that Ryu was American. :\

Odd how America got such a late release (For a film no one cared about anyway).

kingofwale @ Jun 18th 2007 6:14PM

>Besides everyone who wanted to see it is a nerd and knows how to work torrents.

Funny, same thing could be said to Spidy fans but that didn't stop it from breaking any records known to box-office.

let's face it, the movie sucked (more than any other garbage out there),

karmaghost @ Jun 18th 2007 6:22PM

Actually, 46% on rotten tomatoes isn't as bad as you might think. It's not good, but I'm surprised it didn't get lower marks.

Andrew @ Jun 18th 2007 8:07PM

I actually enjoyed this movie a lot, and a 46% rating from rottentomatoes is actually pretty good for a movie like this. I wasn't expecting much at all, but I had a good time watching it and will definitely buy the dvd when it's out.

I agree with another commenter who said it's good because it doesn't take itself seriously, unlike brain-numbing crap like the movie Doom.