geektrek

The trailer was downloaded 5 million times in the first 3 days of its release. Let’s suppose each of those downloads represents one person that will see the film on opening weekend.
5 million X 12 dollars = 60 million dollars

Not a bad first weekend, but remember half the people who are going to the movie because of the trailer will be bringing someone with them to the movie.

2.5 X 12 dollars = 30 million dollars

So our original 5 million trailer viewers, and the half of them that brought dates/buddies have brought the domestic first weekend box office up to -

90 million dollars

If the budget of the film is 150 million dollars, and the ad budget is 75 million dollars, that brings us to a total of 225 million dollars. ( Gee, this is fun!!)

So 225 million minus the first weekend box office gross of 90 million dollars brings us to -
135 million dollars
This is just the first weekend, and just North America. The money continues to roll in from domestic BO after the first weekend..

Now, let’s list the countries we know the movie is being promoted in -

Japan ( Which has 3 times the populace of Canada, and can rake in up to 50 million for a hit movie)
Germany (Also a huge populace, and film gross money maker. Huge Trek fanbase)
Great Britain ( Which has been known to produce grosses from 30 to 50 million for big hit films. Also, one of their top comedic actors/creative icons is a main actor. Huge Trek fanbase )
South Korea ( Whose people love movies )
Italy
Spain
Brazil
Australia ( Produces first weekend grosses similar to US grosses, huge Trek fanbase)
New Zealand ( Who are very proud of having a cast member in the movie.)
Greece
Portugal
Russia
France
Hong Kong ( Not a country, I know, but sort of its own world when it comes to film)
India ( Single largest film going populace on Earth)
Holland

I’m sure there’s more, but let’s leave it at that for now. Now, not to exaggerate, because some countries can produce more box-office dollars by merit of their populace, let’s ad 10 million dollars for each of those countries, just to spread it out.
That’s 160 million dollars. The movie comes in at a profit of 25 million dollars. Just in time for video release -

Let’s give a fair estimate of 3 million copies sold in the first couple of weeks, at an at cost/wholesalers cost of 15 dollars -

The DVD sales get us up to 45 million dollars. Wow, the movie has now grossed beyond its debits by 65 million dollars.
Those are low-end estimates.
So, we are now at 65 million dollars, and we have yet to talk about pay-per-view, airline viewings, hotel chain purchases, the TV broadcast rights and most importantly, MERCHANDISING.

With the deals going on with Burger King, and the toys companies, every kid on Earth will want a toy Enterprise in a couple of months.
And, remember, selling stuff that is derived from the movie has nothing to do with the debt incurred while making the movie.
I could go into that, things like 1 million t-shirts at 10 dollars a piece, 1 million toy Enterprise at 15 dollars a piece etc etc

Remember, the producers don’t use the profits from the first movie to make another one. ( Not everyone is George Lucas) They use the figures they get in the black to secure bank loans to borrow the money to make a sequel. And they take those figures to several banks, not just one.

Even with the low estimated European/Asia figures, and the virtual floodgate of ridiculous Trek merchandise coming our way, I sum up by saying -

SEQUEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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