Doomsday is DOA at Box Office

Universal probably guessed as much when they dumped Doomsday in the wasteland that is early March, but it had a dismal opening this weekend. The Rhona Mitra vehicle cost $19 million to make but only pulled in $4.7 million.

The post-apocalyptic thriller takes place in a Scotland overtaken by a virus, causing British authorities to quarantine the whole nation and leave its inhabitants to die. Is there any film outside of the James Bond series where the British government isn’t diabolical, villainous and generally shows no regard for human life?

Instead of dying, it seems the Scottish degenerate into pale ripoffs of every dark future movie of the 80s. I can’t say I didn’t see this one coming. Doomsday has all the classic signs of a movie you dump before the summer season starts and pray you catch enough bored moviegoers to make some of your cash back.

Miminal star power? Check. Bob Hoskins is the best actor here and he’s got Super Mario Bros. on his resume, proving there’s no check he won’t take. Rhona Mitra carrying a movie? Not in this Hollywood. She’s smokin’ hot, but her poor man’s Kate Beckinsale didn’t get anybody excited this weekend. Well, Universal took the shot anyway. Wake me when Iron Man opens.