Guillermo Del Toro Says ‘Pacific Rim’ Is ‘On The Right Track’ For Success

Pacific Rim director Guillermo del Toro has come to the defense of his upcoming robot movie.

Recent reports floating around the internet have suggested the $200 million Warner Bros. production isn’t tracking very well with potential moviegoers. In fact, the Adam Sandler sequel Grown-Ups 2 is predicted to trump del Toro’s flick at the box office.

According to Indie Wire, Guillermo del Toro has come to the defense of his big-budget giant monsters vs. enormous robots movie. Despite reports that Grown Ups 2 will likely make more money, the acclaimed filmmaker believes his film is still moving in the “right direction.”

The director said in a forum post on DelToroFilms:

We are working on it. We concentrated on the core for a long time- but we are barely started on the campaign. I am seeing the ads now and I am seeing outdoors and we are now supplementing what we did with character or tone. We just need to keep working. Our numbers are going up. Not in a minor way. Significant. We are one the right track. Whatever sequel opens will have, by definition, higher awareness and numbers across the board but we are moving strongly in the right direction.

Worst Previews reports that Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups 2 is expected to open with around $40 million in receipts. However, del Toro’s Pacific Rim is also predicted to earn $40 million during its first weekend in theaters.

Here’s the problem: The Adam Sandler sequel only cost around $80 million to put together. Guillermo del Toro’s flick, on the other hand, cost Warner Bros. around $200 million. That’s a lot of money to recoup, especially considering the number of movies battling for the attention of moviegoers this summer. Unless you come out with guns blazing, it’s going to be difficult to break even.

As a fan of the filmmaker’s work, I hope Pacific Rim is as successful as it is entertaining. The lack of original content in theaters right now is alarming. If new ideas keep floundering at the box office, then studios will continue to release movies that aren’t huge financial risks. The staggering number of sequels currently scheduled to arrive over the next few years is proof that Hollywood is taking fewer chances. When Lucas and Spielberg can’t get stuff made, something is wrong.

Are you looking forward to Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim? Do you think Adam Sandler’s sequel will end up being more popular with moviegoers?