Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Can you name a film that you think performed well at the box office? Why do you think so?
- Do you believe box office performance affects how you decide which movies to watch? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- alien /EYL-yuhn/
- top /top/
- begin with /bih-GIN with/
- turn out /turn out/
- anticipated /an-TIS-uh-pey-tid/
[noun] – a creature from another world
The story is about an alien who visits Earth.
[verb] – to be the best or highest in rank
She topped the list of the best students in her class.
[phrasal verb] – to start or initiate something
The story begins with a mysterious event.
[phrasal verb] – to happen or become in a particular way
The party turned out to be a great success.
[adjective] – expected or predicted
The trip was more exciting than anticipated.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The new film “Alien: Romulus” topped the North American box office during its opening weekend. Released by 20th Century Studios, the movie brought in significant earnings in the U.S. and Canada, with strong international revenue as well. The Walt Disney Company, which owns 20th Century Studios, also saw success with “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which remained in second place after four weekends. Disney’s movies have made a big impact on the summer box office, contributing to a large share of the season’s revenue.
Even though August is usually a quieter time for movies, the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine” has improved the overall performance for this time of year. This summer, which began with modest expectations, has turned out better than anticipated. “Alien: Romulus,” directed by Fede Álvarez and featuring a young cast, has received positive reviews. The romantic drama “It Ends With Us,” adapted from a popular novel, secured third place and has performed well considering its production cost. “Twisters” came in fourth, and a re-release of “Coraline” rounded out the top five. However, “Borderlands,” a video game adaptation, is struggling at the box office despite its high production budget. Final ticket sales for the weekend will be confirmed soon, but the top five films are “Alien: Romulus,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “It Ends With Us,” “Twisters,” and “Coraline.”
Even though August is usually a quieter time for movies, the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine” has improved the overall performance for this time of year. This summer, which began with modest expectations, has turned out better than anticipated. “Alien: Romulus,” directed by Fede Álvarez and featuring a young cast, has received positive reviews. The romantic drama “It Ends With Us,” adapted from a popular novel, secured third place and has performed well considering its production cost. “Twisters” came in fourth, and a re-release of “Coraline” rounded out the top five. However, “Borderlands,” a video game adaptation, is struggling at the box office despite its high production budget. Final ticket sales for the weekend will be confirmed soon, but the top five films are “Alien: Romulus,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “It Ends With Us,” “Twisters,” and “Coraline.”
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is the main achievement of the film “Alien: Romulus” mentioned in the article?
- Which company released the movie “Alien: Romulus”?
- What was the position of “Deadpool & Wolverine” after four weekends?
- How did the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine” affect the overall box office performance for August?
- What was the initial expectation for the summer season, according to the article?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever been surprised by the success of a movie or a TV show that you didn’t expect to be popular? If yes, what was the movie or show, and what made it surprising to you? If not, what type of movie or show do you think might exceed expectations in the future?
- Have you ever followed a movie or TV show that had high expectations but didn’t do as well as hoped? If yes, what was the movie or show, and why do you think it didn’t meet expectations? If not, why do you think some movies or shows fail to meet high expectations?
- Do you agree that the success of a film during its opening weekend is a strong indicator of its overall success?
- Why do you think some movies with high production budgets, like “Borderlands,” struggle at the box office despite significant financial investment?
- Do you believe that audience expectations should influence the way films are made and marketed? Why or why not?