Back in April we got to see some behind the scenes video from the set of the new film Burlesque, which will be Christina Aguilera‘s feature film debut. In July we got our first look at the first official promo images released for the film. Today we get to check out the just released first movie poster for Burlesque, which will hit theaters this Thanksgiving:
One diva makes her overdue return to movies. The other makes her film acting debut. So who’s excited about Burlesque, the hot new musical that brings together Cher and Christina for a sparkly, glamorous and wild Fosse-esque song and dance spectacular? I left off the latter’s last name (Aguilera) because so does the film’s poster, which we’re happy to debut down below. It’s full of hot pink and what I think is a lightbulb-adorned — though it could also be rhinestone-studded — title vertically separating the legend on the left from the newer star on the right. The film’s tagline acknowledges the distinction between divas, too: Cher’s side says “It takes a legend,” which continues on Christina’s side, “… to make a star.” Kind of meta. In Burlesque, Aguilera is a small-town girl trying to make it big on the stage of Cher’s L.A. club, The Burlesque Lounge, but first she has to put in her due as a cocktail waitress. The musical also features Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Kristen Bell, Eric Dane, Cam Gigandet and Dancing with the Stars winner Julianne Hough. It was written and directed by Steve Antin … As the poster says, it opens this Thanksgiving.
HMMM. I’m worried, y’all. I know with Cher in the film Burlesque has a bit more cache but … I’m thinkin’ this movie is going to tank at the box office. Considering how insignificant Xtina‘s latest album was/is I’m guessing that same uninterested malaise will infect her performance at the box office as well. Unless Cher‘s fanbase can bring in the audience AND Xtina is actually good in the film, my prediction is that Burlesque may bomb at the box office. If it does not open strong, it will completely disappear. Of course, this is all purely guesswork on my part but I’m still so shocked by how nonexistent Xtina‘s new album was/is … I fear if she can’t carry her weight in the music biz (where her strengths lie) then she doesn’t really have much of a chance to carry her weight in the movie biz. What do y’all think … will you see Burlesque when it opens this November?
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I’m definitely going on opening day.
For me christina’s album is amazing but she didn’t promote it because she was doing finishing touches on burlesque. We’re in a world now where people seem to only buy cds that are so heavily promoted that it become almost annoying.
I’m absolutely gona head out and see it!!! I was waiting to see you blog about the trailer that was released like a month ago, but u didnt trent! Squeeze it in somewhere!
Trent, why do you put so much emphasis on box office performance? Sadly the media is making entertainment more about numbers, which is discouraging for the artform. You’ve said yourself that Xtina’s album is good despite it’s chart performance so the other stuff shouldn’t matter. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. Burlesque is not the most original story but what musical is? Xtina is an amazing singer and as the poster states, Cher is a legend. I think anyone who sees this movie is going for pure entertainment value, which is what musicals are about. I will be purchasing my ticket opening day.
@Ryan — As sad as it is, money matters. If the movie doesn’t do well in its opening weekend, it’s doomed. That’s the way the movie biz works, I’m afraid.
I think it will do reasonably well. Burlesque has seen a small surge of popularity with artists like Dita VonTeese, and the Chicago Burlesque scene is huge. Maybe it will do for burlesque what Swingers did for rockabilly.
Honestly, I was scared it was going to be awful, but after I saw the trailer I think it has the chance to be REALLY good. I was pleasantly surprised by Christina, and I think some of the brillance of Tucci must have rubbed off on her. I really, really liked how the director framed the scenes, especially the dance numbers. I think that goes a long way in making a performance film exciting. It reminded me of the Zeta Jones Chicago film in a good way.
I’m surprised you didn’t post the trailer, Trent! Anyways, I know it must suck for Christina because her album flopped, but it was really, really good. I think if Cher and Christina do some performances together at an awards show it will really benefit the movie. Once the promo begins it will sparkle people’s interests for sure. The movie only has two target audiences: women and gay men. However, I’m not a fan of movies opening in November, and music-related movies should open in the spring near the Golden Globes or the summer, but who knows. I think it will be fine. If Christina did a blues album instead of “Bionic” then it would have made her go on top. She took two steps backward with this album and it was poor timing. It was just randomly released after being pushed back so many times which turned people off. Christina still has a career, etc. I’m sure it can’t do any worse than “Nine” or whatever!
Trent, I understand that but the movie also doesn’t have a huge budget. It’s not like last years musical “Nine” with an 80 million budget. Burlesque is produced by Sony/Screen Gems and they specialize in smaller budget movies. I don’t think they anticipate a huge opening. Musicals never have huge opening weeks. In fact “Mamma Mia” holds the record with only 27 million and slowly became one of the highest grossing musicals of all time. So you really can’t write off a movie based on it’s first week gross. It’s foreign gross is just as important and Cher and Xtina are huge overseas. Bionic has already sold 600,000 interntionally which is more than current hit albums on the US Billboard charts. Just giving you some perspective.
@Ryan — ‘Nine’ is a great example … despite it’s big budget, it bombed big time. I’m not saying I want Xtina’s movie career to fail, I’m just worried.
I think it won’t do to well either but I have full intention of seeing it opening weekend!! I think it looks good and anything with Cher in then I am so there!!
IM SO SICK OF THIS CHRISTINA ALBUM FLOP MESS!! THE ALBUM IT FIRE, GREAT IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. IT’S TEN TIMES BETTER THEN HALF OF THE CRAP ON THE RADIO NOW (KATY PERRY, KE$HA, JASON D ETC) I WILL BE SEEING THE MOVIE OPENING NIGHT!!!!! THERE ARE REALLY ONLY TWO ARTIST YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, THROUGH WHAT EVER UPs AND DOWNS THEY MAY HAVE, THEY WILL BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME….CHRISTINA AGUILERA & BEYONCE’
I knew it was going to bomb the minute I found out the premise and then when I saw the trailer it just confirmed my suspicion. It has a good cast, but it’s just too much like Striptease or Coyote Ugly for my taste. Love Christina, but I wish some musicians would just stick to what they do best: music.
i LOVED Christinas album…and i gotta say i cant wait for the movie. it looks like something that is just gunna be a fun watch…and if it bombs..i wouldnt care. theres been a few movies that havent done great at the box office that were good…and i mean look at how many shit movies go #1? IMO charts for anything dont mean much anymore.
and im sure once they start doing some real promo for this movie…interest will pick up..
Amanda G – Striptease and Coyote Ugly were not musicals. A more fitting comparison would be ‘Funny Girl’ or ‘Cabaret’, both of which are oscar winning musicals with very similar plots.
Trent,Do you think her Cd Bomb because of the lack of great singles on BTB??I bought BTB but I have to say I never listen to it..The song are great to watch her perform live but not good for radio..Also 5 years out of the Spotlight didn’t help.
@Britt/Xtina Fan — I honestly don’t know why the album has been doing so poorly. I love every single track, there are tons of great singles on the disc and yet … nothing. I’m not even sure if more promo would help at this point :(
Amanda G- How do you know that music is what Christina does best? Yes, she is a very accomplished and talented singer, however that doesn’t mean that is all she can do, it doesn’t even mean that it is what she does “best.” This is her debut film and from everything the public has seen far, it looks like her talent is promising, and certainly comparable to any other actress out there with less than “award winning” talent who performs well at the box office.
I almost think that for this project, Christina’s name is going to hinder rather than help the promotion of this movie simply because of people like Amanda G and others who cannot grasp the concept of having multiple talents.
Yes, will definitely see it & support Christina! : )
Trent, good point. I’ve been following her career since ‘Genie’ and this is her first album that radio has abandoned. It feels as if they’re boycotting her. Radio is the biggest promotional tool and they won’t play her singles, which is really affecting the album. It also doesn’t help that Xtina hasn’t promoted at all because she’s been finishing work on Burlesque. As a fan I’m dissapointed, but there are some industry politics going on that are beyond her control.
I won’t bother going to see it, not a fan of either really. Also, the movie reeks of Gypsy (though I could be very wrong) and that has been done to death. I did listen to Xtina’s album…was loaned to me, but I didn’t like it. Too much of the same thing and her voice gets monotonous after a while. Sorry to those fans, but that’s my opinion.
Great poster. I think the movie will do well. I think once people start to see a little more from the movie, they’ll get into it. All the reviews from the pre-screenings were overwhelmingly positive. And Christina’s album was really great in my opinion. She only did a week of physical promotion for it the week before its release, so is it any real surprise that it hasn’t been a consistent seller? It sold and almost as much as Katy Perry’s new album in the first week, but people labeled Bionic a flop and Katy’s a success, which seems kind of odd. I can’t wait for Burlesque to come out. Looks like a fun holiday musical.
Heck yes i can’t wait for this movie
Don’t worry Trent, I’m sad to say that I think it’s gonna bomb too. I’m totally going to watch and support X-Tina though! I’m sure she’ll rock it!