(Image source: The Fire Wire/Pixar Animation Studios)
 

BY GARY COTTON

ANCHOR JENNIFER MECKLES

You're watching multisource entertainment news analysis from Newsy.

Cars 2 was the weekend’s number one movie.
And just the latest in Pixar’s streak of blockbusters. NY1 reports...

“Pixar's ‘Cars 2’ left the competition in the dust -- bringing in a whopping 68- million-dollars. The becomes the 12th- straight Pixar movie to open at Number One since Toy Story's debut in 1995.”
 

Despite the studio’s previous successes, some film critics expected the movie to be Pixar’s first flop.
Before the film’s release, several sites predicted a weak plot would leave audiences wanting. Rotten Tomatoes reports...

“34% [of critics gave the film a positive review]... Cars 2 is as visually appealing as any other Pixar production, but all that dazzle can't disguise the rusty storytelling under the hood.”
 

And a writer for Access Hollywood was less than impressed with the films spy-inspired direction -- suggesting, it wouldn’t go over well with the movie’s target audience.
 

“The story is too dense and complicated to take an emotional hold – especially for kids... With the love story jettisoned in favor of explosions, a confusing plot and poorly defined characters, ‘Cars 2’ goes nowhere fast.”
 

So how did Cars 2 prove the doubters wrong and get to the top of the box office? A blogger for IndieWire explains.

“Why was Cars 2 tracking low at $50-$55 million? Simply put, kids under 12 are hard to gauge; the best indicator that the movie trackers have at their disposal are adults.”
 

Finally - a writer for the LA Times says -- this hard-to-gauge audience -- was exactly the key to the movie’s success.

“Unlike ‘Toy Story 3,’ which drew audiences of all types, ‘Cars 2’ was primarily driven by families with children under 12, according to exit polls. Those who came disagreed with critics and liked the movie, giving it an average grade of A-minus... ‘Cars 2’ should enjoy a long box-office life and exceed $200 million at the domestic box office.”
 

(SOC)