[US Entertainment] Hollywood reverses life

June 2003, 6, the day after International Children's Day.

"Juno" was chosen to be released on this day.

This day is also Tuesday, and every Tuesday is a traditional discount day for American movie theaters.

There are only 98 theaters, and the number of films scheduled is less than 10%. This kind of start seems to have heralded the sluggish start of "Juno".

Joy has been sitting in front of the computer for a whole day, and she didn't go to the on-site cinema to see how the tickets for "Juno" are selling, because she knows that the start of a small-budget movie is basically not too hot.

In fact, Joey has long been mentally prepared for the sluggish start of "Juno".

boxofficemojo, the most authoritative movie box office query website in the United States, but the box office data is not updated so quickly. Generally, the first update will be the box office data of the opening weekend.

Joy received a call from Kingfisher Pictures, and her account manager said on the phone: "Juno's box office performance on the first day is not satisfactory. If this momentum continues, the box office data for the opening weekend will also be very good. In a slump, the higher-ups feel a little regretful that they didn’t let "Juno" go to screenings and test screenings first, but don’t be discouraged, there are no new ideas for the time being, and the release will continue as it is."

"Juno" did not have a premiere, but chose to be screened directly. After all, the promotional treatment of the premiere only belongs to famous and good movies. Like this kind of low-cost movie, even the director is a pseudonym, basically there will be no premiere ceremony .

In this way, after "Juno" was released for a whole week, the overall box office still did not improve.

The box office in the first week was only 365 million, and the box office of a single hall was 600 US dollars.These are very poor figures.

Take a look at other movies that were released at the same time - "Pirates of the Caribbean 1", with a premiere box office of 8000 million and a box office of 7000 US dollars in a single hall;

Even if it is not compared with the big productions of the above six major Hollywood film companies, it is also a low-cost movie.

"A Basket of Children 1" premiered at a box office of 3245 million. "Love Is Not For Sale" premiered at 2314 million.

"Juno" seems so isolated and helpless in the pinch of these movies.

There is nothing wrong with it, originally, an unknown director, a group of unpopular actors, and an independent film with a low production cost, why should it stand out among many commercial films?

Joy still wants to thank Kingfisher Pictures for not giving her a week-long theater tour, probably to save face for director James Cameron, Kingfisher Pictures still gave a certain amount of patience and did not release the movie immediately.

Maybe everyone still has certain expectations, because in Hollywood, the box office of literary films like "Juno" is not explosive at the beginning, unlike commercial films. Literary films are generally released over a long period of time or in stages, and gradually accumulate word of mouth to reach a certain level. box office growth.

Renee obviously couldn't bear it anymore, she complained: "People nowadays, that's how they watch movies with a popcorn mentality, that's why there are so many popcorn movies. After the past, the really good movies will not be tasted."

Joey seemed to be comforting Renee, but in fact he was comforting himself, "Don't worry about Renee, I'll see next week, I think Kingfisher Pictures' patience may only last for another week, if next week is still so sluggish At the box office, they might force releases, even if it's a James Cameron-nominated movie."

Renee looked at this week's movie introduction magazine, and shook her head while flipping through it, "I'll look at the movies that were released at the same time as you, "Cold Mountain" had a good start at the box office, and Nicole Kidman can really freeze without makeup. Dead man... "The Life of David Gore" is played by Kate Winslet, an English rose. "Pirates of the Caribbean" is really a dark horse. Disney didn't even think about it. It's only at the box office for such a small cost. Even better than "Cold Mountain", which was a money-losing masterpiece, "A Basket of Children" seems to be a dark horse at the box office at this cost, hey, there are so many dark horses at the box office in this period, no wonder "Juno" can't do well."

"Cold Mountain" has a good reputation at the box office, and won many Oscars this year. It was also Nicole Kidman's last profitable work after being reduced to the top of the box office...

Needless to say, "Pirates of the Caribbean 1", the dark horse of the century, Disney's cash cow, ushered in Depp's second spring, although this second spring has never appeared in other movies except Pirates of the Caribbean.

"A Basket of Sons and Daughters" is a family comedy, a dark horse work, which was later made into a series.

"David Gore's Life", starring Kate Winslet, Rose who left "Titanic", she is not a box office actor, so the box office is average.

"Love Is Not For Sale", a sketch comedy, average box office.

Looking at the opponents above, there are basically no fuel-efficient lamps, and Joey is getting more and more uneasy.

The situation in "Juno" is very bad, but you have to bite the bullet and go on, right?

*****

"It seems that the situation of "Juno" is not as good as you imagined." Tom Cruise flipped through a list of box office statistics, and then slowly picked up a cup of tea and gave Jack Hansen a wink.

Jack Hansen spread his hands helplessly, "What do you want to say, you approved this movie at the beginning, and I wouldn't dare to invest without your approval, but now Kingfisher Pictures has signed a buyout contract anyway, and we draw 700 million 400 million, 300 million is the principal, and 100 million is the interest, we must not lose money."

Tom seemed to want to annoy Jack deliberately, prodding him lightly: "But our producer Jack is still named on "Juno", and he wants to make a name for himself with this movie."

Jack Hansen looked at Tom with his hips crossed angrily, "Tom, what good is it for you to fight with me, we are partners! You have no way to laugh at me, let me tell you, I still like this movie..."

Tom squinted at him and asked back: "Is it optimistic that the box office of its opening weekend will be less than 1000 million?"

"Bah! Stop talking!" Jack turned around and slammed the door out.

******

Kingfisher Films.

James Cameron sat next to Kingfisher owner Jameson.

Jameson flipped through the scanned report with his hands helplessly, "James, you are optimistic about "Juno", but the results seem to be unsatisfactory."

Cameron smiled casually, "I'm only optimistic about its intrinsic value. As for the audience's choice, no one can 100% guarantee the box office of a movie. After all, there is only one Tom Cruise in Hollywood. A poor box office is only It can be said that the audience is not happy with this.”

Jameson glared at James, "It's easy for you, but I have lost a lot."

"What's the big deal?" Cameron didn't care. "At most, it's just a one-week trip to the cinema. You can afford to lose that money."

Jameson shook his head, "No, I don't plan to travel for a week, I want to give it a chance for another week, after all, I still trust your vision..."

Cameron snorted arrogantly.

******

"Rebecca, Rebecca, the box office of your new film seems to be very poor." Rebecca's mother said while looking at the newspaper's weekly box office count.

Rebecca just came back from running around outside, panting and said: "That only shows that the current audience has been spoiled by popcorn movies, and they don't want to watch movies with such humanistic care."

"Hey, I shouldn't have chosen this director's film at the beginning. I checked this director, and there is a lot of black history." Mother regretted.

"Don't!" Rebecca covered her mother's mouth, "Don't say such things, Joey's people are very good, I don't know why those reports are like that..."

"Hey, I wanted to go out and say that "Juno" was filmed by my daughter, but now that the box office is so bad, I'm too embarrassed to say it..."

Rebecca looked at her mother helplessly, and she couldn't do anything about the poor box office. She and other actors had tried their best to perform.

It can only be said that the next step in the box office of "Juno" depends on God's idea.

*****

As a dedicated and excellent producer, Hughes habitually watches every movie released, then checks the background, and pays attention to the box office by the way.

"Juno" did not attract his attention among the many menacing commercial films, until he found time to watch this small-budget independent film.

"It's a pity, it's a very good movie." He thought so when he left the theater.

The poor box office is indeed related to the current audience's impatient to watch literary films. Unless someone guides them that this is a very good literary film, otherwise the audience will lack the eyes to discover excellent literary films. They are spoiled by commercial blockbusters.

He has never heard of the name of the director Anne Jones, but as a newcomer director of "Juno", it can be seen that the director has a bit of thought and strength.

What a pity.

Today's Hollywood is no longer suitable for talented new directors with no background.

Joey used to have such a talent, and he was willing to provide her with a platform that others didn't have, but it's a pity that she didn't have such a dedication to movies.

****

When everyone felt that the dust had settled, Joy still had a little hope. She didn't want to give up so quickly, even if everyone else gave up.