Early (& Minor) Box Office Analysis
The opening day for Just Like Heaven is about two and a half times smaller that the opening day for her September smash hit, Sweet Home Alabama, three years ago. The film will be #1 for the weekend, but it
May 5, 2024
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
I’m a bit surprised at Heaven’s smaller take, but this is just blah fodder until Reese gets to strut her stuff in Walk The Line, which I’m pumped about.
An Unfinished Life could end up in the Top 10. Interesting (but it will go nowhere).
And, yes, The Man is nowhere to be seen. Hurray!
What made anyone think that a high concept comedy like “Just Like Heaven” (oh that title!) would do any real business? There was nothing good in the trailer and the way they sold Jon Heder was just plain cynical. Another “Bewitched.”
What’s going to be interesting is the limited numbers. There are four major limiteds this weekend–Illuminated, Proof, Corpse Bride, and Thumbsucker. I think Corpse Bride is almost certain to do a 10K plus PSA, with Illuminated having the power to put up good numbers as well. Proof is supposed to expand next week, though if it utterly craters that may wind up going nowhere.
Actually, Corpse Bride is looking to average about $75k per theatre this weekend and it will end up making almost twice what Big Fish did in 6 theatres when it opened back in ’03. It might be making a play for Exorcism type numbers when it goes wide next week, too.
“Proof” may work in NYC/LA ($201K opening from 8 theaters) but will get killed nationwide due to product flow. A lot of studios are pumping out arty stuff now to send a message to the Weinstein brothers before they leave Miramax on 9/30.
“An Unfinished Life” missed the national top 10. Where I live “The Thing About My Folks” played in many of the same theaters, thus the Peter Falk movie took a hurtin’ to the latest Miramax J.Lo epic.
I know no one is interested but here you go.
Toronto Wrap-Up.
Overall Festival Rating (B-) since 1992
Ratings (A+) :: (F)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (B)
Les Saignantes (F)
Working Mans Death (B-)
Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (C)
Shadowboxer (D)
Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (C+)
Evil Aliens (C)
Worlds Fastest Indian (C+)
Winter Passing (B)
Capote (A)
Elizabethtown (D)
History of Violence (B+)
Lucid (C+)
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada – new cut (B)
Neverwas (C-)
Mary (D)
Revolver (F)
C.R.A.Z.Y (A)
The Quiet (B+)
Heart of the Game (C+)
Brothers of the Head (B)
Duelist (C+)
The Proposition (C-)
North Country (B-)
The Notorious Betty Page (B)
Diameter of the Bomb (B)
Harsh Times (A+)
American Gun (C+)
Twelve and Holding (A-)
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (B)
Beowulf and Grendel (C+)
The GRonholm Method (B)
Metal: A Headbangers Journey (C)
River Queen (C-)
Runaway (C+)
Lie With Me (B+)
The Great Yokai War (B-)
Walk the Line (A-)
SLP (B-)
Brokeback Mountain (C+)
Thank you for not Smoking (B)
Totsi (A-)
Only a D for Elizabethtown? Please elaborate as i love all Crowe films with the exception of Vanilla Sky
Just check out his review of Elizabethtown. Explains it all.
Maybe Just Like Heaven will have some legs and get going. It is getting great reviews and the word of mouth has been good.
Great reviews for Just Like Heaven? You sure? RT rating is only 51%. Not exactly great.
Heaven has gotten mixed reviews at best. I’m not sure what’s up on the calendar for the next few weeks, it may have decent legs. But $16 mill. for this film is a disappointment, no matter what anyone at dreamworks says. It’s not Island-bad, but JLH finishing up with $45 mill. domestic is $$ down the drain.
The Lord of War #’s are also a little disappointing, but apparently it didn’t get much in the way of advertising. A late october launch for LoW and Cry Wolf may have led to better numbers, but they probably didn’t want it to compete with Weather Man, which probably will do good $$.
According to boxofficemojo, Just Like Heaven cost $58 million. I’d say its opening is definitely a disappointment.
I read a bunch of papers last week and they all gave it 3 plus stars. Obviously I didn’t take a poll of a every reviewer.
The word of mouth I’ve been hearing has been great too. I expected more of a splash opening up here but it can still get to 60-70.
Actually, I think Proof could hold well, handled well. Substantial star names, good reviews, and a play that’s becoming a favorite in local reperatory because of a small cast. It’s unquestionably a better and better-reviewed movie than Unfinished Life, and straight drama is not exactly hugely crowded right now.
“Just check out his review of Elizabethtown. Explains it all.”
Who’s review of Elizabethtown? Jeffery Boams doctor?
aah, I need The Notorious Bettie Page now! I love me some Mary Harron.
And I don’t think anybody expects Proof to play well outside of the major markets.
Oh, and yeah, Corpse Bride made more than $10K/screen on Friday alone. It’s going to do quite well I think.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is SUCH a huge cult movie that has gotten a lot of fans over the years. I know I’ve introduced it to a whole bunch who are excited about Corpse Bride.