Posted on 01/25/2015 11:01:09 AM PST by Red in Blue PA
Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper scored another stunning victory over its second weekend of wide release. The Warner Bros. /Time Warner TWX -2.14% Inc. war drama earned another $64.365 million over the weekend, which was a weekend-to-weekend drop of just 28%. It has now earned $200.137m domestic. That’s also the biggest non-debut-weekend in history for an R-rated film, easily besting the $53m second Friday of The Passion of the Christ as well the over/under $30m second weekends of Hannibal, The Matrix Reloaded, The Hangover, The Hangover part II, and 300. If there was any question, it is now clear that, inflation and IMAX/PLF bumps notwithstanding, American Sniper is indeed playing like the (all due respect) second coming of The Passion of the Christ. Mel Gibson’s “last days of Jesus” drama from 2004 dropped 36% in 2004 from an $83 million Fri-Sun debut (out of a $125m Wed-Sun debut) to a $53m second Fri-Sun weekend. It ended its twelfth day with $213m domestic. If you want to (unfairly?) play straight ten-day totals, American Sniper now has $200m while The Passion of the Christ had $174m domestic.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Good. The hollywood types are creaming their depends over it.
Selma has best picture locked up, if the academy knows what’s good for it (they do),
The “Best Picture” all 20 people have seen.
Does Mrs. Kyle get any of those earnings? Anyone have an idea of how much the Kyle family receives/received for American Sniper to make the big screen?
The beauty of the Academy is that their votes are private. Undoubtedly, there will be many Academy members saying, "Let someone else vote for Selma. I'm not. I'm voting for American Sniper (or Birman or Boyhood or whatever)."
Personally, I don't expect AS to win but I don't expect Selma to win either. I'm guessing the Academy will play it safe with one of the other two films I mentioned taking home the big awards.
“Does Mrs. Kyle get any of those earnings?”
—
If the Kyles had good lawyers she will.
.
I remember when Gwyneth Paltrow’s mummy and daddy bought the academy award for her. Saving Private Ryan should have won that year.
And bacon...
And, would probably be even more than 64M if shows were not sold out. Yesterday, went to theater and when got close to front of long line, announcement that show was sold out. Many on line said they were there to see American Sniper. Unfortunately, we all left. Will try on week day.
My son took his family to see the movie this week. He has a brother (my son also) who served in Kosovo & Iraq and is diagnosed PTSD. After the movie, my 15 yo grandson wrote his uncle a letter saying he better understood the battles he is facing here at home.
My Iraq Vet Son was brought to tears by the letter and all the sentiment it expressed. Then I learned that my daughter-in-law also felt moved to write. She had never known anyone in the Army personally, and the movie really opened her eyes. I am grateful for family that loves and supports one another through thick & thin.
My husband & I are unable to attend at the theatre but we will be watching as soon as it is available.
Yep. I’m happy to have seen it once and I will buy the blu-ray when it comes out. I felt the same way about Lone Survivor.
It appears as though “white guilt” fatigue has set in. The Rich Little White College Princesses are going to have to carry the white guilt banner by themselves from here on out.
I think she does but, alongside The Vulture Ventura, the investors in Kyle’s company which has gone belly up are suing her for payment.
It’s in the Wall Street Journal of Sat/Sun this weekend....
Seems as if she can’t get a break.....
Wife and I bought our Saturday night tickets on Friday. They were sold out by Saturday afternoon. Good movie. No one got up or talked at the end of the movie and credits.
It isn’t pro-war, rather the effect on the individual’s role in war.
As (I'd assume) the primary beneficiary of Kyle's estate, she undoubtedly made a lot of money selling the screen rights to his book. Additionally, she would've been paid as an advisor.
The real question is whether or not she was given points. Often, a contract will offer someone a smaller take upfront in exchange for a percentage of the profits. The problem here is that nobody expected the film to be the huge hit it has turned out to be. The only people who know for certain are those privy to the contract Mrs. Kyle signed.
Eventually, her take from the film will likely be made public. Chances are good that even after Ventura gets his $1.8 million, the Kyle Family will continue to enjoy financial comfort for the rest of their lives.
The great thing about a Clint Eastwood production (from a Hollywood accounting perspective) is that his films always come in on or ahead of time and on budget. So, when Warner Brothers says the film was made for $60 million, that total is very accurate. Additionally, the marketing budget for AS is fairly modest, so Warner and Clint’s production company were in the pure profit mode from the opening weekend.
A lot of aspiring film makers could learn a lot from Mr Eastwood—and not just in terms of story selection. He doesn’t waste a of of time shooting dozens of takes; he knows what he’s looking for and communicates that to his actors and crew. Over the past 20 years, he has used only two cinematographers (if I’m not mistaken) and the same editor (Joel Cox) during the same period. On the average, it takes Eastwood and Cox nine days to finish the final edit of a film. Clint never has to “find” his movie in the cutting room.
Yes, I felt that I understood better what some people were going through with PTSD, after seeing the movie. The jumpiness when there’s a sudden noise and the drifting off in space and reliving past events. And it can happen at any time or just be constant for these vets. I’m happy to hear that your family was moved to write a letter and have a better understanding. I’m sure this movie will help some vets to open up and hopefully, seek help if they need it.
You mean you all didn't go see Selma instead? RACISTS!
Yep, and they had a very good marketing strategy of a limited opening in cities with military bases nearby. They had a premiere in DC, Cooper visited wounded troops, etc. The word of mouth from the small opening built a lot of publicity and chatter through social media. I think it made more than $1 million off of a half dozen movie screens or so before the Jan. 16 opening.
I’m expecting Selma after all the stink by the racialists who complained of zero black nominees. It seems to me the voters will throw this bone to the race hustlers to shut them up.
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