Posted on 01/27/2017 12:28:39 PM PST by drewh
“Live By Night” mostly fired blanks when it debuted in theaters last December, and its failure has resulted in a lot of financial carnage.
The expensive gangster picture was a passion project for Ben Affleck, who directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the story of a Florida rum runner. But critics ripped the picture, calling it dramatically inert. That’s left Warner Bros., the studio behind the film flop, looking at a $75 million loss, according to insiders with knowledge of its financing and rival studio executives.
“Live By Night” has made $16.5 million globally, and is not expected to have international appeal despite Affleck’s star power. Talky period pictures don’t tend to play well overseas, particularly when they don’t come loaded with Oscars. The film cost $65 million to produce and tens of millions more to distribute and market. Warner Bros. only gets a percentage of ticket sales. It will try to cushion its losses with home entertainment sales and rentals, as well as television licensing deals. The studio did have a significant financial partner on the film in Dune Entertainment, though it’s not clear how much the slate financing partner invested in “Live By Night.”
“Live By Night” is adapted from a Dennis Lehane novel. It co-stars Elle Fanning, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, and Chris Cooper, and centers on a Prohibition-era criminal who battles with rival gangs as he struggles to corner the market on hooch.
Warner Bros. has a long relationship with Affleck, having backed and made money on his previous directorial efforts such as “Argo” and “The Town.” He also played the Dark Knight in the studio’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Suicide Squad,” and the upcoming “Justice League.” Affleck plans to direct a standalone Batman film.
A spokesman for Warner Bros. declined to comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...
I’ve about had my fill of the “creative genius” of our nation’s precious little snowflakes.
Can live without.
The trailer is boring.
Last time I went to a theater was when “Ironman” came out....
WB agreed to let Affleck to do this vanity project in return for him playing Batman.
Good.
Affleck’s career may be riding on Justice League now...
“Ben Affleck actively supported Hillary Clinton’s 2000 senatorial campaign as well as Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, actually spending phone time calling registered democrats.6 He campaigned for John Kerry in 2004 and Barak Obama in 2008 and has recently ripped into GOP politicians for using a clip from his movie The Town to fire up House Republicans in the debt debate.”
—The Hollowverse
Last time I went to a theater it was still the Twentieth Century!
I always enjoy not watching a Ben Aflek movie.
Affleck. Is this the guy who is related to that stupid insurance goose?
Damon Clooney or Pitt will go into politics before Affleck, too many skeletons
Ben Affleck, one of many celebs I am Dixie Chicking.
Hell with the liberal crazypants.
stick a fork in him, he’s johnny depp. He’s right up there with Carrot Top.
“Last time I went to a theater it was still the Twentieth Century!”
Me too!
Gigli 2.0.....................HA!
For me, it was "Alien"........
LOL!
Me too, although I must confess that I did enjoy Gone Girl quite a bit, and Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms yo.
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