Posted on 12/24/2017 9:46:59 AM PST by EdnaMode
“Downsizing” may be the most appropriate title to cap off a dismal 2017 at the box office for Matt Damon.
The Alexander Payne dramedy launched quietly with $425,000 from Thursday previews at approximately 1,900 North American locations. “Downsizing” expanded to 2,668 sites on Friday and wound up sixth place with $2 million (including the preview grosses). That gives it an unimpressive $6.9 million projection for the four days.
That’s a meager taking for “Downsizing’s” $65 million budget for the film produced by Megan Ellison, Mark Johnson, Payne, and Jim Taylor. Reviews for the movie, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, have also been mixed, with a 52% Rotten Tomatoes score for the near-future story of a couple who agree to be shrunk to five inches so they can start a new life in an experimental community. The film also received an unimpressive C CinemaScore.
Still, the film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten movies of 2017, and Hong Chau received nominations for best supporting actress for the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.
“Downsizing” is opening two months after Damon’s period crime comedy “Suburbicon” performed dismally in ninth place with a $2.8 million opening weekend at 2,036 North American locations. Paramount pulled the comedy, which was directed by George Clooney and carried a $25 million budget, out of theaters after three weeks.
Damon was also the most recognizable name in “The Great Wall,” the $150 million U.S.-China co-production, which wound up with just $45 million in the U.S. earlier this year. “The Great Wall,” directed by Zhang Yimou, fared better overseas, taking in about $290 million internationally, including $170 million from China last year. It did, however, generate some controversy, with critics saying Damon took on a “white savior” role in the massive production.
Damon did show his clout as a global star before 2017; last year’s “Jason Bourne” took in $415 million worldwide and 2015’s “The Martian” pulled in an impressive $630 million. He was also part of the “Ocean’s” trilogy, which grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide between 2001 and 2007.
Could 2018 prove to be a better year for the actor? He will reprise his Linus Caldwell character in the “Ocean’s 8” spinoff starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, and Rihanna. Here’s hoping that it’s only uphill from now.
I won’t pay money to see him either, but I do like a number of his movies that I’ve seen on TV. I enjoyed the first couple of Bourne movies, his character in the Ocean movies, “Good Will Hunting”, “The Martian” and one of the best movies I’ve seen in the last 10 years: “The Departed”.
Jennifer Lawrence needs to release more pics that feature her fabulous butthole.
I think these “big name” stars underestimate the damage they do to their careers with their political talk.
I don’t have cable and haven’t been in a movie theater for nearly two decades. But I am assembling a nice tv/home theater room for watching DVDs that I purchase. People always tell me to watch this movie with Matt Damon, that with Streep or the other with Jennifer Lawrence or whoever. I don’t know their acting, but am aware of their political bilge spewing...so I pass their product right by.
I suppose their regular audience likes their work and overlooks their political commentary. But they are closing the door on new customers by turning them off before they set foot inside the office (so to speak). I might have contributed to their marketability in terms of post-theater revenue, but they chased me away. I wonder how many others feel the same.
Movies make more overseas than domestic these days, so they figure they can write-off the American audiences.
yes, he had some good movies. The Bourne series, Departed, etc. But going forward I give him nothing. I find it hard to separate him from his characters now.
LOL!
Bourne movies and their ilk bore me to tears. What’s the point of staging a highly choreographed fight scene when there’s absolutely no chance the hero will lose the fight? Even up against a whole embassy staff of US Marines? There’s simply no dramatic tension whatsoever.
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