[rb22982]

Sigh, it IS about building buzz for as cheap as possible. These indie flicks are too unpredictable. They release it first in huge cities, especially the ones that advance a political agenda (usually liberal) (5-10 cities), if it does well they increase its theatres to mid-major cities (100 +- 50 cities). It does well there they advance it to North America (500-3k theaters) and then usually globally. Leo alone probably cost over a $1 million for his voice. He usually commands upwards of $10 million for a movie. You can think whatever you want but you are incorrect. Look here at what An inconvenient truth did. 4 theatres, then 77, then 122, then 404, then 514, then 587. It's PTA was way higher than this movie with almost identical buzz. It made 25 million domestic. It's PTA was more in a single day on the weekend than 11th hour did over the entire weekend. But you keep on believing what you want to believe. You don't think Warner purchased the rights (probably for millions as most of these types are) because they thought they would lose money do you? You can continue to bury your head in the sand if you want, the rest of us will realize that the big wigs are indeed disappointed.

[discostu]

It’s all ifs though. Most movies that open in 4 theaters don’t build big, they noodle around in a small number of theaters for a few make hardly any money and go away. I doubt Leo cost them a penny, he probably listed his price as over a million and donated his time, remember he’s a true believer.

Inconvenient Truth was another exception movie, not the rule. Look at the other movies in Boxofficemojo’s list around 173 this year, those are the rules for a 4 theater opening. Those are how it usually goes. Those are the FACTS. I doubt high Warner Independent spent millions on the distribution rights, that’s the small release arm of Warner and they know these movies don’t make that much money, most of the movies they’ve distributed topped out around $2 million in revenue, if they’re regularly spending multiple millions getting the rights to these movies they’re killing Warner’s bottom line.

I’m not saying they aren’t disappointed, there’s always going to be somebody that hopes for more money. I’m saying it’s not bombing, that parring for the kind of movie and release schedule is not a bomb. And that’s what it’s doing, par. It’s a fairly average performance for a documentary opening in 4 theaters. Par is NEVER a bomb.