THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

[Deion22]

Re: New Reese Witherspoon RomCom Cost 120 Mil

Most recent Will Smith drama, Most recent Will Smith big genre film (that was conceived as a big genre film - I did not use HANCOCK because it began as drama and ended up a big genre film.) (HANCOCK - $228m domestic, $624m total.)

FIGHTER budget came from other website along with all of the others. I just did a cut & paste.

- Bill

Got'cha. Now I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Fighter cost under 20 mil. I think I even read Wahlberg say, he had it re-budgeted after they lost Brad Pitt to 20 mil, it was supposedly at 50 mil before.

I think Paramount will be happy regardless, I can see The Fighter doing anywhere from 65-115 mill, when said and done. I think it'll be a sleeper hit like The Town was for Affleck.

I like studios are doing movies like The Town and The Fighter, and even Social network, we need more adult crime/drama movies. With better stories in the theaters again, even if it means actors have to come down off those big price tags. Social Network was budgeted perfectly, along with the TOWN, and Fighter.

Also we need more Michael Mann movies. I know I just contradicted myself, Michael Mann doesn't do movies for under 80 mill. But still we need Michael Mann movies.

[cshel]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

In what Universe is Reese Witherspoon worth more than Jack Nicholson. And Own Wilson, 10 mill? Wow, he has an incredible agent. I know Reese has some hits, but man, paying her more than jack. They could've gone and got someone else for her price tag.

Maybe it's because Reese is the star, and Jack is a supporting role. If you figured out the amount of time each worked, he's probably technically being paid more.

[Ire]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

I couldn't argue that in any universe Reese should earn more than Jack, but in the universe of producing. Reese has box office cachet, Jack is one of ma favorite actors since I've loved movies, but box office-wise, the non-James Brooks appreciating Ft. Wayne, Indiana cineplex audience most likely doesn't revere Jack as much as I or other cinephiles on this site might so he gets less. I am surprised Paul Rudd didn't get something approximating what Owen got as Paul has recently had, at least, imo. consistency at the box office. Owen's biggest movie of recent note was Marley and Me.

As to the this film not making its reported budget back, it's most likely. As great a filmmaker as Mr. Brooks is, he's neither high concept, and neither is this story, seemingly, nor is he Judd Apatow with the funny-making, although one could argue that Apatow was giving a definite aesthetic nod to Brooks in some way in Funny People, Brooks has his own, unique aesthetic which runs contrary to most formulaic rom-coms made since Sleepless in Seattle/ I agree with with Bill about Brooks' and his name appeal And as others have pointed out, it's a tough time to release this movie. It doesn't spell commercial success.

Also, from the trailers, at least, this movie has neither the emotional deptjh of Terms of Endearment or the strong quirky and emotional appeal of As Good As It Gets, so as Bill said word of mouth

[Juno Styles]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

This is a GREAT payday for the actors and the director who also got backend royalties....the only people who will be affected by this flop will be the studio. Everybody else will most likely be working on other projects that are probably way better while the bad press comes rolling in for this film.

[kintnerboy]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

I'm a little baffled by this thread. James Brooks has released every film he's ever made at Christmas, and isn't it pretty standard procedure to release an older-demo rom com at Christmas by way of counter programming (for ex. 2009's $100M+ grossing It's Complicated)?

And isn't the reported 100 million dollar budget slightly below average for a 2500+ screen release film?

What exactly is the problem again?

[wcmartell]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

From Hollywood Reporter's very negative review: "Given the familiarity and insularity of the material here, "How Do You Know" suggests that, if there's one filmmaker in Hollywood right now in need of a tour of how the other half lives, a la Joel McCrea in "Sullivan's Travels," it's James Brooks."

- Bill

[roscoegino]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

Thorny. But the same can be said of Nancy Meyers, no? Kind of unfair though.

I admire Brooks the TV guy more. He gave me one of my favorite all-time sitcoms ever, Taxi. Then helped spearhead The Simpsons. And I don't think Cheers would've been successful if not for the groundwork he already laid.

[Geoff Alexander]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

I'm a little baffled by this thread. James Brooks has released every film he's ever made at Christmas, and isn't it pretty standard procedure to release an older-demo rom com at Christmas by way of counter programming (for ex. 2009's $100M+ grossing It's Complicated)?

And isn't the reported 100 million dollar budget slightly below average for a 2500+ screen release film?

What exactly is the problem again?

The problem is that the movie has a limited concept.

[The White Album]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

The problem is that the movie has a limited concept.

Limited concept but the studio is betting the star power will off-set that. Whether it's a gamble that will payoff, we shall see.

[Geoff Alexander]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

Limited concept but the studio is betting the star power will off-set that. Whether it's a gamble that will payoff, we shall see.

It has a shot, along the lines of "It's Complicated". That was 85m and grossed over 200. But, that was aspirational lifestyle porn that appeals to lots of people and had a bit more of a fresh take on the Rom-Com by aging it up. This one feels like it may not be as strong. We will see how well Reese holds up after a long dry spell.

[Adam Isaac]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

AFI will give it *** out of 4.

I don't know. Certainly not pumped about seeing it, but I will eventually.

The trailers are laughable though. Another think-piece that will have some moments. Character driven stuff is cool too, but not my cup at the cineplex.

DVD

[scripto80]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

Well I hate to say I told you so but....

...it flopped majorly. Looks like it'll make less than $9 million this weekend, coming in around 6th place behind the low budget 3rd weeker Black Swan. And since we all know romcoms don't do well overseas, looks like at the end of it all, Sony is out around $100-$120 million, maybe even more. Ouch!

Given how much of a bomb it is, it just might be the biggest flop of the year as I predicted. And to rub salt in the wound, it's also getting generally poor reviews to boot. Ouch squared!

[Juno Styles]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

i'm not entirely convinced "big names" can salvage mediocre concepts like they used too unless we're talking action or horror genres where the bar is lower.

[Adam Isaac]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

Scripto80,

TOOL f*cking rocks, holmes! Nice avatar.

[snwrist]

Re: THIS will be the biggest flop of the year.

Scripto80,

TOOL f*cking rocks, holmes! Nice avatar.
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Indeed