Hit, flop, or just 'OK' at the box office?
I've heard varying reports of how this film performed. Anybody have any insight?
"Everytime I want to have a little fun-SHE turns out!" (Baron Bomburst)
"Camelot" had a budget estimated at about 16-18 million, but according to reports it only made around 14 million in the U.S. in its' initial release, and it got moderate to poor reviews. It did win several awards. Oddly, it remained popular on college campuses through the 70s, perhaps because of the sumptuos production and the charismatic stars, so it eventually made pretty good money.
This may account for your "varying reports" - figures for the 1967 release were poor, but after ten years or so the total earnings weren't bad. Because of the budget, I guess it would have to be characterized as a disappointment, but not a disaster like another 1967 musical, "Doctor Dolittle."
Thank you!
It seems that a lot of movies that were thought of as disappointments on their initial release actually turned out okay, years later, in terms of profits.
"Everytime I want to have a little fun-SHE turns out!" (Baron Bomburst)
I think $14 million in rentals is a respectable sum (which means it grossed over $30 million). Its problem was everyone expected it to match the grosses of The Sound of Music. Camelot was by no means a family picture. But it did better than the initial earnings of My Fair Lady ($12 million).
shareThe "earnings" versus "rental" amounts have always confused me. I read that the $25 million film of HELLO DOLLY did $15 million in RENTALS, and many people said it was a disappointment. However, the article also said that it made $33 million in GROSSES.
I think every studio in Hollywood was trying for another SOUND OF MUSIC, and the market got flooded by 1967 with 3 hour, lavish musicals (many of which were legitimately beautiful, though).
"Everytime I want to have a little fun-SHE turns out!" (Baron Bomburst)
Movie theaters usually get half of a film's total grosses, thus the other half is the studio's take. You're right about the grosses of Hello, Dolly!. The movie eventually grossed $38 million, enough to make it the fifth top grossing film of 1969. So contrary to legend, people did line up to see Camelot and Hello, Dolly! Dolly, infact recorded higher grosses than The Sound of Music during its first two-week run. It just didn't have the legs to make it an all-time blockbuster. But it wasn't the disaster many people think and it's always unfairly put in the same category of Dr. Dolittle, Star! and Darling Lili.
Thanks markedjuan! I only just now saw your reply!
These movies are too beautiful (even despite some flaws) to be relegated as junk and flops.
"Everytime I want to have a little fun-SHE turns out!" (Baron Bomburst)
"But it did better than the initial earnings of My Fair Lady ($12 million)".
Warner Bros. failed to supply Variety actual figures so the $12 Million was made up by Variety and a very low esitmate at that. The actual rentals were more like $35 Million for "MFL"