MovieChat Forums > Thief (1981) Discussion > Movie Theatre flop?!

Movie Theatre flop?!

posted 11 years ago by rpdevo-2
11 replies | jump to latest

I seen this in the movie theatre when I was 14 years old. Back then, they produced intelligent flicks that made you think far after the movie credits rolled. Unlike the filth and garbage of today, plus remakes in spades upon spades! Who else got to see this one when it first hit the theatres.

Also I've read and heard that this Mann produced flick failed miserably, as far as receipts went. Why would this be? I really can't recall any huge box office hit from 81', that would of got in this movie's way of bringing people in the seats.

[–] JCrusher723 11 years ago

At the time Michael mann wasnt a well known director and James Caan wasnt a big movie star. Also the darker pictures dont get as much box office attention as the lighthearted ones. I love Thief and dont care about box office. Its well regarded by critcs and it has become more well known 30 years later

[–] seamhead 10 years ago

All due respect but James Caan had been a big movie star for almost a decade before "Thief" came out. He'd been nominated for an Oscar for "The Godfather" in 1973, four Golden Globes and an Emmy, and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. He'd already been in "Brian's Song," the first two "Godfather" movies, "Funny Lady," "Rollerball" and a handful of other good flicks.

[–] franzkabuki 10 years ago

Caan was a well known actor and something of a "star" I suppose, but hardly some special box office draw; he was no Redford or Pacino. Mann couldn't have expected his presence to make much difference financially.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] MrBlondNYC 10 years ago

It came out in March which is typically a slow time for movies especially back then. None of the movies that came out in March 1981 were hits. Also, the above poster is wrong about James Caan. He was a major star at the time. The previous year he starred in Chapter Two which was a big hit.

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] jrs-8 10 years ago

I saw this when it first came out and loved it so much I went back and saw it again the next day. I have always been confounded as to why the film was a flop. The reviews were generally good and James Caan was a star, though I might argue with the above poster that the success of Chapter Two could be credited to Caan. I think it was just as much because of Neil Simon's popularity as well. Marsha Mason was also popular. If you take that film out you would be hard pressed to find a hit Caan starred in. I think you would have to go back 6 pictures and 6 years to find the last one, Rollerball. But I digress. Thief is a great movie and it's failure at the box office is puzzling.

[–] MrBlondNYC 10 years ago

I never said the success of Chapter Two should be credited to Caan alone. I said that he starred in it and it was a hit. Obviously, the success of a film is because of all the major talents involved. Jeez.

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] jrs-8 10 years ago

Sorry about that MrBlond. You are correct. That's what happens when one doesn't read a post carefully. My mistake.

[–] Butteoid 10 years ago

I saw it in the theater too and I liked it a lot -- still do, to this day.
Michael Mann was pretty much unknown then, but the styles he established in Thief he used again and again in more successful films.
Maybe it was ahead of its time, like the Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

[–] yatzo376 10 years ago

Tangerine Dream did a similar sounding soundtrack in William Friedkins Sorcerer (1977).

[–] johnnydinkis 10 years ago

Yeah I'm sure there were no bad movies back in 1981

[–] wmlopez 9 years ago

RAGGING BULL bombed in 1980. The 80's was the start of teen movie goers being the majority . So in the 80s' it was slasher movies etc.