MovieChat Forums > The Rookie (1990) Discussion > was this a box office hit or not?

was this a box office hit or not?

posted 16 years ago by jackson-219
4 replies | jump to latest

I remember when this came out I was in 3rd grade and rented it on vhs when it was released and thought it was alittle boring in the beginning but eventually warmed up to it over the years. I use to really think Charlie Sheen was a good actor but upon revisiting alot of 80's films I'm surprised to find that he is pretty bland with his brother Emilio being far superior in the acting department. How did this do because back then i paid no attention to box office numbers and how was it received among the public?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nutsberryfarm 12 years ago

at my abode. packed house.

Season's Greetings

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

... how was it received among the public?

I think it was generally considered to have been a financial flop and pretty much marked the last time Clint played a detective who played by his own set of rules

[–] hocine-82 8 years ago

According to IMDb, these informations are about The Rookie:

Budget: $10 000 000 (estimated)
Gross: $21 633 874 (USA)

So, it wasn't really a flop.
But Warner Brothers considered that it was a disappointment.
Indeed, the studio hoped to start a new franchise with this film.

Clint Eastwood needed a hit.
From 1987 to 1991, he was no longer the box office draw he used to be.
Bird and White Hunter Black Heart were box office flops, and maybe too arty for the audience.

If The Rookie was made in the 70's, it would be a massive hit.
It's sill watchable, in my opinion.

But Clint Eastwood who made Bronco Billy, Honkytonk Man, Tightrope has changed,
and the audience too.
Clint Eastwood needed to make something different, subtler than The Rookie, Pink Cadillac or The Dead Pool.

I think that Heartbreak Ridge should have been perfect as the last film of that genre.

Fortunately, after The Rookie, Clint Eastwood made the critically acclaimed Unforgiven and In The Line Of Fire which are still among his biggest box office hits.