MovieChat Forums > Fierce People (2007) Discussion > Inflated grosses

Inflated grosses

posted 17 years ago by ajy1
13 replies | jump to latest

I was in line buying my tix for another movie when I saw a woman buy close to 200 tix for this Griffin Dunne movie! It was obvious too that she was prob. part of some marketing department or something b/c she seemed a little fidgety, plus she was buying really random combinations (50 seniors for the noon show, 25 adults, for the 4pm show, et al.). I saw no group of people anywhere, plus I think one of the shows had already started anyway. She charged them all and everyone in line got to watch the machine spit out a whole endless row of tickets. Very odd....so we'll now know that if the weekend grosses seem a bit high on Monday, we can attribute it to these folks buying out the seats.

[–] secretimdb 17 years ago

I didn't know this movie was even on general release? Where did you see it?

[–] carvedkid 17 years ago

secretimdb, Fierce People opened in the U.S. on Friday in just two theatres in N.Y.C., so I wouldn't call it a "general release". Exclusive is more like it. It is scheduled to expand to three more theatres on September 14th and all of those are in the L.A. area.

Click here for F.P.'s website >>> http://www.fiercepeoplemovie.com

and here for the list of theatres >>> http://www.fiercepeoplemovie.com/theaters.html

Hopefully it will expand to other markets as I'd like to see it on the big screen. If not, I guess I'll just have to wait for the DVD.

[–] ajy1 17 years ago

It worked. The per screen was $10,400. More reason to avoid this film like the plague if they feel they have to BUY out seats like that. Plus this film was TRASHED on Ebert & Roeper.

[–] megamixx 17 years ago

That makes me so sad, because it is like cheating. I always wonder how these small movie in 2 or so theaters get such high per screen averages, and now that I know this is the reason, I am so pissed D:

[–] ajy1 17 years ago

This weekend the grosses imploded:

- 68 Fierce People ADF $24,250 +21.4% 5 +3 $4,850 $54,100 - 2

They added 3 screens for a total of 5, but the per screen went down to $4,850. So we all know that the film is fading fast b/c REAL people aren't going to see it.

[–] larry-411 17 years ago

Worldwide total so far is $122,574. I don't think some lady buying 200 tickets is going to have a major influence on box office receipts.

Nobody who goes to see this movie is going to go because it is or is not making money at the box office. The audience for this film is much more intelligent than that.

It adds 5 more theaters and several cities this Friday.

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The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.

[–] swinms 17 years ago

I saw it at a pre-screening in Houston - for free. Sutherland was great but that's about it. Talk about "a willing suspension of disbelief..."

[–] ajy1 17 years ago

Not a major influence on total BO, but it makes a big difference for the first weekend. This mattered because the film was only on 2 screens at that time, hence if it was her and a few other people doing it, they could majorly jack up the gross. At NYC prices, her stunt had the potential of adding $2200. The per screen was $10K plus. This would then sucker more theaters into carrying the film b/c they think it's a "success." So there you go.

[–] larry-411 17 years ago

Thanks for the math lesson, aiy1. But do you really think that theater owners are that gullible? Or ignorant? Do you think that only you (and all of us here) are the only ones aware of this kind of ballot stuffing? Trust me, this wouldn't be the first time this has happened and it's not going to affect theater owners booking the film or not one iota.

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The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.

[–] ajy1 17 years ago

No I don't think people are gullible or ignorant. I just wanted to make a point that if they felt so desperate that they had to buy out seats, then maybe the product isn't really worth checking out. Just an opinion. They wouldn't waste their time unless they felt it would make a difference to the gross or something. Judging from the other comments on this board, this film is really not quality material.

[–] JelliBelli 17 years ago

Thought this movie came out ages ago. I saw it last night on cable TV (and most movies on cable are, what, around 2 years old?) and was surprised to find out that it was showing in some cinemas in the US last week. Weirdness.

[–] larry-411 17 years ago

It was shown at some festivals but has never been released in theaters until now.

Many films are now released on cable the same time they are out in theaters (or within a week or two). It's called "day-and-date" and is not uncommon.

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The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.

[–] ajy1 17 years ago

- 69 Fierce People ADF $26,100 +3.2% 25 +20 $1,044 $86,400 - 3

Per screen is now $1,044. Ouch.