BRUCE ALMIGHTY - ALMIGHTY? HARDLY

ALMIGHTY? HARDLY

Although several box-office analysts had commented that Universal was being especially cautious when it estimated that its $200-million Evan Almighty would likely earn around $40 million in its opening weekend, the reality turned out to be that the movie earned substantially less -- just $32.1 million, according to estimates, less than half the $68 million that the original Bruce Almighty earned in its opening four years ago. The film had been promoted strongly in churches, and exit polls indicated that about half the audience identified themselves as frequent churchgoers. Studio executives predicted that these same audience members would spread the word about the film, thereby keeping it afloat. "I'm very optimistic about it playing out over the course of the summer," Universal distribution chief Nikki Rocco told the Associated Press. But today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times commented that it would likely become "the first big-budget bomb of the summer." Evan was not the only film that disappointed in its opening. Paramount Vantage's A Mighty Heart, starring Angelina Jolie, barely made it into the top ten as it earned just $4 million. On the other hand 1408, based on a Stephen King story, debuted in second place with a solid $20.2 million.

25/06/2007