Sorry, Randroids...

[regnaD kciN]

...but the weekend grosses are in, and they're not pretty. It looks like Atlas wasn't the only one who shrugged.

1 Rio $40M
2 Scream 4 $19.3M
3 Hop $11.2M
4 Soul Surfer $7.4M
5 Hanna $7.33M
6 Arthur $6.94M
7 Insidious $6.86M
8 Source Code $6.3M
9 The Conspirator $3.92M
10 Your Highness $3.89M

Notice the distinct lack of Part 1 of a film version of your heroine's magnum opus (maybe that should be "'44mm magnum' opus," since it makes so many lovers of literature and/or philosophy feel like blowing their brains out). Adding insult to injury, only three of the films on that list are new openers. Generally speaking, when a newly-opened film trails one that has been around for several weeks, unless the latter is a genuine blockbuster, it's a real bad sign. Put it this way -- if Atlas Shrugged - Part I had been released by a major studio, word would have come down from the corporate offices by now to cancel any planned ad buys for the movie, and start preparing for a quickie release to video.

Perhaps the "wisdom of the free market" does manifest itself on occasion? :spank:

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fasttense]

2. Obviously RepubliCONS have not figured out how to rig theater box office

receipts yet. They haven't found a way to make it look like their propaganda films are successful like they have rigged the best sellers lists.

I'm sure they will keep trying though.

[JHB]

3. Question: "What do you think of Atlas Shrugged?"

Answer of the movie-going public: "I don't think of it at all."

[customerserviceguy]

4. I'm a little surprised

but the film has only been released to a few hundred theatres, mainly in urbanized areas that are relatively immune to the Randian message. I remember how the religious right kicked up the numbers for the snuff film, "The Passion of the Christ". If this film makes it to the backwoods, I predict that it will get into the top ten.

[regnaD kciN]

5. But "Passion..." hit it big immediately upon opening....

...and, contrary to your assumption, did so while being shown primarily in non-rural areas. Its biggest draws were from the suburbs. There aren't enough theaters still standing in the "backwoods" anymore. I think that, if it's ever going to have any impact, it will be on home video.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Well, the fundies are better organized

than the libertarians. I guess they respond better to an authoritarian command structure.

[JVS]

6. Ayn Rand is not a rural thing.

[customerserviceguy]

8. But the Tea Party is

I've seen way more of the "Don't Tread on Me" flags and flag stickers out in the boonies than I have in the big cities or the surrounding suburbs.