Movies

‘Juror #2’ will stream on Max in December after mysteriously small theatrical campaign

BBG News

'Juror #2' will stream on Max in December after mysteriously small theatrical campaign

As a long-time admirer and follower of Clint Eastwood’s illustrious career, I must express my disappointment with Warner Bros.’ handling of “Juror #2.” Having witnessed Eastwood’s movies like “Million Dollar Baby” and “American Sniper,” which were massive theatrical hits, it feels disheartening to see such a limited release for what could potentially be his swan song.

Clint Eastwood’s legal drama titled “Juror #2” is scheduled to premiere on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform Max on December 20th, fueling discussions about the film’s restricted cinematic release, which might be Eastwood’s final movie as both an actor and director.

Last month, the movie produced by Warner Bros. Pictures under the direction of Eastwood, with Nicholas Hoult portraying a juror in a significant murder case, held its global debut at the annual film festival organized by the American Film Institute in Hollywood.

Initially, the movie became available in only a select few cinemas from November 1st, which sparked criticism that this restricted release dishonored the esteemed actor-director’s career and represented a squandered chance for theaters to cash in on the 94-year-old Eastwood’s enduring popularity.

So far, the movie has been screened at approximately 1% of all cinemas in the U.S., accounting for only 0.1% to 0.2% of all film showtimes during this timeframe, according to Daniel Loria, senior vice president of box office intelligence at The Boxoffice Co. Meanwhile, another adult-oriented film, “Conclave,” has taken about 5% to 6% of the U.S. market share in theater showtimes over the same period. This religious drama has grossed nearly $28 million globally at the box office.

Warner Bros. has kept quiet about the box office earnings for “Juror #2,” a movie that allegedly was screened in merely a handful of American theaters.

Loria stated, “These kinds of movies don’t perform as they used to before the pandemic. However, the right kind of film can still resonate with audiences and achieve success on a smaller scale in today’s market. Unfortunately, this film wasn’t released to markets and cinemas that would have attracted large viewership.

Until recently, the studio hadn’t shared its streaming-first strategy with the public, which has sparked doubts among many Hollywood analysts regarding this decision. Since David Zaslav took over as CEO at Warner Bros. Discovery, he’s faced criticism for a number of reasons, particularly his decisions to halt productions like “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme”. These actions were interpreted by many as part of a broader strategic change and cost-cutting initiative.

The studio has pushed back on the notion that it did Eastwood dirty with its release strategy.

The representative from the studio confirmed that Juror #2 was originally intended for a streaming debut on Max, with the agreement being made right from the start, and the filmmakers were in full knowledge of and approved this strategy. The AFI Fest premiere served as a prestigious theatrical screening, emphasizing Eastwood’s esteemed background and history.

The studio and movie creators decided they might initially show the film in select cinemas after watching it themselves, according to the representative. They also mentioned that this limited cinema release was aimed at creating buzz and anticipation for the movie’s premiere on Max.

It was revealed around mid-August that the filmmakers found out about the restricted cinema distribution, as reported by someone who has knowledge of the situation but isn’t allowed to discuss it openly.

Over the course of several decades, Clint Eastwood has produced blockbuster films like “Million Dollar Baby” and “American Sniper,” but his 2021 film “Cry Macho” did not fare well at the cinema. On the other hand, “Juror #2” reviews have been positive, and given Eastwood’s reputation, it might have drawn a crowd to the theater, according to Loria. “The Mule,” which came out in 2018, earned nearly $175 million globally on an affordable budget of $50 million.

He stated, “It’s not necessary for every film to resemble ‘American Sniper.’ There are other movies, such as ‘The Mule,’ that will discover their audience. However, to ensure they do,… it’s crucial to make your films easily discoverable.

Juror #2″ has attracted viewers outside of its initial theater release, particularly in places like France. As a result, the movie has raked in approximately $9.6 million at international box offices, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

Read More

2024-11-20 02:01

Previous post 8 unmissable Hulu horror movies of 2024