Tuesday, August 23, 2016

"Florence" at the box office

Florence Foster Jenkins is entering its second full week in cinemas. I thought it'd be a good time to take the pulse of the film's box office performance.  Up to this point, I'd say it's doing ok.  Knowing that its aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes was certified "fresh" at 86%, I had thought it might be a bit of a sleeper success this summer, as a niche option for adult movie-going compared to the typical tentpole superhero flicks.  Ultimately, however, the film has basically fared identically to the the less-than-stellar Ricki and the Flash a year ago.   At the same point in 2015, Ricki sat at $15.2m, while Florence has netted $15m.

I wonder if the overall quality of Florence might give it a bit better lasting potential, however.  I definitely have to agree with the critics that Florence is a better film, which possibly could result in word-of-mouth sustaining potential.  If that were the case though, I think we would've seen a bigger jump in its second weekend, where instead, it did the same numbers as Ricki.  If the trend continues, we should expect that Florence will top out around $26m domestically.  On an estimated $29m budget, that total would technically make Florence less financially successful than Ricki, which only cost around $18m.

It's not as if on paper Florence would be a huge draw.  A 1940's-era dramedy about a bad opera singer doesn't exactly scream blockbuster.  Getting an overall sense of whether the film has met expectations is therefore a bit tricky, but I'd wager the studio was hoping for better.  That said, it's by no means a flop, and I think those involved are likely pleased with the overall quality of the film.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Jeff,

    This is just to thank you for this blog (congrats on your 5th anniversary—looking forward to more) and to commend you for your clear-headed but (obviously) passionate takes on Meryl Streep’s movies, choices, and advocacies.

    It’s such a pleasure to read you (reviewing films, analyzing box-office results, pining for the next Streep projects, imagining alternative histories for our gal, and responding to your readers). No question that you’re a Streep fanatic (aren’t we all?), yet you manage to strike that fine balance between fanboy adulation and sober assessment (acceptance?) of what was, what is, and what might still be for Ms. Streep.

    I wish you and your blog all the best. And thanks, too, to my fellow readers (or silent followers) of “Word on the Streep.” You all make me feel so proud and fortunate to have been a Streep freak all these years.

    Danny
    (from the Philippines)

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    1. Danny, thank YOU for your readership and very kind words. I'm so glad that you enjoy the blog! Welcome!

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  2. Meryl has to stop accepting roles in films with mediocre/uninteresting plots. Her box office popularity is obviously waning at this point and her name alone is no longer cutting it. Just because she finds something interesting doesn't mean anyone else will- these last few movies of hers have been getting wide-releases for a mainstream audience that's just not there. She should stop straddling the line and either do an all out commercial project that actually has a chance of a wider audience or go for an extremely high quality script that can be at least a critical award winner. She's missing out on both lately.

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    1. You really think that Florence Foster Jenkins was a mediocre/uninteresting plot? It was a great script directed by Stephen Frears. The film has an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and getting wonderful reviews for Streep. Let's compare apples to apples. Who among Meryl's contemporaries is even 'getting' lead roles in feature films, much less making money on them? Were are Glenn Close, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon,Sigourney Weaver? Are they making money at the box office? No, they're barely getting supporting role offers. This might just be the name of the game.

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  3. Couldn't have said it better!

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    1. Absolutely. The only other women in Meryl's age frame who is getting lead roles still is Helen Mirren and aside from a couple of exceptions her films don't make much money.

      Meryl has forged a trail which others will hopefully benefit from in time. Just because FFJ and Ricki didn't get huge returns doesn't mean they are mistakes - as Jeff said neither was an easy sell to audiences but I still think Meryl's name carries that star power.

      Florence is an excellent film and deserves the critical acclaim it's getting. I'm disappointed by the numbers because this deserves much more of an audience - not because Meryl made a slip-up agreeing to make it!

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  4. Not being or daring to be a cinema expert, I mudt say I don't agree with this pessimistic visions of those who say she is making the wrong choices. I believe, in this case in.particular, the timing to release a dramedy like this was simply awful. These should be in contrntion for major awards and be released a few months later to achieve larger and more adult audiences.
    However, in many places in Europe and Asia it hasn'been released yet. Let's see in a few weeks of the results will be better.

    Best regards.

    hugo from Portugal

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  5. I would have loved to have seen how FFJ would have fared at the box office if was released in the late fall... Will and can this be remembered for awards season? I was hoping for that 20th nomination with such good reviews of her film and performance-Jamie

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  6. Ricki was a huge letdown but FFJ was a delight with rather memorable performances by Meryl and Hugh. I'm just glad Meryl is getting roles this late in her career and has been gaining award traction for some of these in the last few years (although I don't think she deserved it for August). Most of all, she's having fun and like Jeff said, who among her peers can lay claim to a career like hers? She's in a league of her own! David.

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  7. I think the timing is OK. She got all the attention by herself and will be remember at Oscar time while other girls after this not only have to fight among themselves but one girl name Hilary Clinton during the end of the year with all the news will be all about her. Meryl is wise to jump ahead with a great performance.

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  8. And don't forget the Broadcast Film Critics Association has changed their nominations to Dec.1 which is only three months away. That's really help Meryl and the movie. Can't wait.

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    1. Great news, FFJ will open The Tokyo International film festival in October! Excellent exposure and way to kick of an awards season.if Meryl lands the best actress prize. I believe her old pal Glenn Close won in 2011 for Albert Nobbs..

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