Why ‘She Said’ Bombed at Box Office

Universal’s journalism drama “She Said”The film, which grossed a meagre $2.25m from 2,022 theaters, has been one of the most disappointing wide releases in box-office history. But the film’s failure is just one example of several acclaimed prestige films that are getting Oscar buzz for tackling tough real-world topics but are being largely avoided by audiences looking for escapism at the multiplex.

Here’s a box office stat that will chill any studio exec with a mature awards contender: “Terrifier 2,”The grossings of a gory, indie slasher film grossed $10.5 million in October. It currently has a greater total than “She Said,” Focus Features’ “Tár,” United Artists’ “Till” or Searchlight Pictures’ “The Banshees of Inisherin,”All films that were predicted by Oscar gurus to be a major presence on the Oscar nominations list.

While all of those films have had different screen counts and release strategies, they are all focused on exploring tough issues in today’s society including cancel culture (“Tár”), racism and hate crimes (“Till”), depression (“Banshees”) and the #MeToo movement (“She Said”); and all of them have only found interest among a limited pool of moviegoers.

The pandemic has not only changed the release patterns of films but also the interests of audiences, making a film about the New York Times’ investigation into disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein an even harder sell than it already would be. In addition to revealing the most tragic moments in their lives, many trauma-stricken women are interviewed about them. “She Said” opens with Times reporter Megan Twohey’s investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Donald Trump just weeks before his 2016 election victory.

Now, “She Said”Trump is coming out, as Trump is back in news with his 2024 presidential candidacy and reinstatement on Twitter. This adds to headlines regarding inflation, a impending recession, and war in Ukraine, which has left films such “She Said”It can feel like a reminder of the harsh realities we live in, at a moment when many people are looking for a distraction.

Escapism has always been a powerful force at the box office, but the numbers show that it’s being valued more than ever. Films that show and confront the struggles of our world are falling apart. “Top Gun: Maverick”While the bizarre, but life-affirming, has reached the top of the charts “Everything Everywhere All at Once”Indie success is still the standard in this post-shutdown world. Even “Terrifier 2,”It is a niche and gruesome horror movie, but it offers a unique escape for horror fans.

“‘Terrifier 2,’ like any popular horror film, has an appeal like the scariest roller coaster at a theme park, and these dramas just don’t have that same kind of theme park appeal,”Paul Dergarabedian is a Comscore analyst. “We should applaud studios like Universal for their continued commitment to making these kinds of movies, but the awards and praise they get from critics and the small audience that do see them will have to be the currency that movies like ‘She Said’ hang on, because they’re not making the box office revenue they are supposed to.”

Universal still hopes that its losses will be offset by post-theatrical revenues. “She Said,”A Plan B and Annapurna production. This studio has been a success with older audiences via its marketing budget of $32 Million. “Ticket to Paradise.”The comedy, which stars Julia Roberts and George Clooney as a lighthearted romantic comedy, has earned $61 million domestically. It also grossed $158.5 million globally. This is a rare success for the otherwise struggling genre of rom-coms.

The movie has two true movie stars that may be beyond their years, along with its escapism. “Ocean’s Eleven”Box office success is still a strong point, but they still hold sway with millions of moviegoers older than 45. Ironically, Clooney told CNN’s Chris Wallace last month that he agreed to do “Ticket to Paradise”Because he needed to take a break from his job. “dark things going on in the world,” showing how the need for escapism is even being felt by Hollywood’s elite.

By contrast, “She Said”It lacks star power. Some recnet journalism films featured A-listers, such as Meryl Steep or Tom Hanks. “The Post”Michael Keaton “Avengers”Star Mark Ruffalo as the Best Picture Winner “Spotlight.” “She Said”Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan and Zoe Kazan were praised for their performances in films like “Promising Young Woman”And “The Big Sick”But they are still unknown to most casual moviegoers.

Others upcoming award contenders may do better at the box-office with lighter tones or subject matter. A case study will come with Steven Spielberg’s semiautobiographical “The Fabelmans,”After earning $314,000 on four screens in New York Los Angeles the previous two weekends, it will now be expanding to 600 theaters.

Paramount, meanwhile, is optimistic about Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon,” a frenetic three-hour ride through Hollywood in the roaring ’20s starring Margot Robbie as a party-obsessed, cocaine-addicted starlet. The $78 million film is a big gamble that might not pay off if the film’s polarized word-of-mouth from early Academy screenings curdles into mixed reviews that puts off ticket buyers.

But at the very minimum “Babylon” is an effort by a major studio to address audiences’ demand for escapist fare in a non-franchise way. “She Said,” like many of this fall’s prestige films, aren’t meeting the raised threshold for many moviegoers seeking a reason to pay tickets in physical theaters, certainly when compared to similar pre-pandemic Oscar contenders like “Spotlight” ($45 million domestic), “Selma” ($52 million), “BlacKkKlansman”($49 Million) “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” ($54.5 million).

This year’s batch of serious contenders will make a fraction of those totals, especially in a marketplace with shorter windows between theatrical and streaming debuts. In fact, Oscar nominations will be announced after this film crop has been screened in theaters.