Oprah’s Media Blitz Helps ‘The Butler’ Open #1 With $25M

[lostinblue 1,989]

SUNDAY 6:30 AM, 5TH UPDATE WRITETHRU: With one exception, this weekend was a disaster zone for three of the four newcomers at the domestic box office. Tanking big-time were Universal’s Kick-### 2 based on the comic book, Five Star/Open Road Films’ Jobs biopic about the Apple co-founder played by Ashton Kutcher, and IM Global/Relativity’s Paranoia starring Liam Hemsworth and Harrison Ford. Total moviegoing this weekend was only around $160 million, or -6% from last year, despite the uber-crowded marketplace. Even the surprise #1 this weekend, The Weinstein Company’s Lee Daniels’ The Butler, opened with $25 million which was down from the $30+M Hollywood projected when the weekend started. ”Everything is coming in softer,” one studio exec warned me Friday night. Love her or hate her, co-star Oprah Winfrey and her big media blitz helped open the pic even if it did little to help her public image by providing more dirt for her detractors. Yet a survey by Fandango found that 72% of Butler ticket-buyers claimed Oprah’s involvement increased their interest in seeing the film which was her first movie role in 15 years. But The Butler still trailed the opening weekend grosses of two recent and similarly race- and civil rights-themed adult pics: 42 and The Help. (More below.) No one, and certainly not The Weinstein Company, expected director Lee Daniels’ or screenwriter Danny Strong’s biopic (playing in 2,933 theaters) to double its $15M weekend projection much less land on top of the weekend box office. But on Thursday morning it already was the #1 ticket-seller on both Fandango and MovieTickets – a welcome event for such a modest $25M negative cost film. Its ‘A’ CinemaScore from audiences surely helped word of mouth as much as Oprah. (Though in 1998. at the height of her syndicated power when she could sell anything to anyone, Oprah starred in and produced the film flop Beloved. Now she’s on her own struggling cable network.) Like 42 and The Help, this pic which began with a Washington Post profile of a longtime White House black butler was marketed first to African-Americans through outreach in those faith-based communities. Thenits campaign was widened into the art house crowd and to attract curious general audiences. Rival studios initially speculated that The Butler‘s grosses would be frontloaded since it was so dependent on pre-sales. But its Saturday number went up +10% over Friday’s. There also was a publicity event over the film’s title, providing Harvey Weinstein free headlines as he battled Warner Bros.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/did-oprah-affect-box-office-the-butler-tops-box-office-friday/

It appears Oprah’s race remarks did exactly what she wanted. It brought attention to her and the movie.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/oprah-winfrey-talks-own-network-failure-nervous-breakdown/

Looks like all is not well in Oprah land

"she had a meltdown last summer because “people were counting me out… After 25 years of being No. 1, I had become accustomed to success. I didn’t expect failure. I was tested and I had to dig deep.” She said “the schadenfreude was very painful for me, because I had never experienced it. I thought, ‘Do I not get credit for the 25 years? What have I gotten myself into?’" ........ Pull the race card if people cannot stand you anymore.

[Peikko 1,575]

Who cares? I don't.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Who cares? I don't.

Even the richest women in the world has to pull the race card so she does not fail. in her project. So sad.

That is the truth.

[Peikko 1,575]

I doubt that is the truth, but someone thinks it makes good copy and a bunch of people think it's somehow significant. It's not, it's just 'entertainment' so again, care if you want. I don't.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Even the richest women in the world has to pull the race card so she does not fail. in her project. So sad.

That is the truth.

She didn't need to pull the race card, most folks love Oprah regardless. Sorry lost.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

She didn't need to pull the race card, most folks love Oprah regardless. Sorry lost.

I have to agree with Marvin, I think O is very popular, especially among women.I think her whole race card thing,was a fly by to most of her fans and their take on it was , brief and fleeting. I would suspect most of us who recognize it for what it was, don't really care about Oprah one way or the other,but would be drug to the movie by the women in our life.

In other words Oprah is not someone I am interested, just because I am not part of the demographic she appeals to---Straight older men..Nothing to do with race.

[lostinblue 1,989]

She didn't need to pull the race card, most folks love Oprah regardless. Sorry lost.

It is not a question of people loving her..".After 25 years of being No. 1, I had become accustomed to success. I didn’t expect failure.'' ...it is failure that she cannot handle. So pull the race card to make certain it does not happen.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

It is not a question of people loving her..".After 25 years of being No. 1, I had become accustomed to success. I didn’t expect failure.'' ...it is failure that she cannot handle. So pull the race card to make certain it does not happen.

It's a good movie, it had a star studded cast. Forest Whitaker, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Cuba Godding Jr. At least 2 of the folks in the movie have won Academy Awards. If the race card wasn't played it still would have been #1.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

It's a good movie, it had a star studded cast. Forest Whitaker, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Cuba Godding Jr. At least 2 of the folks in the movie have won Academy Awards. If the race card wasn't played it still would have been #1.

I was wanting to see it...I had no idea O was involved with it

I don't think one has anything to do with the other

[Dan and Judy 614]

In other words Oprah is not someone I am interested, just because I am not part of the demographic she appeals to---Straight older men..

Are you denying being straight or older or both?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Are you denying being straight or older or both?

I was trying to say...I am a straight older male, and that is not O's target demographic

P.S. that is a borderline personal attack and attempt to demean.. illegal under new TOS guidlines

First warning

Next time I will report

Edited August 18, 2013 by The conciliator

[Dan and Judy 614]

I was trying to say...I am a straight older male, and that is not O's target demographic

P.S. that is a borderline personal attack and attempt to demean.. illegal under new TOS guidlines

First warning

Next time I will report

I'm afraid your freudian slip is showing again

just relax and say the first thing that comes to your mind.

Is there a specific borderline personality disorder that you are worried about?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I'm afraid your freudian slip is showing again

just relax and say the first thing that comes to your mind.

Is there a specific borderline personality disorder that you are worried about?

Boobs

There first thing that came to mind

We all have personality disorders depending on what society you live in and what they find wierd

[Dan and Judy 614]

Boobs

There first thing that came to mind

I see, and when you hear the expression "The size of melons"

what is the first thing that pops into your mind

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I see, and when you hear the expression "The size of melons"

what is the first thing that pops into your mind

again Boobs

almost anything you say is going to be sex or food

Sonny's has a trio that is ribs,pulled pork and chicken

They call it the three way

That conflicts me

I told the waitress one day, you know you are getting old, when someone says three way and you think of BBQ

and then it started