[Chapter 338: A Textbook Victory]
As the three major TV networks broadcasted comprehensive live coverage of the three films' box office performances, audiences flocked to the theaters, overwhelmingly choosing The Man from Nowhere.
At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Linton and Monica had just finished a fun sexy ga when Clinsman called with good news. The Man from Nowhere earned $19.53 million on Saturday, securing the top spot with a wide gap.
Ranking second was Clear and Present Danger, with $8.57 million on Saturday. Coming in third was Disclosure, earning $4.23 million.
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After the opening weekend's three days, The Man from Nowhere made a stunning $55.73 million, topping the chart by a huge margin.
Clear and Present Danger took second place with $23.71 million for the weekend, and Disclosure was third with $11.83 million.
Disclosure had actually perford well the previous week, accumulating $37.76 million over seven days with decent audience feedback. Industry insiders once predicted its North Arican box office could surpass $90 million. However, the second weekend halved its earnings compared to the first weekend.
This suggested that the film's North Arican total would likely not reach $90 million; even $70 million would be considered a success.
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Theater chains adjusted the film schedules accordingly. After all, everyone had to make a living. Despite the six major Hollywood studios collectively pressuring the market, poor box office results rendered their efforts useless.
The Man from Nowhere expanded to a staggering 3,700 screens.
Clear and Present Danger further reduced its distribution to 2,400 screens.
Disclosure dropped to 1,500 screens.
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By this point, it was clear to all that the six major studios' carefully arranged counterattack had beco a joke. Calling their efforts laughable rather than just subpar was fair.
The dia was in chaos, splitting into two factions.
One faction, controlled by the six major Hollywood studios, was nurous and continued to viciously criticize and sar The Man from Nowhere while praising Clear and Present Danger and Disclosure in every way.
In contrast, parts of the dia led by the three major TV networks refrained from taking sides and simply presented the facts -- the films' theater performances and genuine audience reviews -- to the Arican public.
Initially, many believed the studio-controlled dia due to their overwhelming influence and sheer numbers; people tend to follow the crowd.
However, as more people saw The Man from Nowhere and left the theaters, many saw the truth and completely reversed their opinions. They began denouncing the studio-controlled dia directly in front of the major networks' caras.
So went as far as harshly criticizing them, accusing them of distorting facts and lacking professional ethics. They argued the studios' sar campaign was a betrayal of the dia's conscience, especially against such a great film.
So experts labeled the studios' behavior as dia bullying and monopoly abuse.
Among the most passionate were fans of Linton and Monica, who publicly called for boycotts of unethical dia outlets and dishonest film critics.
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Under mounting public pressure and to safeguard their futures, so studios with weaker control over the dia withdrew quietly from the propaganda war, refusing to comnt on any of the three films.
Critics who had gone against the movie deeply regretted their actions but were trapped by their association with the six majors. Afterward, other studios largely closed their doors to them.
Forced to persist, these critics continued to find new angles to attack The Man from Nowhere, but the growing public support rendered their efforts pointless.
Despite ongoing dia sars, The Man from Nowhere was now the focal point of public discussion, which only fueled more audience curiosity. People who hadn't planned to see a movie went to theaters because of the buzz.
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At the box office, The Man from Nowhere kept soaring.
On Monday, it raked in $15.21 million, dropping less than 20%, whereas Clear and Present Danger earned only $4.53 million, falling nearly 50%. Disclosure brought in $2.37 million, also close to a 50% decline.
These numbers shocked everyone.
Linton's promotional tour beca a sensation everywhere, receiving celebratory welcos that could only be described as a hero's tribute -- drumbeats, fireworks, waving flags, and massive crowds beyond imagination.
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After a full week, The Man from Nowhere earned a phenonal $97.63 million, dominating the box office.
Clear and Present Danger ca second with $37.73 million, and Disclosure was third with $17.16 million for the week.
Industry forecasts predicted The Man from Nowhere's North Arican gross could surpass $250 million. It was a classic example of unstoppable montum.
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On December 16, Sony Columbia released its big-budget film Legends of the Fall.
Backed by the six major studios, Legends of the Fall received overwhelming pre-release promotion and secured 2,800 screens.
This affected The Man from Nowhere's distribution slightly, reducing it to 3,400 screens, while other films, including Clear and Present Danger and Disclosure, suffered heavier cuts.
Yet the box office results surprised everyone.
On Friday, including midnight shows, Legends of the Fall only made $7.05 million, far behind The Man from Nowhere's $14.72 million. Clear and Present Danger and Disclosure earned $4.79 million and $2.38 million respectively.
For the weekend, The Man from Nowhere held strong with $44.73 million for second-weekend champ and a huge margin.
Legends of the Fall placed second with $20.84 million on its opening weekend. Clear and Present Danger ca third with $13.95 million, and Disclosure only earned $8.67 million, nearly abandoned by theaters.
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Predictably, theater chains adjusted once again. The Man from Nowhere's distribution rebounded to 3,700 screens.
Legends of the Fall, Clear and Present Danger, and Disclosure saw significant reductions.
By now, the six major studios' joint campaign against The Man from Nowhere was a total failure and the laughingstock of the industry.
Thanks to the consecutive successes of The Man from Nowhere and The Rock, Linton's film company established its position and reputation, standing tall against Hollywood's giants.
Not officially one of the major studios yet, Linton was already a giant in his own right, and no one dared challenge him anymore.
Of course, Linton knew he still faced huge challenges to beco a true Hollywood mogul -- mbership in the MPAA and overseas distribution capability were key factors that remained unresolved.
The Man from Nowhere's triumphant coback made a classic case study for film schools and companies alike.
As for Linton himself, the soaring box office numbers cented his status as a superstar director, on a level with Spielberg and Jas Caron.
On the actor front, he beca the top comrcial superstar in Hollywood, even eclipsing Arnold Schwarzenegger's influence.
*****
spatreon/Sayonara816.
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