Films that perform well overseas and say farewell to the North Arican market generally attract worldwide attention. Because of its strong response in North Arica, Batman:Begins had already garnered significant attention from overseas fans early on. Major overseas markets and cinema chains also poured a large amount of resources into distributing this film.
In contrast, due to the poor box office performance and audience reception in North Arica, Flyboys had already been blacklisted by overseas audiences and cinema chains. Many companies continued pushing for the film’s release in their own countries mostly because of contractual obligations with Disney Studios.
"Confird countries importing Batman: Begins number 95, while Flyboys only has 42..."
Looking at the data on the report, David Ellison shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, his eyes filled with slight confusion as they landed on Cook Dick from Disney Studios. "Why such a big difference? I rember more than 60 countries wanted to import Flyboys just a week ago."
"Can’t be helped." Cook Dick’s face showed a trace of helplessness. "Over ten overseas distributors who were negotiating saw the first-week box office and directly dropped out. So who had already signed distribution contracts would rather pay the penalty for breach of contract than release Flyboys."
So words Cook Dick didn’t say directly, leaving David Ellison so face. Those breaching distributors believed paying a relatively small penalty was definitely more cost-effective than investing resources to distribute Flyboys.
David Ellison’s expression darkened considerably. The fewer overseas markets the film entered, the lower the box office revenue would be. Although he didn’t care much about that money, it represented face. If Flyboys ultimately couldn’t even recoup its production costs worldwide, how would he face Duke Rosenberg in the future?
Also, would his father reclaim so control over the fund managent? These were all things he had to consider.
Only now did David Ellison realize that the film industry was far more complex than he had imagined. Originally, he thought with huge financial backing, his own deep research into Hollywood, and the strong partnership of Michael Ovitz and Walt Disney, success was guaranteed.
The facts proved that he had seriously underestimated the situation. Besides causing so trouble for Duke Rosenberg regarding the Anne Hathaway incident, he was completely overwheld and lacked any ability to counterattack.
Though unwilling deep down, David Ellison understood that the downward trend of Flyboys as irreparable. To succeed, he would have to start over.
But for soone with his stubborn personality, accepting failure was definitely very difficult.
Before leaving Disney Studios, David Ellison asked, "Cook, I rember Batman: Begins signed formal contracts with over eighty overseas distributors before May. Why do we have so few?"
He wasn’t questioning Walt Disney’s ability but rather hoping Flyboys would have broader distribution channels. The final box office figures might then look sowhat better.
Cook Dick sighed and answered frankly, "Because the director of Batman:Begins is Duke Rosenberg."
Upon hearing this, David Ellison suddenly understood sothing. As he got into his car, a helpless smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Exactly. Because the director was Duke Rosenberg. Because the other party was a super director whose global box office total approached 9 billion dollars. Because he had built an illustrious reputation. Because Duke Rosenberg’s na had long beco a golden brand in Hollywood and the global comrcial film industry.
Looking from another angle, if he weren’t Duke Rosenberg, would he have sought him out at the start to invest in his film?
The other party was indeed very powerful, but as long as he learned from experience, he could eventually defeat him!
Just like Larry Ellison, David Ellison would never collapse from one setback, nor would he abandon Hollywood.
It was just that the dismal box office numbers for Flyboys really left David Ellison speechless.
Ignoring the overseas markets that would only open over the weekend, starting Monday, Flyboys faced its first weekday test. Unsurprisingly, the daily box office plumted below seven figures, to a re $620,000—a figure only a fraction of what Batman: Ti to Fight earned that sa day. The latter, though also declining, maintained a relatively stable trend with a single-day take of $5.21 million.
Over the next three weekdays, Flyboys slid further like on a slide: Tuesday $530,000, Wednesday $450,000, Thursday $410,000...
During the sa period, Flyboys daily box office remained just a fraction of Monday’s take, a re fraction of Batman: Begin’s numbers.
Duke’s blockbuster maintained a steady pace with a healthy rate of decline. Over four weekdays, it grossed $17.21 million, pushing the North Arican total past $150 million, reaching $160.52 million!
Then, as a new weekend began, Duke left North Arica. The main cast split into two groups to head to London and Berlin respectively to promote Batman:Begins in Europe.
Compared to East Asia, which was deeply influenced by Japanese manga, Europe had greater exposure to DC and Marvel comics. Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man were all household nas. Since Batman: Begins had done well in North Arica and the audience reception, though not as high as Duke’s previous Lord of the Rings trilogy, was still very positive, these factors drove strong turnout in overseas theaters.
Duke stayed a day in Berlin for two promotional events, then rushed to Munich, specially attending the first Bundesliga match of Bayern Munich in the newly completed Allianz Arena. The cara frequently caught his image during the ga, and at halfti, the stadium’s big screen even aired a trailer for Batman:Begins.
Of course, this was definitely a paid advertisent. Even Duke appearing at the stadium to watch the ga accompanied by Rumnigge was part of a plan from Warner’s German branch.
Duke didn’t know much about football; the matches he occasionally watched were mostly from the Premier League. This current Bayern Munich team was relatively unfamiliar to him; the only player he could recognize was Ballack, thanks to the latter’s later stint in the Premier League.
"Duke, are you interested in cooperating with Bayern Munich Club to make a football movie?"
Because Duke did not understand German, Rumnigge spoke to him in English, "We have been planning to shoot a very influential football film."
"Sorry, Karl." Duke politely declined, "I don’t know much about football; I’m not suitable to direct this kind of movie."
That was only one reason. Football is undoubtedly the world’s number one sport, completely overshadowing Arican football and basketball on a global scale, but football movies remain decidedly niche.
Besides, he really wasn’t familiar with English-style football.
Even if he wanted to shoot a sports-thed movie in the future, the Arican football he had experience with was undoubtedly more suitable.
During the three-day weekend, Duke stayed two days in Germany and on the last day went to Vienna to attend the premiere of Batman: Begins in Austria.
After the short weekend, this overseas promotion temporarily ca to an end. Duke left Europe and returned to Los Angeles. As a culturally closer overseas market, the results Batman:Begins achieved in Europe were more than satisfactory.
The UK made $12.65 million in the opening weekend, Germany $14.32 million, France $10.35 million, Spain $9.21 million, Italy $8.55 million...
Although Batman:Begins was sowhat coldly received in East Asian markets led by Japan and South Korea, it also scored a solid $11.78 million opening weekend in Australia.
Batman:Begins was released in 77 countries and regions overseas, earning a total of $122.17 million this weekend!
anwhile, the competing film Flyboys only made a fraction of Batman:Begins overseas box office, and that fraction wasn’t counted in tens of millions but just $2.17 million!
The Flyboys premiered first in 41 countries and regions, and its box office numbers were barely passable.
Duke was done paying attention to this competitor. Seeing it could only be described as a complete failure, he just set it aside and didn’t even bother to check its second-week box office in North Arica, as there was simply no need.
Even if God himself ca down, it could not save this film.
In North Arica, Batman:Begins went through its third weekend. Because there were no major new releases this week, Batman:Begins easily held onto the top spot with $20.12 million, effortlessly achieving a three-peat.
At this point, Batman:Begins North Arican box office had accumulated $180.64 million, with global box office combined reaching $302.81 million!
At this mont, no one would dispute that Batman has been reborn on the big screen.
However, the reign of this film was about to co to an end. morial Day was approaching, and a film that had beco a cultural symbol in North Arica and worldwide was about to premiere.
George Lucas was bringing his Star Wars Prequel 3: Revenge of the Sith with a strong force.
Moreover, in the film’s promotion, George Lucas openly stated this would be the last installnt of his Star Wars series. For Star Wars fans, this naturally ant the final Chapter of the saga.
The final Star Wars flim its appeal to fans is self-evident. Even those who are not Star Wars fans were itching to see it live, to bid farewell to this great series.
.....
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