'Brokeback' Faces Burnout at Box Office

Fox News ^ | 12/23/05 | Roger Friedman

[Millee]

You wouldn’t know it from all the hype and the endless critics’ awards. But Ang Lee’s "Brokeback Mountain" may be suffering a little burnout in its third week of release.

Indeed, "Brokeback"—-aka the Gay Cowboy movie—-has seen declines at the box office every day this week after a huge premiere and subsequent run in gay-concentrated neighborhoods.

But now it may be that reality is setting in, and reality bites, as we all know. On Monday, "Brokeback" was 51 percent off from Sunday. On Tuesday, it was down 9.1 percent from Monday. By Wednesday, it was off another 7.6 percent. All in all, it dropped to No. 10 on its 13th day out.

Today, "Brokeback" nearly doubles its number of theaters to 217, but this may be a real litmus test. There is hardly a straight male in the U.S. who will see this movie voluntarily. No matter how well made it is—-and it is very well crafted by a hugely talented group of people—-it’s hard to imagine a suburban wife coaxing hubby to the Cineplex on Saturday night to see two men consummate their passion.

[Millee]

it’s hard to imagine a suburban wife coaxing hubby to the Cineplex on Saturday night to see two men consummate their passion.

It's also hard to imagine a suburban wife wanting to see two men consummate their passion. I've yet to hear any of my girlfriends say that they want to see this movie.

[byteback]

Too bad In Living Color is around any more. I bet Antwain Merriweather would give this one a special rating.

[Dallas59]

Mountain Sized Colon...

[Cagey]

The movie is a dog.

[Valpal1]

Today, "Brokeback" nearly doubles its number of theaters to 217

217 theatres? Geez, they aren't even going to play this in Red States. A blue film for blue staters.

[MotleyGirl70]

I've yet to hear any of my girlfriends say that they want to see this movie.

Me neither.

And personally, I have zero interest in seeing two queers kissing, hugging or otherwise. No thanks!

[highlander_UW]

217 theatres? Geez, they aren't even going to play this in Red States. A blue film for blue staters.

And it's not even going to do "bang up" business in blue states.

[JesseJane]

:)
He'd give it 2 snaps up!

And he'd be in full support of renaming it "Fudgepack Mountain".

[clamper1797]

I guess the "fans" of Bareback Mountain and not "getting behind" this production

[Millee]

Me either. I like a good love story as much as the next person, but the Rhett and Scarlet variety, not the Jack and Ennis kind.

[MotleyGirl70]

"We give Brokeback Mountain three snaps up."

[Always Right]

It's also hard to imagine a suburban wife wanting to see two men consummate their passion. I've yet to hear any of my girlfriends say that they want to see this movie.

Really what market is left? After all the gays and sandal wearing elitists have seen the movie, there really is no one left in America who you could pay to even watch this movie. This movie won't even rate I'll see it when it comes out on DVD. 95% of the population would not want to be seen going to this movie, buying this movie, or renting this movie.

[MotleyGirl70]

He'd give it 2 snaps up!

You beat me to it :) Mine should've only been two snaps up anyhow.

Those two guys were hilarious as "Men on Film".

[Wristpin]

When the average gay man dies at age 42, the audience becomes slim pickens.

[fishtank]

[tertiary01]

That's one cute REAL sheepherder.

[ken5050]

Well, since this is an open forum..I'll pose the question...( also since pissant isn't around..)We've often discussed here the attraction that many males find for watching two women get it on..so one could deduce that some % ofwomen might be similarly attracted/intrigued by two men...any truth to this?

[lilylangtree]

Read on Yahoo yesterday that this salute to queerhood of a movie is going to be an Oscar nom and winner. Sheesh! Not my kind of a movie but only H'weird would produce such degradation and offal.

[Cagey]

HEY!! Who doesn't want to see this movie?

[ken5050]

The movie is a breakthrough western..the hero gets it in the end..

[Sterco]

A remake of the "Lone Ranger" yes. Attempting to make popular the "Rump Ranger" no. Would suggest that this is going to be a "Broke backed" production.

[ken5050]

I saw a promo for the film on TV last night...You'd think it was "Little House on the Prairie"..a story about family hardship...

[lilylangtree]

H'weird knows that its a loser movie so it has its spinmeisters out there trying to put out a warm fuzzy for viewers. Makes me sick to my stomach.

[FeliciaCat]

NO! Two guys getting it on is not a turn on. Gross.

[ken5050]

Are you old enough to remember "Lash LaRue?"...Back in the 50's TV had gay leather boys....

[Millee]

I vote no. Playing kissy-face with another man is definately a major turn-off.

I'll ping the other ladies for more input though.

[jazusamo]

A movie that goes beyond vampirism, Love at First Bite.

[reg45]

There are only a limited number of "poofters" to enjoy this movie. I would imagine that most of them would not have an interest in a western outdoor theme - an urban theme might be more successful.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Either scenario is NASTY!!!

[ken5050]

I'll be back.....again...the question was posed seriously...you know yourself how many guys have said here they find two women a turn on..though it's never been for me...so it would be logical to asume that some women might be wired that way..

Or maybe they're just curious to know if BOTH guys roll over and go to sleep after....

[NathanR]

Like "Rent" maybe?

[Millee]

That's funny you mention that, because my dad is a big westerns fan, and he was talking about seeing this movie.

Me: "Don't do it Dad!!"

Needless to say, he wasn't pleased when I told him why.

[bigsigh]

I live in Oceanside downtown (marinetown). It's not playing here. My guess is maybe in La Jolla. This movie will not be popular in many locales. My guess is it will make some money in Europe and maybe Japan. They will give it some oscar nominations and it will get a bump. It will probaby make 20-25 mill enough to cover the budget and marketing. I don't know how many studios will follow this example after this showing.

[JesseJane]

LOL!!

LOVED IT!!


Hated it!! rofl

[wideawake]

The audience for this isn't "suburban wives" at all.

All the suburban wives I know, including my own, think that Heath Ledger is extremely good-looking and we husbands have each been dragged to at least one of his movies (in my case it was the ridiculous A Knight's Tale).

But none of these women has any desire to see their pinup boy engage in hands-free proctology.

The audience for this film consists of fags, faghags and hyperliberals.

That is, 1 to 1.5% of the moviegoing public.

[PaulaB]

That's big fat NOOOOO from me Millee

[JesseJane]

heheh.... so baaaaad!!

[teenyelliott]

FREAKING no. No. Ick. No, no, no.

This is just Hollywood's latest attempt to make everything seem normal.

I do have gay friends and relatives, and I love 'em. But no way in hell would I wanna watch them kiss.

[tfecw]

"That's funny you mention that, because my dad is a big westerns fan, and he was talking about seeing this movie. "

Sounds like the people who thought "Silence of the Lambs" was about sheep. :)

[Always Right]

We've often discussed here the attraction that many males find for watching two women get it on..so one could deduce that some % ofwomen might be similarly attracted/intrigued by two men...any truth to this?

I am sure women will find guys that leave their wives to commit sodomy, very sexy. Women expect romance, guys are much simplier when it comes to sex.

[JesseJane]

that this is going to be a "Broke backed" production.

CLEVER!!!

[epow]

Hollywood queers and their left wing pals in the MSM want to make degenerate homo sex appear to be a normal part of American life. It isn't normal and it never will be normal, and the failure of this highly touted and publicised film should make that clear to them.

They may succeed through the screwed up court system in getting homo "marriage" legalized on paper, but a huge majority of the American people will never accept it as normal. Furthermore, a lot of us will never accept homo marriages as legitimate no matter what any left wingnut judge says.

[dinasour]

Indeed, "Brokeback"—-aka the Gay Cowboy movie

Except for the fact that they herd sheep, not cows.

But it does set up the sequel, "Two men and a sheep".

[MozarkDawg]

"Two snaps and a 'Yippee kie yo, kie yay' circle!!"

[wideawake]

One can't blame him. it is being marketed as if it were a Western, and for some reason Larry McMurtry himself has decided to destroy his good name and credibility by coauthoring the screenplay.

In other circumstances, if someone asked me if I wanted to see a "new epic-scale Western written by Larry McMurtry" I'd be interested.

[Millee]

My mom & grandma went to see "Fargo" because they thought it would be a "nice, winter movie." Still cracks me up!

[Heyworth]

But now it may be that reality is setting in, and reality bites, as we all know. On Monday, "Brokeback" was 51 percent off from Sunday. On Tuesday, it was down 9.1 percent from Monday. By Wednesday, it was off another 7.6 percent. All in all, it dropped to No. 10 on its 13th day out.

Whatever you might think about the movie, this is a BS interpretation of the numbers. Look up Passion of the Christ on Boxofficmojo.com--it typically dropped 65%-75% from Sunday to Monday. Narnia dropped 52%, Kong 63%, Harry Potter 54% this Sunday to Monday That's just the nature of the business. People go to the movies on Friday and Saturday night, and to a lesser extent on Sunday. The week is fairly dead (which is why that's when I go). The fact that a movie playing on just 69 (heh heh) screens is in the top ten at all is amazing. The next lowest screen count in the top 10, Pride and Prejudice, is playing on 1141 screens. By further contast, Narnia is playing on 50X more screens, but has only made 14X more money. Per screen averages for Brokeback are quadruple Narnia's.

[wideawake]

Men and women are different and think differently.

I think it was maverick liberal academic Camille Paglia who pointed out that almost every porn movie intended for the straight male audience contains obligatory scenes featuring two women, while porn movies marketed to straight women never contain scenes featuring two men, unless they are sharing a woman.

[Enterprise]

Maybe they'll rename it to "Dropped Soap Mountain."

[Enterprise]

It won't be long now and they will have their own soap opera: "Gays of Our Lives."