Chapter 390 An instant hit
As a low-budget movie released in November, "Heartbeat" did not open midnight screenings like summer blockbusters.
The day after its premiere, it was released directly in 2,800 theaters across the United States.
Although it is the off-season, the strong appeal of little Gilbert still attracted many movie fans to go to the cinema to support.
Bachel Lutz from New York did not go to see it with his friend Evans this time. He heard that it was a romantic movie, and he happened to have a new girlfriend recently.
So he and his girlfriend Reina went to see the movie "Heartbeat".
Lena is not a fan of Little Gilbert's movies. She prefers romantic movies and comedies, such as Julia Roberts' movies, to commercial blockbusters.
But since Bacher Lutz wanted to see it, Rena would accompany him to see it.
But after seeing the film in the cinema, Lena discovered that "Heartbeat" was obviously not a blockbuster, but a fresh and refined youth love story, and she liked it very much.
After leaving the cinema, Bacher Lutz was still a little disappointed: "Although the movie was good, it was not the type I wanted to see!
How could little Gilbert make such a movie? I don't understand."
Lena liked it very much after reading it, but had different opinions: "No, I think it looks very good. Scarlett is really beautiful, and Robert Pattinson is also very handsome.
The story is also very good, really interesting. "
"Really?" Bacher Lutz shrugged. He was not the audience for such movies. But the movie is indeed good, and it is the work of little Gilbert, so I can barely give it a good review!
In fact, in the media evaluation after the premiere, it was generally believed that this movie was tailor-made for Scarlett by Gilbert Jr., and it was a toy.
As Little Gilbert's number one fan, Roger Ebert reviewed the film in the Chicago Sun-Times and in his own online column.
“This period film is at odds with the films that are having huge success at the box office today.
Indeed, "Heartbeat" is so nostalgic that the film's soundtrack is all light rock music from the late 1950s or early 1960s, except for the final ending song.
The film's primary audience is likely to be baby boomers, not the demographic that Little Gilbert movies usually cater to. "
What's even more rare is that Kenneth Turan, who has always criticized Gilbert Jr.'s movies, gave a rare positive review.
"For such a small-budget movie, "Heartbeat" is not very new in terms of its entire storyline. It can even be said to be extremely simple or cliché.
However, after watching this movie, the audience felt extraordinary and had a peaceful but profound psychological feeling.
This is mainly due to the superb film narrative art of the director of this small film, Gilbert Jr. "
Scarlett showed this report to little Gilbert, who was surprised: "So he will also say good things about me?"
Sheena Boone said from the side: "I think this old guy has ulterior motives."
"How do you say it?" Little Gilbert was curious.
Sheena Boone explained: "While 'Heartbeat' is good, it's clear that as a director with such a prestigious reputation, he can't keep making movies like this."
"So, he is seducing me?" Little Gilbert was surprised: "Does he think I am a fool?"
"Just give it a try, there's nothing to lose anyway." Sheena Boone said she didn't understand very well.
"Okay," little Gilbert said to Sheena Boone indifferently: "Please help me keep an eye on the publicity matters, and I will leave this little trouble to you to take care of Scarlett."
Si Jia was very dissatisfied on the side: "I am not a little trouble!"
Sheena Boone nodded with a smile, and then asked: "Will you come back for the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"?" "Let me think about it, there should be time." Xiao Ji Bert thought about the schedule: "We will bring the stars of "Pirates of the Caribbean" together to do a joint promotion."
"Okay, I'll tell Warner and Disney." Sheena Boone wrote down.
Little Gilbert will soon leave for Mexico to film "Pirates of the Caribbean", and the first-week box office of "Heartbeat" is also freshly released.
Frankly speaking, in such an off-season, unless there is a sequel movie with a large fan base, even with the appeal of Little Gilbert, the first-week box office of a small-budget movie will not be very high.
In fact, this is indeed the case. On its first day on Friday, "Heartbeat" received a box office of 8.278 million U.S. dollars, which was Gilbert's lowest first-day box office since "Return of the Dead".
This is not over yet. "Heartbeat" took in a box office of US$13.086 million and US$10.164 million on Saturday and Sunday respectively, with a box office of US$31.528 million in its first week.
In fact, to be honest, this first-week box office is higher than the first-week box office of many similar low-cost movies, and can even reach the first-week box office results of many B-level commercial films.
This is entirely possible thanks to little Gilbert's strong appeal, and the story is indeed pretty good.
Although not all movie fans like it, at least most of them won't hate the story of "Heartbeat".
Although compared to a movie like "The Return of the King" that broke $150 million in box office in its first week, "Heartbeat" is far behind. However, the competitiveness is not strong in the off-season, but the film still won the weekly box office championship.
Fans gave this film mixed reviews, mainly because it was not what many fans wanted to see.
But as Roger Ebert said, the film did attract some viewers who had not seen much of Gilbert's films before.
Not to mention, this audience has a pretty high opinion of the film.
There are also some movie fans who support little Gilbert. One fan said online: "When watching movies, you can't always eat big meals. Occasionally eating refreshing side dishes is also a unique and interesting experience."
After entering the working day, there are indeed no strong competitors in the market, and the screening scale of "Pumping Heart" has reached 3,200 theaters.
However, the box office on weekdays still declined, but not significantly. It only received US$12.272 million in four weekdays. However, there were no strong competitors the next weekend.
Including the US$13.575 million in the three days of the following weekend, the film still achieved a box office record of US$2584.7, achieving two consecutive box office wins. The North American box office of the film reached US$57.375 million.
Scarlett and Robert Pattinson are very popular right now. Fortunately, Scarlett was already a well-known child star before she appeared in this film, and she is one of the few who has not become disabled.
And Robert Pattinson was a real hit, and his agent was grinning crookedly.
Who would have thought that newcomer Robert Pattinson would stand out among the fiercely competitive auditions and become the protagonist of the Little Gilbert movie.
Although the outside world said that this movie was promoted by Scarlett Johansson, the agent felt that Robert Pattinson was the one who gained the most.
In the past two weeks, Robert Pattinson and Scarlett have been promoting together. You can see fans or fans looking at his name, and the fanatical look in their eyes makes Robert Pattinson afraid and enjoying it at the same time.
The agent also knew very well and reminded Robert Pattinson: "Robert, you should know who all this comes from.
It's little Gilbert, he brought you into Hollywood, you have to have a grateful heart. "
Robert Pattinson understood: "I know, I will definitely thank Director Gilbert Jr."
"Not enough, far from enough, Robert, you have to do more."
The agent's words left Robert Pattinson confused.
Isn't this enough? You can’t give away your body, right? Judging from the look of little Gilbert, he is not interested in men or boys either!
(End of this chapter)