As time moved from 2002 to 2003, winter in the Northern Hemisphere was in full swing. Cities were blanketed with heavy snow, creating a frosty landscape, with the cold weather reaching its peak. Despite the harsh conditions, people's enthusiasm for going to the cinema to watch "Catch Me If You Can" remained undeterred.
To be accurate, the heavy snowfall did have some impact. Snowy weather made travel inconvenient, leading many to prefer staying at home. After school or work, people tended to stay warm indoors, avoiding venturing out into the snow. Not just cinemas but shopping malls, restaurants, amusement parks, cafes, and hotels experienced the inevitable winter slump.
However, for those who grew tired of staying at home and just wanted to get some fresh air, or for those looking for an alternative to TV entertainment, the warm cinema was a perfect choice. At the time, when people looked at the list of movies playing in theaters, "Catch Me If You Can" easily stood out. Over the past couple of weeks, the film had sparked a huge discussion across North America, becoming a trend everyone was talking about.
People of all ages and backgrounds were talking about it, and since it was tied to the Christmas season, it became synonymous with family leisure entertainment, making it a popular choice for many parents.
After dominating the first week of January, "Catch Me If You Can" continued to reign supreme in its second week.
This week, the newly released "Just Married" tried to replicate the success of romantic comedies during the holiday season but unfortunately failed. "Two Weeks Notice" had Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, while "Maid in Manhattan" had Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes, giving them a market advantage. In contrast, "Just Married," starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy, lacked similar star power.
Moreover, it was a tough test for the marketing strategy. When 20th Century Fox was promoting "Just Married," they followed a conventional approach, failing to anticipate that "Catch Me If You Can" would emerge so dominantly. As a result, they found themselves in a difficult situation.
In the past two weeks, "Just Married" was completely overshadowed by "Catch Me If You Can" across different platforms and audiences. All discussions revolved around "Catch Me If You Can," leaving 20th Century Fox at a loss.
In fact, it wasn't just 20th Century Fox. Any other film studio would have found themselves in the same position—stunned and unable to respond quickly, letting "Catch Me If You Can" lead the way in the market.
This was a new experience that opened the eyes of Hollywood's major studios.
All that could be said was that "Just Married" had chosen the wrong release date.
Finally—
$17 million.
"Just Married" grossed this amount in its opening weekend, far less than the new releases in previous weeks. It couldn't break through, but 20th Century Fox still breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason was that the movie's production cost was controlled at only $18 million. While it remained to be seen if "Just Married" could become profitable through ticket sales, at least it hadn't completely flopped. Losing money seemed unlikely.
Phew.
20th Century Fox, amidst its challenges, didn't harbor grand ambitions and was satisfied with this box office performance. But when they saw the numbers their competitors were pulling in, it was hard not to feel envious.
Once again, attention turned to "Catch Me If You Can."
In the second week of January, which was also the movie's third weekend, "Catch Me If You Can" silenced the doubters and skeptics, confidently claiming the weekend box office title for the third consecutive time.
In three days, it grossed $35 million.
In its third week, "Catch Me If You Can" was inevitably affected by the snowstorm, and with the flash events concluding, its popularity noticeably declined. Although many hoped for another "Titanic" or "Spider-Man," reality brought expectations back to earth. With a more than 45% drop in box office revenue this week, almost a halving, it reminded people of the formidable power of winter.
However—
"Catch Me If You Can" was not "Titanic." While the latter made history through word-of-mouth and the end-of-century anxieties, the former's success was a triumph of marketing, mostly confined to urban areas without reaching a nationwide wave.
Nonetheless, topping the weekend chart with double the revenue of the second place was worth celebrating. The movie didn't continue making history, but its performance was already outstanding for a winter release.
There's no need to be overly demanding.
Most importantly, "Catch Me If You Can" crossed the $300 million mark in North America within its first three weeks.
The movie not only surpassed "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," which had been out for four weeks, but also joined the ranks of Hollywood's box office giants, breaking the $300 million barrier in just three weeks. It was about to become the highest-grossing film in North America for both Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Unbelievable.
Steven Spielberg had numerous box office triumphs, with "E.T." and "Jurassic Park" both grossing over $300 million domestically. "Catch Me If You Can" became his third film to achieve this feat. These three vastly different films each marked a milestone, an unparalleled honor in film history.
Tom Hanks was no exception. This iconic Hollywood actor also had several high-grossing films, with more than five earning over $200 million. "Toy Story" and "Forrest Gump" each surpassed $300 million, marking his highest personal achievement. Now, a third film was about to be added to that list, cementing his status in the industry.
Currently, "Catch Me If You Can" is still playing in theaters and climbing to new heights. It's almost certain to become the highest-grossing film in both Spielberg's and Hanks's careers. But the emphasis isn't on the box office itself; it's that this particular film achieved such a milestone—
Unexpectedly, absolutely unexpectedly.
Even Spielberg and Hanks didn't anticipate the film's success. The two legends, who had already left their mark on cinema history, found a new career high with "Catch Me If You Can." This was the most interesting and magical aspect.
"Well, I guess this is what they call a Christmas miracle."
Tom, being Tom, made a small joke during an interview. He deliberately avoided mentioning Anson, steering clear of the topic people were most curious about, but his response brought a knowing smile to everyone.