As noon approached.
The box office data for various films released in North America on February 14th, after only a few hours, had already reached the hands of the major film companies.
This data was sent by the three major theater chains and was not calculated by a professional statistical company, so there might be discrepancies. However, the margin of error would not be significant, making it an important reference for film companies to check box office performance.
As of 11:30 AM.
North American Box Office Ranking for the Day:
1st Place: "Message in a Bottle."
Produced by Warner Group, it accounted for 19.3% of the day's screenings and grossed $3.7 million at the box office. After two and a half days of release, its cumulative North American box office reached $15.2 million.
2nd Place: "Payback."
A gunfight action film starring Mel Gibson, co-produced and distributed by Warner and Paramount, it accounted for 11.3% of the day's screenings and grossed $3.54 million.
After nine and a half days of release, its cumulative North American box office reached $32.5 million.
3rd Place: "She's All That."
Produced by Miramax Films, this movie has received excellent reviews since its release. This morning alone, with only 6% of the screenings, it once again took in $2.17 million.
4th Place: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
This much-talked-about new film from Page Pictures, with the second-highest daily screening percentage at 18.9%, only managed to gross $1.78 million, ranking fourth... Seeing that Page Pictures' new film's box office data only ranked fourth, many industry insiders couldn't help but laugh.
"The second-highest screening percentage, a 4th place box office result, and it's a new film released today?"
"All of Hollywood says Kyle Page is a genius, but it seems even a genius can have a Waterloo moment. Judging by the current trend, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' is doomed!"
"Hmm,"
"Even if they seek help from us at Paramount now, it's too late."
Paramount President Sherry Lansing said, shaking her head after reading the report.
"Alas~"
Her old friend Jordan, who was beside her, also sighed, "I've seen 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' and it is indeed an excellent film. But they ended their partnership with Paramount. Without our support, they are simply no match for Warner's powerful media influence."
The Big Six are the Big Six!
Jordan is a veteran who has been in Hollywood for almost 20 years, and he understands the power of big companies all too well!
Warner Group, one of Hollywood's Big Six film companies;
Its parent company behind it is Time Warner Group, the world's largest media conglomerate;
With a market value of over a hundred billion dollars, Time Warner, under the bombardment of their media power, who would dare to challenge them?
Even Paramount, also one of the Big Six, is not as powerful as Time Warner in terms of media influence!
[Lead Actress Scandal]
[Lead Actor Scandal]
[Director Zack Snyder is also embroiled in negative news]
[The script for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was even exposed this morning for alleged plagiarism, with multiple screenwriters having already submitted lawsuits to the Los Angeles local court.]
...All sorts of negative reports were spearheaded by media outlets under the Time Warner Group.
Does the truth matter?
All the major film companies in Hollywood understood that these were all fake news!
Warner's attack this time was entirely to suppress Kyle's Page Pictures. Through this method, they not only demonstrated the Warner Group's power to the outside world but also served as a warning to other small and medium-sized film companies.
In other words, the Warner Group's suppression of Page Pictures was an inevitable action!
"Haha!"
"This is the media power of a big company!"
"Buddy, don't look at how Page Pictures has released many good films in recent years, but in front of a giant like Warner, it's still powerless."
"Moviegoers don't care if the news is true or false; rumors spread like wildfire!"
"Few films embroiled in negative news can achieve high box office."
"A romance film like 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' which relies on word-of-mouth and long-term screenings, will definitely not end well once targeted by media power!"
"Page Pictures is finished!"
"Kyle Page, that damn lucky guy, he's definitely going to take this loss!"
Many Hollywood professionals were discussing it in private.
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding," with a high 18.9% screening percentage, couldn't beat "She's All That," which had only 6% of screenings and had been released for over ten days. Do you think there's still hope for a comeback?
A comeback?
Haha!
In the face of the Warner Group's powerful media influence, try to make a comeback?
They'll crush you!
However... just when the outside world thought Kyle was doomed, a company appeared before the public.
— America Online (AOL)!
America Online, as a company providing dial-up internet services, not only held a dominant position in dial-up internet but also rose strongly in the emerging field of internet media!
Every dial-up internet user is a user of our media power!
Portals, news information, finance, sports event reports... America Online's presence was evident in all these emerging internet fields.
If Time Warner Group was the world's largest traditional media company, then America Online was the world's largest emerging internet media company!
One is traditional;
One is emerging!
Logically, the two companies would not easily initiate hostilities.
But!
With Kyle's involvement, America Online brazenly took action against Time Warner. An incredibly vast media power supported Kyle, supporting Kyle's Page Pictures and new film!
All at once, nearly a hundred media newspapers came out in full support of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
Lead actor's scandal, NO!
Lead actress's scandal, NO!
Director Zack's negative news is purely baseless!
The alleged script plagiarism is even more preposterous.
At the same time, at America Online's instigation, many Hollywood filmmakers spoke out in support; not only that, but even those film critics who had previously heavily attacked Kyle and Page's new film through various media and channels also turned their guns, instead attacking Time Warner Group and their new film "Message in a Bottle."
"'Message in a Bottle' is such a classic pure romance novel, but look at what Warner made? Garbage!"
— Famous film critic Mira.
"I apologize. I previously stated in the media that 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' was a film without sincerity. However, after watching the film, I have to say it's the best romance movie I've seen this century."
— Famous film critic Andre Coste.
Before the release of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," film critic Andre Coste was the most vocal in his criticism, but after receiving a signal from America Online, he unhesitatingly turned his guns.
The integrity of film critics was shattered to pieces!
The battle launched by Time Warner Group and America Online, two old and new media powers, over a single film, truly made countless onlookers cheer with excitement.
"'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' what kind of movie is it exactly?"
Undoubtedly, many onlookers became interested.
Thus, going to the cinema to watch the film became a natural progression.
Starting from 3 PM, the attendance rate for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" continuously climbed. Many moviegoers also gave it continuous praise, and the box office subsequently soared.