17.5 million US dollars!
This was the North American premiere box office for the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" on Valentine's Day, February 14th.
It indisputably became the number one film on the North American box office chart that day!
The second place went to Warner Bros.' film "Message in a Bottle," which, with 19.3% of the screenings, grossed 13.2 million US dollars.
In this showdown between Kyle and Time Warner, Kyle achieved a phased victory.
And it was a victory that surprised many people!
The box office figure of 17.5 million US dollars might seem modest compared to the 40 million-plus opening day box office of high-budget blockbusters, but you must understand one thing: it is just a romance film.
For a romance film to gross 17.5 million US dollars on its opening day is an almost unbelievable amount.
"Holy smokes!"
Jordan, an old friend from Paramount Pictures, couldn't help but blurt out after seeing the report, "Amazing! Kyle Page, I can't believe you've developed to this extent in just a few years.
You even managed to win against the combined might of Warner Media.
I have to say, you're truly formidable."
If you were to ask who in Hollywood first contacted Kyle, it would undoubtedly be Jordan!
During this Valentine's Day season, Jordan had initially thought that Kyle was doomed to fail, having lost Paramount's protection and facing targeted opposition from Warner.
However, he never expected Kyle to make such a comeback.
Buddy, that's Warner!
Jordan couldn't help but be surprised!
Miramax Films.
President Harvey Weinstein's pupils constricted.
"My God!"
"How is this possible?!"
"America Online has 25.5 million users, and it's growing at a rate of 50,000 people per week, with a market value of nearly 300 billion US dollars.
It's the largest emerging internet media giant in the US, and even globally.
How could it get involved with Kyle?"
"Has the world gone mad?!"
Harvey Weinstein is also a veteran in Hollywood, having been in the business for decades and seen many ups and downs.
But he never imagined that a single movie would involve two media giants.
America Online;
Time Warner;
"It's just a movie, does it have to be this big?" Harvey couldn't help but smile bitterly.
For an entire day, the two media giants unleashed their full power, involving as many as 213 media outlets and newspapers.
This was not much different from a US presidential election!
Harvey muttered, "He's trouble.
This Kyle Page is truly trouble!
No, to be precise, from now on, unless there's an accident, no film company will dare to provoke him behind the scenes."
For the sake of a mere movie, he dragged in two media giants, America Online and Warner.
Which company would be so foolish as to cross him in the future?
Not only Harvey Weinstein, but even Shay, the president of New Line Cinema, who had always thought highly of himself, was silent at this moment.
"Damn Kyle Page, he's really made it big!" Shay was quite displeased.
In his eyes, Kyle was just a lucky young man.
But now, he dared not say that anymore.
Kyle could participate in the competition between media giants and emerge victorious.
Do you think an old Hollywood veteran like Shay would be happy about Kyle's success?
If young people are rising, should we old folks unconditionally step aside?
Don't even think about it!
However, circumstances were stronger than people.
Kyle's actions this time truly scared many film companies that had been eager to make a move.
These companies had more or less harbored fantasies about Page Pictures, believing that after losing Paramount's protection, they might be able to acquire it.
But now that Kyle had unleashed a big killer like America Online, they no longer had any thoughts; they were all scared stiff.
America Online, with a market value of nearly 300 billion US dollars, just think about it...
Time Warner Group.
"Damn it!"
Chairman Steve Ross cursed, "A small Page Pictures actually caused so much trouble, and even America Online came out to support him.
What is he trying to do? Is he trying to go to war with me?"
"Hmph!"
"If it's war, then it's war!"
"I, Steve Ross, started from a small funeral home in my life, ventured into the parking lot business, then expanded my business scope, galloped between Wall Street and the Mafia, acquired Warner Bros. Pictures, and then swallowed Time Inc. in a snake-like manner, building the world's largest media group, Time Warner, with my own hands.
Who have I ever been afraid of?!"
In his words, Steve Ross was full of ferocity and domineering.
He was not a rich second-generation born with a silver spoon in his mouth; he was a model of starting from scratch.
His starting capital was far less than Sumner Redstone's of Paramount, but to reach his current level, he fully deserved to be called a legend!
He had nothing to fear!
Suddenly, in the huge conference room, more than a dozen senior executives of Time Warner Group fell silent.
No one dared to speak.
"Boss, please hear me out."
Just then, Barry Meyer, Vice President of Warner Bros. Pictures, stood up.
Originally, Steve Ross was going to scold the person who spoke, but when he saw it was Barry Meyer, he didn't get angry.
Although Barry Meyer was not the CEO of Time Warner Group, nor the president of its subsidiary Warner Bros. Pictures, he was a person Steve Ross admired greatly.
(Note: Barry Meyer began to take charge of Warner Bros. Pictures in 2000.)
"Boss, our Time Warner has a market value of 150 billion US dollars, hundreds of subsidiary companies, and employs over 120,000 people.
In the traditional media field, if we dare to claim second place, then no one in this world dares to say they are first."
"But..."
"Boss, for the sake of a mere movie produced by Page Pictures, do we really need to go to war head-on with an emerging giant like America Online?"
"I have to say, we may not win."
"And, it's just a movie.
Kyle Page is young and impetuous, he wants to win.
So, let's just give it to him."
"How many movies does Page Pictures produce in a year? How many movies does our Warner Bros. Pictures produce in a year?"
"If we really go to war, no matter the outcome, we will suffer huge losses."
Barry Meyer said in a deep voice, "A moment of patience brings calm.
I don't believe America Online can always protect him.
We'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with him!"
As his words fell, many of the executives present immediately agreed.
Going to war would not benefit them.
Moreover, they also didn't believe that Steve Ross would choose to confront them head-on!
What he said now was merely to find a way to back down.
Now that Barry Meyer had given him a way out, do you think he wouldn't take it?
"Hmph!"
Steve Ross snorted, "Kyle Page, and Steve Case of America Online, you two just wait for me ~"