Good things come in small packages. I'm talking about Precious, a low-budget movie about an obese Harlem teenager that took in $1.8 million at just 18 theaters in four cities over the weekend. The take of $100,000 per screen is the highest ever for a limited release, especially one that Lionsgate picked up for chump change ($5.5 million). The week's big package, Disney's A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey as an performance-capture Scrooge in 3D, opened at No. 1 with $31 million, a bah-humbug start given its $200 million production cost and the rep of Carrey whose How the Grinch Stole Christmas debuted to much cheerier $55.1 million nearly a decade ago.
Which brings me to the matter of marketing. I'm asking what got you to shell out for each of these movies? The reviews heavily favored Precious, which won recommendations from 87 percent of the nation's critics according to rottentomatoes.com. A Christmas Carol garnered only 54 percent of the reviewing Scrooges.
So here are my questions:
Did you see Precious because Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry signed on as executive producers and have used the heft of their hype power to get it noticed?
Did you see A Christmas Carol because of the growing appeal of 3-D, especially on huge IMAX screens?
That's the accepted wisdom. I'm ready to hear you challenge it.
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Mary C. | November 13, 2009 7:25 PM
Hi Peter
1) Precious has been on my must see list for months. The trailer captured my attention, but more important, Lee Daniels is behind it and I'm a BIG fan of his work. No disrespect to Tyler Perry, but Lee is The Man. He takes risks and shepherds very unusual stories to the screen: Shadowboxer & The Woodsman. Also, the casting choices for those 2 movies was very much 'outside the box'.
Precious just opened today in my town and I was in line for the 11:15am show. And like The Woodsman, it tackles an awful subject, but delivers with amazing grace, toughness & even humor in unexpected places.
2) Disney's A Christmas Carol - I'll pass. Agree with prior post; it looks like a video game. A bad one.
In related news...Pass on 2012 as well - suspected well before the reviews that it would be just another bloated HWood special effects extravaganza.
My Christmas Wish: More films from Lee Daniels & Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt Locker) and less from Michael Bay.
Peace everyone.
The truth is... | November 12, 2009 2:13 PM
People are complaining that "A Christmas Carol" has been done millions of times and needs to stop being made. My point is every generation needs a retelling of the story to introduce it to kids. So why not make it a studio released film? I remember watching Disney's previous version when I was a kid and a new release was well over-due, regardless of the "lifelessness" aspect. Kids will flock to see it because it is animated and parents won't complain due to the overall nature of the story being timeless and entertaining.
"Precious" obviously is no match for Disney's powerhouse because it opened in only 18 theaters. Was Traver's expecting everyone in the country to flock to those 18 locations?
Aside from that point I, being a 22 year old male from a fairly urban area, am tired of the guilt trip associated with films such as "Precious." It does not appeal to me and suddenly because powerful entertainment black personalities endorse the film, I have to feel obligated to hail it as the best film of 2009. Perhaps I am just insensitive and lack compassion but I just don't see the pleasure in watching such a film. The continuous dwelling on minority culture that has taken over the media is getting old. Then again what do I know?? Travers is close minded and wrote me off as a "dickhead" after my first sentence.
Precious Williams | November 12, 2009 2:04 PM
I will see Precious as soon as it comes to my town (London)
Scott | November 12, 2009 1:12 PM
If Precious was in my town I would've seen it. I live in Buffalo, and it probably won't be here until the Golden Globes. So as of now I am stuck with nationally release films, like 2012 which I am seeing this weekend. I'll wait to see Christmas Carol until like a week before Christmas. Precious is the movie I've been waiting to see since January!
jj | November 12, 2009 10:37 AM
people with kids will go see christas carol, people without kids will go to Precious, the book was incredibly moving and completely inappropriate for kids
eric | November 12, 2009 10:16 AM
i think you're an idiot. people did go to see precious, as evidenced by its per theater gross; it just wasn't in as many theaters as a christmas carol was.
hate to say this | November 11, 2009 10:35 PM
but most of white america could give a fuck about precious and the protaganist - a overweight underage black mother. most people will make typical assumptions
gina wilson | November 11, 2009 9:45 PM
I think it was wrong to have it in select theathers. I beleive it would of did better nationwide. Hopefully they have taken notice. I wont be able to see it until November 20, 2009 when it gets to Florida
Ken Wesley | November 11, 2009 9:24 PM
I saw Precious with some family members. I had plans on seeing it after reading so many great things from Sundance. I knew it was gonna be a well-acted movie, driven by the performance of the actors, not just because it was too emotional for some to handle. These Zemeckis animated films will never be on my radar.
neil | November 11, 2009 8:16 PM
Precious actually looks like a good movie, and Christmas Carol just looks bad. The whole animation aspect of it throws me off, it looks like a video game (am I the only one that thinks this?) The 3D is a bonus, but not enough to make me actually go want to to watch it.
Dan | November 11, 2009 7:10 PM
I imagine children, and therefore their parents, are perhaps slightly more inclined to see A Christmas Carol? Surely you don't expect six-year-olds to sit through Precious?
rusty kneecapp | November 11, 2009 2:17 PM
Wouldn't the answer be because Precious was only in 18 theaters and ACC was in over 3000.
Trenton N. | November 11, 2009 1:48 PM
Hey, Peter!
I saw a pre-screening of “Precious” about a month ago and really liked it. But now I see the poster for the film… It makes it look like a slasher/horror flick, complete with Satan’s hand ascending from the depths of hell.
I like the poster's design, but it just seems misleading to me.
poughkeepsiejohn | November 11, 2009 12:33 PM
I've already seen "A Christmas Carol". The 3-D graphics were terrific but a little too much towards the end. Besides, I can't remember the last time Jim Carrey was actually funny.
I want to see "Precious" because I've seen the trailer and it looks like a real heartbreaker. Now, if only the pussy-assed multiplexes will show it...
BCH | November 11, 2009 9:22 AM
Saw Precious because I knew it was going to be a good, from-the-heart type of movie. Didn't really care that Oprah (and especially Tyler Perry - yuck) co-signed it. It doesn't need their hype to tell it's story. Magnificent and riveting.
sbach | November 11, 2009 7:51 AM
I saw (and am going to see) neither. And according to Travers, because I'm not interested in seeing Precious, I'm a dickhead.
Daniel | November 10, 2009 8:00 PM
Want to see precious.. but Lubbock, Texas doesn't usually show the more low-budget films, so I'll probably just have to rent it or watch it online. It looks great though.
-by the way,
I haven't gotten to see "A serious man" yet either, because I live in Lubbock. That's disappointing because 1, as a Jew, I think it will hilariously depressing. 2. I'm a fan of the Cohen brother's work.
As for Christmas Carol.. ehh..
I suppose it would be entertaining, even though it doesn't really cater to me.
Maybe a renter, but I'll probably not end up seeing it.
Matt | November 10, 2009 2:19 PM
1. I have wanted to see Precious since I first heard about it at Sundance, but when Oprah became attached as producer I have become slightly less interested in the buzz and the buzz. It hasn't opened where I live yet and I will see it.
2. I have no interest in seeing "A Christmas Carol" and I think the movie studio should have used the money to create an entirely new story because I have zero interest in seeing something that has been done 100 times already, regardless of the animation.
thefffurbelow.blogpsot.com
Chris Price | November 10, 2009 6:10 AM
I saw Precious (and loved it) because its been hyped to me since Sundance. Oprah and Tyler Perry were a little late to the game. I came in on the ground floor of this film's hype. One of my good friends was at the very first Sundance screening and was knocked out. Having said all that, the fact that Oprah endorses any movie does not inspire me to see a film. As a matter of fact, most of the time its a big red flag. This is the same woman who tried to convince us that "Love In The Time Of Cholera" was worth watching. And I have never seen a Tyler Perry film and don't have any intention to. His movies seem formulaic and dull.
Avi | November 9, 2009 3:55 PM
I don't know if I'm going to see Precious(definitely not seeing A Christmas Carol) but I did see An Education over the weekend and it was great.
BC | November 9, 2009 3:21 PM
Have no intention to see either film. Precious looks too damned depressing (I know that sad life stories are suppossed to be seen by everyone and their mother, but I don't enjoy feeling uncomfortable for 1-2 hours). And the 3-d christmas carol? Spew!
hdbngr63 | November 9, 2009 1:06 PM
1. I haven't seen "Precious" cause it wasn't playing in my area yet, however I could care less about Oprah and Tyler Perry tagged on to the film, I'm just curious to see what the hype is all about.
2. Haven't seen X-Mas Carol yet, waiting until I go home for Thanksgiving break so I don't have to pay for it in 2D and can see it for free in 3D.
Saw "The Men Who Stare At Goats" this weekend, and though it wasn't a bad movie, I can honestly say I was greatly disappointed.
Canidce Frederick | November 9, 2009 11:37 AM
I saw Precious because the trailer looked riveting, like something I just had to see .Also because I know the book was gripping. wanted to see it on the big screen. I will see Christmas Carol because it's an age old classic.
carl | November 9, 2009 11:36 AM
I read the novel push (the film is based on it) an i loved it that is why im going to watch the movie i could care less about oprah and ghetto ass tyler perry, and the movie has recieved stellar reviews so thats another plus
Julian Stark | November 9, 2009 11:26 AM
1. Didn't see Precious because it's not in my area yet. Wouldn't have seen Precious for the Winfrey/Perry combo. Would have seen it because it looks incredible. Will see it as soon as it comes to my area.
2. Sort of... saw the film, but for no absolute reason really. The 3D/IMAX was a huge plus, though