Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 184: The Release of Final Destination]

While busy shooting on set, Link received a call informing him that Final Destination was set to premiere. As the director, he couldn't miss the opening ceremony, no matter how packed his schedule was.

So, he took a day off to head back to Los Angeles for the premiere. He participated in a couple of promotional events and then returned to the set to continue filming.

His actions puzzled many in the industry. Everyone knew about his high-stakes bet with CAA stars, amounting to over a hundred million dollars. With such a substantial gamble at play, his nonchalant demeanor surprised everyone, as if he were completely unfazed.

Was he confident, or had he seen the box office for The Firm hit $202 million, leaving him without hope, prompting him to throw caution to the wind?

...

Aaron Kutz, the associate editor of The Hollywood Reporter, managed to get him on the phone and asked if he was worried about the performance of Final Destination. Did he fear losing the gamble? Why was he focused on filming a new movie instead of promoting his current one? Did he have faith in Final Destination's box office potential, or had he given up hope on it?

Link responded that the marketing for Final Destination was already in the hands of his company's promotional department. Mark Amin and Jon Gordon were far more skilled in promotions than he was; as a director, his main job was to make movies. At this point, it was better to focus on the work at hand rather than waiting to see the box office figures, and he wouldn't waste time worrying about it.

Aaron then pressed him for his confidence level regarding Final Destination's box office. How much did he estimate it would earn?

Link chuckled, saying that based on current trends, he believed Final Destination's North American box office wouldn't lag behind The Firm.

Aaron wished him luck for a blockbuster hit and success in the bet. Link expressed his thanks and went back to filming.

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"Scene 34, Take 3, and action!"

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On October 22, just a week before Halloween, Final Destination premiered in 2,139 theaters across North America. With an extensive marketing push, the film earned a solid $26.09 million in its opening weekend.

That was a strong start, placing it fourth among films released that year, following Jurassic Park, The Firm, and The Fugitive.

This result relieved Michael Ovitz and others. Based on trends over the past three years, films opening with more than $20 million had a good chance of hitting $100 million in North America; the ultimate earnings typically fell around $120 million, rarely exceeding that.

It didn't pose a real threat to The Firm's $202 million.

However, they didn't let their guard down. After Final Destination's premiere, they began pitching favorable comparisons to the concurrently released films, like Demolition Man and Flesh and Bone, while simultaneously arranging for media coverage to cast negative reviews on Final Destination, attempting to suppress its box office performance.

They initially thought this tactic would damage the film's earnings. But the outcome surprised them.

...

In its second week, Final Destination collected $48.18 million across 2,141 theaters, bringing its total to $69.59 million, showing a stronger growth than The Firm.

Michael Ovitz was incredulous at these numbers and quickly arranged for someone to investigate the accuracy of this performance to see if Guess Pictures had inflated the box office figures.

The investigation found no evidence of that. Media and audience reactions indicated that Final Destination was of high quality. The film's special effects, acting, and plot design were thrilling, intense, and had audiences screaming in their seats.

...

Variety reported that Final Destination was one of the most exciting thrillers of the year, the best disaster film in recent memory, and the perfect 'Halloween' gift Link could offer to viewers.

...

The Los Angeles Times published a survey where reporter Al Simmons reached out to 1,000 viewers who had seen the film to gauge their opinions.

The results showed that 99.2% of viewers rated it above 60, with 76.5% giving it 90 or higher. About 81.8% expressed they would likely recommend it to others, while 28.7% said they might see it again.

Both male and female viewers had similar positive feedback. Praise focused on three key aspects of Final Destination.

First was the impressive plot design, especially regarding the creative order of deaths and how the main characters met their ends -- everything was surprising and terrifying, prompting gasps.

Second, the direction was exceptional. The cinematography was engaging and immersive, with the special effects executed superbly, leaving viewers eager for a second watch.

Third, the lead performances were fantastic. Ryan Phillippe was charming, Liv Tyler stunning, and supporting actors like Ben Affleck, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston looked great as well. Joaquin Phoenix and Edward Norton may not have fit the traditional mold of handsome, but their performances were strong.

Viewers complimented the casting choices made by the crew, as they managed to pick actors who were both skilled and visually appealing.

The survey did acknowledge a couple of negative comments on the film.

Firstly, the film was too scary, leading some viewers to develop a fear of flying after watching it, which was not friendly to frequent fliers. The frequent calamities experienced by the characters made audiences anxious even while walking.

Second, the film's heavy emphasis on fatalism presented a bleak perspective, suggesting that life and death were preordained. Some people could survive calamities, while others would meet their demise from trivial incidents. This notion of design by fate left viewers feeling helpless.

Such pessimism could evoke unnecessary fear and concern over death, which was often unwarranted.

...

Along with Variety, The Los Angeles Times, and The Hollywood Reporter, many American media outlets reported on the opening of Final Destination, with over 80% of reviews being positive across forty-six different sources, giving the film an average rating of 88.

According to reports, among the viewers who watched Final Destination, 90% were between the ages of 18 and 35.

This demographic gave it stellar ratings, frequently recommending it to friends and building a buzz around it, almost dismissing anyone who hadn't seen it.

This momentum led to steady increases in the film's box office.

Data from the cinema industry indicated that on Halloween alone, Final Destination earned $17.39 million, setting the record for the highest single-day earnings on that holiday in North American film history.

With nearly $50 million earned in its second week, Final Destination put immense pressure on Michael Ovitz and others, including Richard Gere and Tom Cruise.

*****

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