Chapter 10: Chapter 10
Ronald's ACU movie with Sylvester Stallone premiered, and lots of stars had come. Everybody knew Ronald because he was a billionaire. As they say, money is power. The actress of this movie was Angelina Jolie; because of Tomb Raider, her fees were high. The film director was James Wan.
The film started, and everybody watched with expectations because Sylvester Stallone was a superstar. Film critics thought the film was a typical action film, but the action scenes were good. Everybody congratulated Ronald.
The film was released in early summer 2005 by Sony Pictures. It earned $210 million in North America and $190 million worldwide in 2 months. After 4 months running, the film ran a total of $523 million worldwide. Sony and Ronald were in a good mood because it earned well on DVD and TV rights.
Also, Will Smith's movie was released in late summer and earned a total of $560 million. And in December came Tom Cruise's movie, which earned $700 million dollars worldwide. With this, everybody knew the value of the ACU. Wall Street estimated the value of the ACU at $4 billion.
In 2006, my company went public, and shares rose exponentially. The company's worth soared to $3.5 billion. With that, I talked to the top five studios about the next ACU movies and told them that in the next 5 years, the ACU would launch 10 ACU Movies. I gave them 2 movies each studio to co-produce. They wanted my studio, but I said I would sell the studio when I got bored of movies. But I also made sure there was no propaganda in the ACU.
He was having a day with Angelina Jolie in his rented Beverly Hills house. He slept with three women per week and met with his children. However, there was a problem: all his children were boys. After consulting with doctors, he was told that a unique aspect of his own chromosomal makeup led to a strong predisposition for male offspring. He found the situation... incredibly unusual.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. released Wonder Woman, which earned $800 million at the box office. They were also working on Batman, but they could not find a director for Batman. They didn't want to take a risk with Batman. So, they hired me with 20 + 20 fees, not on North American but on global box office. The film budget was $200 million. The film's release date was summer 2007.
Ronald just suggested the film's lead. For Batman, I chose Heath Ledger. And for his girlfriend role, I chose Scarlett Johansson. For the rest, I left it to Warner. In this film, I made Batman more badass. As Ronald often mused during production, reflecting on the hero's core identity, "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me." The film's technology was also more advanced because of the Superman fight. In the last scene, Ronald added Batman in a stance with Superman for 30 seconds.
But before that, ACU 6, a movie starring Ben Affleck, was released. It grossed $400 million within 2 months. The ACU name became more of a success. The next phase: We will make crossover ACU movies.
Then Batman was released and earned $1.1 billion total box office.
The moment Batman hit theaters, the media erupted. It wasn't just a film release; it was a cultural event, fueled by the staggering success of Ronald's Superman, his ACU, and now his audacious takeover of DC's most iconic hero. Headlines screamed across every entertainment outlet:
Variety: "Ronald Smith: The Billion-Dollar Touch. From ACU Architect to Dark Knight Savior, Is There Anything This Man Can't Do?" The article highlighted how Smith had not only resurrected a flagging franchise but had done so with a critical and commercial triumph that redefined the superhero genre once again. "He doesn't just make movies; he crafts empires," read one particularly glowing review.
The Hollywood Reporter: "The Smith Effect: How One Director Changed the Game – and the Studio System." Their in-depth piece delved into Ronald's unparalleled deal with Warner Bros., the 20+20 global box office percentage, marveling at the power shift he commanded. "For decades, studios held the cards. Now, Ronald Smith writes his own rules. His refusal to sell Ronald Smith Pictures, while still co-producing with major players, is a masterclass in strategic leverage."
Forbes: "The Billionaire Behind the Blockbusters: Ronald Smith's Net Worth Soars, Driven by Cinematic Dominance." Their coverage focused less on the film itself and more on the financial implications, noting how the Batman success cemented his company's valuation and his personal fortune. They analyzed his business acumen, his ability to spot talent (Heath Ledger's performance was already generating Oscar buzz), and his seemingly infallible Midas touch.
Entertainment Weekly: "The Dark Knight : Heath Ledger's Batman, Scarlett Johansson's Chemistry, and Ronald Smith's Vision." This piece gave credit to the performances and the raw, gritty aesthetic Ronald had brought to Gotham. Fans debated the subtle integration of advanced tech and the controversial, yet thrilling, post-credits tease of Batman facing Superman. "He's not just a director; he's a world-builder," one fan forum post, widely quoted, declared.
The New York Times: While praising the film's artistic merits and Ledger's transformative performance, their cultural critics pondered the phenomenon of a single individual wielding such immense influence over global entertainment. "Ronald Smith isn't just making movies; he's shaping the myths of our time, one blockbuster at a time. The question isn't if he'll redefine Hollywood, but how fundamentally."