Weak Start for Angelina's 'Tourist' ... Blame Chelsea?

By Rob Shuter Posted Dec 13th 2010 09:30AM

Movie executives were dealing with flared ulcers and pulsating migraines Monday after the Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp vehicle 'The Tourist' bombed at the box office, getting beaten by an animated lion (the newest 'Chronicles of Narnia') despite starring two of the most bankable stars in all of moviedom. This leads many to wonder, did Chelsea Handler's blunt jokes about Angie play a role in turning moviegoers against her?

"It's not that Chelsea is the most powerful movie critic the world has ever known, it's that she reminded all of America what Angelina had done all over again. Chelsea picked an ugly scab off a wound that Angelina had worked so hard to heal with her humanitarian work," an industry executive tells me. "What woman in America is going to pay money to see Angelina ruin one man's life on-screen when we all saw her [ruin Jen's marriage] for free in real life?"

'The Tourist' took in just $17 million domestically on its first weekend, an anemic start to a film with a projected budget of about $100 million, according to Box Office Mojo. It was Angie's worst opening since 2007's 'A Mighty Heart,' a much smaller film that opened with about $4 million. It was also Depp's weakest opening since the musical 'Sweeney Todd' brought in just $9 million in 2007. (Note: 'Sweeney' opened in about 1,000 fewer theaters than 'Tourist.' 'A Might Heart' started with about 1,300 fewer screens.)

Despite a marketing campaign deliberately aimed at women, including advertising spots during the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and the much-hyped/tears-filled Barbara Walters interview special with Oprah Winfrey, the film world's hottest pairing still failed to connect.

"Chelsea's comments couldn't have come at a worse moment," one insider tells me of the controversy surrounding the comic's jabs at Angie. "No amount of money spent on advertising or marketing could compete with the amount of press and attention Chelsea's rant got."

During a recent stand-up concert in her native New Jersey, Chelsea called Angie a homewrecker and a "f***ing c**t." She, of course, has been making fun of Angelina for years and has even used the "homewrecker" line before, but because she is now a confirmed member of Jen's inner circle (they spent Thanksgiving together) the renewed comments (and video documenting it) have received more attention.

My source believes that the image of Jen being personally wronged by Angie "made it impossible for any woman to go out over the weekend and support her."

What do you think? Did Chelsea time her jokes to help sabotage Angelina's big opening?

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Tags: angelina jolie, chelsea handler, The Tourist

Comments

(133)

Monday 13 December

By Bob

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I'm going to see it just for the serenery. Venice is the most beautiful city in Italy!

By badass

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sure you are.

By BTDT

"did Chelsea Handler's blunt jokes about Angie play a role in turning moviegoers against her?"

Not quite. Angelina's poor acting turned everyone against her.

By LV

What a load of crap!
there's no way an actual "studio executive" told you that..
most people don't even know who Chelsea Handler is!
The Tourist is just a bad remake of a mediocre film that should have never been done.
and for that matter, it's a well known fact that Johnny Depp can't open a film unless he plays some wacky 3D crazy character..

By Jim

"Blame Chelsea?" I thought of Chelsea Clinton. Who the horse hockies is Chelsea Hundler or Hendler, or whatever? Good grief! Get a day job.

By Nico Toscani

You called it. The trailers alone were enough to make me want to gouge my eyes out.

By Gab

Blames Chelsea?!? PLEASE. She doesn't have that kind of pull, and the people who hate Angelina have always hated her without needing to be reminded by anyone. Blame the bad trailer, blame the makeup/costume department, and blame the director for putting Johnny Depp on film looking like the twin brother of Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas-era Benicio del Toro. And you can blame the two stars for refusing to be photographed together or to have their intimate stills released to the press for fear of the Hollywood rumor mill.

By hsk

Has it ever occurred to anyone that Angelina Jolie isn't that great of an actress? I saw the previews of this movie and there was nothing about it that interested me. There was zero chemistry between Depp and Jolie, and he seemed to be less than enthusiastic about his role in the movie. I won't go see it, and it has nothing to do with Chelsea Handler.

Thursday 07 April

By Allioop

Chelsea Handler is a b@@@h and you all know it, talk about a no talent C@#t!! Jen is a b@#ch too, she should have had Brad's kids and kept her man but she wanted a career, what career?? she is a a no talent C@#t too for that matter. At least Angelina is real. Handler is soo stupid and so not funny and ugly as hell! She needs a makeup, hair and stylist desperately!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Andy

Dumbest. Article. Ever.

By stu

i 2nd tat!

By [A]

Maybe people didn't see this movie because they sensed it was s**t

By joy

You give Chelsea Handler way too much credit. She is just an idiot with a big mouth who has nothing to say but takes way too long to say it. I doubt she'd have much influence over a pet rock.

By themeeker

I agree. Maybe the movie just isn't that good.

By Jeremy

It's the economy, thats all, just the economy. You can pretend it's Chelsea, you can blame the the stars, but its the economy. 20 bucks to go see a movie? Its the economy.

By Love Angie

Exactly! I totally agree. people are buying Xmas gifts and money is tight. none of the movies did good this weekend. But once it goes oversees you will see a great return on investment because they are loved internationally. Whoever thinks Angie is not a good actress must think ms.jen is talented..hahahaha

By Barbara Loden

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Your post is right on. You read my mind.

By CR

I went to the movies this weekend and chose something else that was the same price because I know that anything that Angelina Jolie is in is CRAP! You can't brame the economy either!

By Joyce

wow my sentiments too.....jen a good actress hahahah

Monday 27 December

By Mel

I agree, its the economy stupid!! I too thought the article was talking about Chelsea Clinton WTF? I did see the movie and I actually liked it. I thought the lack luster acting from Depp was his way of playing an intriguing and demure school teacher. Who would of known!!

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