Weak Start for Angelina's 'Tourist' ... Blame Chelsea?
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?
Adina Porter: The Newsroom, True Blood and Motherhood
Who Should Play Christian & Anastasia In 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'?
Add a comment
I don't lose any sleep over A's failures, believe me. I believer her to be arrogant, elitist, and greedy (think about it)! But to blame her for breaking up a marriage is to believe Brad baby was some babe in the woods without any world experience. His willingness to stray, or abandon his wife, is the REAL reason for the break up.
Reply
Who gives a crappola what that foul mouth Chelsea has to say about anything I think the problem with this movie is the timing. Even for regular movie-goers, Christmas is a time when you want to see something special, light-hearted - something the whole family may enjoy thus the huge success of the next Narnia. This looked very run-of-the mill, almost boring and she and Depp are very subdued actors who together didn't seem to have much chemistry.
Reply
Everyone HATES Angelina Holie, she is not a good actress at all. She is boring and her movie's are even more boring. No one want's to watch the crap she makes, you see one of them, you have seen them all. Bad actress, bad movies and just a bad all around person. Johnny Depp should have told them no than to have worked with this nothing woman. You noticed BRAD was all over her while filming this with Johnny. Guess he was afraid Holie would sleep with Depp to. Depp would NEVER be that stupid like Brad. Brad, Angie and their so called family are jokes.
Reply
Everyone hates Ms. Jolie? Really? She is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood because everybody hates her? ... Riiiight. Don't forget to take your meds. lol.
What lies and wet dreams....Loads of people love Jolie and Depp.
Sad to have such deep hatred for someone after 6 years. It just have made your own life very bitter. Hate only hurts you.
Jolie is in high demand and paid extremely well.
I'm glad because it's more money to donate to less unfortunate people.
Wrangler, crawl back under your rock.
Not everyone "hates Angelina Jolie" - I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak for me...and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
If you must attack another human being - THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW! - do try to be brave & stand on your own two feet.
I'm all for people staying strong within their convictions, but do not think that you have the right to speak for me.
Thank you.
Joe. She won't be the highest paid actress anymore. Her 15 min is over. Her last few movies were horrible. Time to be a full time mama. Maybe she would do better in the countries she prefers to live & spend her money in. Bye Bye.
I think you hit it right on the head!
@newyork: LOL!!! she has had nearly 15 *years* as a successful actress, made 100's of millions in ticket sales and *you* are declaring an end to her *15 minutes*. Thanks, I got a good chuckle out of that, probably not the way you intended though. :)
I get it you don't like Angelina. But why bring the children into it?. They are lovely and so innocent. A gift from God. You must really love Jen a lot. I think Brad Pitt should have played the leading role. He and Ang have great chemistry on screen. Another action movie is what they need but if the story is really as bad as the review I don't get why they all didn't stay away from it. I really blame the failure on bad reviews.
Totally agree. AJ's a mediocre actress in a bad movie. Why would anyone pay for that??? Chelsea Handler had nothing to do with the movie's poor box office.
Reply
Oh, for cryin' out loud. It's been six years. Jennifer and her friends need to get over it. Chelsea Handler is an idiot and needs to shut the hell-o up!
Reply
Like it or not, what Chelsea said is the truth.
Also, I do not think that Angelina's humanitarian work and what she did regarding Jennifer Aniston have anything to do with each other.
Reply
Chelsea who? before I saw the last name the only Chelsea that came to mind was a Clinton.
Reply
Please, you give Chelsea too much credit. You should put the credit where it is deserved, just maybe people are tired of the weird Angelina. Although, I like Johnny Depp I can't stand Angelina, and therefore made a choice a long time ago not to see movies with her in it no matter who the co-star is; just my personal preference.
Reply
seems to me Jen can't hold any man, so why blame just Brad? takes 2 to tango. she picked career over a family.
Reply
Oh, and Jolie picked family over career? LMAO! Parading those poor kids like accessories doesn't make her a good mother, just proves how narcissistic she is.
It's true Chelsea reminded folks of the "great wrong" that Angelina perpetrated on a woman whose marriage was failing. Hmm... I wonder if Brad had any part to play?
Movie execs do not give audiences enough credit. They think that we're dumb animals, willing to be influenced by morons like Chelsea Handler. I think the audience is a fairly accurate sampling of the human psyche at large. If the movie truly sucks, if there's no chemistry between the actors, and the plot is a bore, then audiences will be bored and the movie won't rake in the cash. Plain and simple. They must have known this while making the movie, and probably hoped that raw star power and hype would make up for the problem.
Reply
Maria, what you said is on target. Again, for me it is that I just don't like Angelina. It has nothing to do with the Jen thing, I just can't stand all the bazaarness. Johnny Depp is one of my favorite performers, but I really have a hard time sitting through a film with her in it. I preferred taking my family to see the latest adaption of Narnia, a favorite book and movie series.