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?
Add a comment
Angie isn't the best actress but the types of roles she selects attribute to her success. This role is not her normal action packed flick and with a story line depending strictly on her acting ability, it doesn't pull the attention of the general public - sorry! Chelsea is raunchy and is "in your face" with her opinions but I really doubt her opinion had anything to do with the box office numbers. Brad was a weak man, he made his bed and he is lying in it - enough said!~
Reply
Wow, such deep journalism...does anyone honestly believe that Chelsea Handler has that much influence over what the majority of people think? I have only known who she is by seeing her on TV purely by chance - she is so foul-mouthed that I cannot turn off TV fast enough. Funny thing about movie & TV executives - I think that they are rather clueless about what people (particularly those with a fully functional brain) want to see, and don't give the viewing public the respect that they deserve. This is evidenced by quality television programs being axed after a few episodes, or by the reporting of how well a film did on its opening weekend as if it was a baseball score. By the way, the trailer for The Tourist that was shown on TV had some very corny sounding lines!!! I don't believe Chelsea Handler had anything to do with that.
Reply
Well, Angelina is the worst actress (and has been all these years) I've ever seen to begin with, so it is only natural that she would blame her failure on Chelsea (you go, girl!). I am glad that Angelina's team (where is a "rolling eyes" smilie?) think that Chelsea has THAT MUCH power over an american audience. I think we have just gotten ourselves a next presidential candidate - Chelsea Handler! BTW, I love Chelsea and couldn't stand Angelina even before she ruined Jennifer's marriage (love Jennifer too - GREAT actress, not like some man-hangers). So Angelina shouldn't blame the mirror, it is time to look at herself.
Reply
IT MATTERS "NOT" WHAT ROLE JENNIFER PLAYS - SHE'S ALWAYS RACHEL FROM THE STUPID SHOW "FRIENDS" - SHE PLAYS THE SAME "ROLE" MOVIE AFTER MOVIE - NO "ACTING" SKILLS REQUIRED!! I WOULDN'T PAY MONEY TO SEE EITHER ONE OF HER MOVIES...- I TAKE THE KIDS TO SEE THEIR MOVIES - THEY'RE MORE FUN!....I'LL WAIT FOR THE VIDEO (DVD - BLU-RAY) THAT IS...
Angelina Jolie is a nasty skank; she does not need Chelsea Handler to damage her reputation, she perfectly capable of doing that all by herself!
Reply
Be careful Curtis, these left wing nut job's think WE all have to agree with them on this skank of all skanks. Guess Ododoboy held a press conference on this today or they would not have an opinion at all. LOL.
Ange..one beautiful babe...Dip or Dep or whatever his name is...looks like a hippie at a bus stop that is in bad need of a haircut and a shave... pay money to see him...not bloodly likely...wouldn't go to see that punk if his was out in front yard............
Reply
maybe the thinking behind their pairing is that alone they are big box office so together they would be smash all records. but the reality is: there is one character actor and one hambone.
Reply
Yay Chelsea....You go girl....If people seem interested in Jolie, its because they love watching her lie thru her teeth. She's such a fake and a true liar about everything. Sad thing is....every one can see right thru it.....So fun to watch this women try to be something she's not....poor kids to have to live with her.....
Reply
Chealsea? Really....as she pointed out shes been making fun of Angelina for YEARS! Maybe Chealsea is also respnosible for the snow in the midwest this weekend....or poverty.....I love Chealsea but I did not know she had that kind of power!
Reply
I don't BLAME Chelsea Handler for Angelina Jolie's box office bomb, I CREDIT Chelsea Handler! Good job, Chelsea! If there is any blame to be accredited, it would go to Angelina Jolie's BAD acting.
Reply
Chelsea should stop using her program and friendship with Brad Pitt's ex to call Angelina terrible names.The ex Mrs. Pitt needs to get over it and move on,tell your friend Chelsea to knock it off. I'm going to stop watching her show.
Reply
How could Angie blame Chelesa!? Chelesa didn't break Anyone's marriage up! We didn't need Chelesa to tells us that!!!!!! Give it a rest Angie!!
Reply
Ok, I know that Chelsea does not care for Jolie, but blame on her is way too easy. Have anybody read the critics on Friday??? EW gave a C, Rolling Stones, LA Times and Times say it's POOR, NYTimes calls it WEAK. People reads critics choices not pay attention to Chelsea Handler. What are they going to do now? Blame the newspapers?
Reply
I saw The Tourist and it's just not a good movie ...
no chemistry between Depp and Jolie ...
Jolie is so dang skinny that it's distracting !! She looks AWFUL, no matter how they try to dress her up.
Also the script is just lame.
Reply
I don't HATE Angelina or Brad.......I'm just so sick of the Hollywood scene and how easy it is for any of them to leave a marriage.....break up a marriage and expect us to think all is okay.I am not going to pay any of these morons my hard earned money.I just go see animated movies with the grandkids.And before anyone says it..YES I know they are actors and get paid too..but somehow I feel less "violated" by them!
Reply
HOW IN THE HELL COULD ANYONE SAY THAT A.J. RUINED J.A.'S LIFE - BRAD IS ONLY A MAN - J.A -- THEY WOULD HAVE DIVORCED EVENTUALLY - J.A. IS A SPOILED BRAT....AND AN ADULT ......SHE HAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS WELL - STOP CRYING FOR HER..."IT IS WHAT IS IS"!!.....HE LEFT HER FOR ANOTHER WOMAN - SO WHAT!...SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD A "BABY" LIKE HE SAID WAS ALL HE WANTED AFTER MAKING "OCEANS'S ELEVEN" - *HE SAID IT ON TV IN AN INTERVIEW" HE SAID HE WAS GOING HOME TO MAKE BABIES WITH J.A. - (WHAT HAPPENED)? SHE DIDN'T WANT TO RUIN HER BODY I GUESS....SHE WAS A FOOL...HOW MANY KIDS DOES HE HAVE NOW???6/ 7???
Reply
DORAHELEN - Really? Blaming Jennefer Anniston for not having a baby on demand? Did you not pay attention in bioligy in school or didn't you get an education? And this is not the 1800's when a wife was required to produce an heir on demand...
Chelsea who????? Who cares... Brad and Jen are over it, it was a long time ago Chelsea needs to get over it.. I saw the tourist this last week-end and thought it was good. Not her best but it was entertaining. If you truly think Chelsea has the power to dictate ratings for a major motion picture. People are giving her way to much credit, she's a B rated celebrity at best.... Talking about A list celebs is the only way she can get attention.
Reply
Let me be clear. I don't hate Angelina Jolie because Chelsea Handler told me to (although I would if she did, because Chelsea is awesomeness personified). I hate Angelina Jolie for reasons that start and end with Angelina Jolie - she's annoying, I find her manner of speaking bothersome, and she bugs me on such a level that I am no longer able or willing to seperate the actress from the characters she plays on screen.
Reply