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 kosmo

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It sounded boring to me and from the reviews that I've read Angie was the best part of the film and Depp just zombied his way through. I like Johnny Depp but a romantic leading man he is not. Angie is good but does better in action films.
I also thought Chelsea Clinton when I heard that something a Chelsea said might have impacted the film.

By joe

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Evidently it's just a lousy movie. Blame the producers, directors, writers and actors, not a talk show host still largely unknown.

By Gunsmoke

Maybe Moviegoers are Just Getting Tired Of Same old Overrated celebs, There are a lot Of talented People Out There Who hasn't been given a Fair hand into showbiz.

By Dynaracer

I could care less about political views of someone else, but when actors/musicians are always putting their views in my face, I am going to stop seeing there movies and stop buying their music. Maybe other are starting to do the same!

Curious how the actors/actresses put anything in your face. They make movies, they do interviews, in neither case do they write the script.

By Nancy Honda

Jenn Anaston is behind this sick campaign against Angie and Brad and has been for some time using CH to do her dirty work. She will never stop the vile statements. Brad and Angie need to get married and stop the crap from Anaston.

Wow, folks. No where in this sad article does it say that Ms. Jolie blames Ms. Handler. It only hints that anyone else does. The author is just trying to stir the pot, and you are letting him.

By Ona

People always refer to Brad and Jen, If they had gotten married and did not work out,what will people say then? I did not say Angie did the right thing but Jen try and move on with your life- is Brad the only man for you???.
About the movie,blame it on the economy and also we need young blood for movies not oldies we are tired of them. We want new chicks and not after-four who are supposed to be taking care of their kids at home.

By Garnette

I think Jen made her own bed. She just did not want to ruin her beautiful body to have a child for Brad.

By Frank

Who the hell is "Chelsea"?

By backfires

Rob, you are instigating and duplicitous. Chelsey Handler does not have a wide audience and her jealous, ugly words against Angelina couldn't keep fans from seeing a film. Every film this week did badly and with less theatres, Angelina and Johnny came in second.

ANOTHER THOUGHT: ANGELINA DID NOT STEAL JENNIFER'S HUSBAND. YOU CANNOT STEAL A MAN IF HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE IN AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE. BRAD WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT HAPPY FOR YEARS BEFORE HE MET ANGELINA.

AND I MIGHT ADD IN THE SIX YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED THEY HAVE ADOPTED THREE CHILDREN, HAD THREE BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN, GIVEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO NEEDY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, INVESTED THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO CAUSES FOR GOOD AND BUILT HOUSES IN NEW ORLEANS AND ANGELINA HAS HAD BOX OFFICE HITS AND IS NOW DIRECTING A FILM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Chelsey has drunk her way thru her stand-up acts and gone thru dozens of men, none who have stayed with her. She is a loose cannon and if Jennifer Aniston considers her a friend she better watch her back. This is a girl who will turn on you very quick.

By wrangler003

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Get your fact's straight before blasting people. Brad and the Holie are NOT MARRIED. He does not want to marry Holie, he know's in another year or so she will be all over someone else's husband or fiance. He know's what she is, he is one of them. She adopted most of the kid's herself. They BOTH need to stay home and RAISE their kid's instead of jetting all around the world to get a photo op. Give them a life, friends, school, etc. and put their ego's to bed until they raise their family. Yes, Brad wanted kid's so bad, why does he not stay home and raise his kids instead of the nannies doing it for them.

By georgie

First, Brad and Angelina are not married. They have chosen not to marry, that is their God given right. Second, I just always thought the only reason Angelina and Brad tries to seem so great is to conteract the bad publicity when he cheated on a well liked personality like Jen. I don't think Angelina had the best reputation going into the scandal since she had previously been known to break up relationships. As for Jen, for some reason I don't think Jen is pining away over Brad. I think the media keeps this rumor mill going.

Personally, I just can't stand Angelina. I like nothing about her at all. I find her disgusting to look at and a poor role model. And as someone said, she is no Meryl Steep, but then who is.

By Holly

I despise Angelina Jolie, always have.
Chelsea Handler spoke the truth but Angelina was a skanky weirdo long before Brad. If that's what Brad likes then they deserve each other. It's sad the pairing of one of my favorite actor's like Johnnie Depp with a skank like Angelina. Next time he will be more selective in who is co-star is. Most of the country despises her.

Charity begins at home. Also stop giving birth and adopt some of the millions of children up for adoption right here. Help needy people and children here. She doesn't impress me one tiny bit. She actually disgusts me. SKANK no matter how she tries to disguise it.

By scoval711

The movie was a bore. JD looks like he aged 20 years and more than 20 pounds. Garbage

By Tiffany

Maybe it has to do with no one find this movie all that intriguing? I saw the trailer enough times and after I felt like I knew what the movie was about. There was also the lack of chemistry between Depp and Jolie, PLUS it's been given 'less than glowing reviews' (someone said it was a 6.5/10! So less than acceptable) I love Depp to pieces, find Jolie annoying (you notice she'll do her interviews right around the week of release for her films?). YAWN... And maybe like some ppl said it has to do with the economy, people won't want to waste their money on this (go see a movie that had decent review and decent buzz).

Everything else aside, ALL actors/actresses do interviews & talk show appearances right before the release of their movies. They don't have any choice in the matter, it is required in the contract.

By carolj

watched brad pitt in meet joe black the other night ... he was absolutely adorable ... the robert redford of the 90's

By Laura

As much as I love Johnny Depp, I refuse to see anything with that skank in it. Hope this movie tanks.

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