why Fight Club did so badly
The other day I was having a discussion with my friend about the almighty movie Fight Club. We wondered why the hell it did so terribly in the box office. I first thought that it was marketed poorly. I got the impression that it was like a new generation of a more violent Bloodsport, but a lot more boring. Surely the critics would then save this blunder with good reviews, right? Nope, they hated it. So I checked out a bunch of reviews and in just about every negative review the aspect of testosterone was brought up. The critics liked the first part, but then saw all the gore, fighting, etc. as catering to our cavemen instincts. Then I realized, Palahniuk did an awesome job striking a nerve on his feminization of society theme. These critics felt exteremely threatened and had to fight back with all they had. They had to be too high and mighty to realize that the only time we are alive is when we are close to death.
Well, I hope that all makes sense. I come up with a lot of ideas like this, and always have trouble trying to portray them in words. Please tell me what you think and give other ideas as to why Fight Club didn't do too well in the box office.
it did poorly in the box office because it [I]doesn't[/I] appeal to a large audience.
its also rated r. Many rated r movies dont do very well in the box office
When faced with death how many people are suicidal?
how many people are suicidal in america.
fucking seatbelts. warnings on coffee cups....
I tell you all now that I've come to the conclusion that God is insane; it would explain everything.
This conclusion is watery, for I myself am more likely to be insane. What breaks it apart is I don't beleive in Insanity.
I think.
i think you've got the wrong thread.
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LMFAO
[SIZE=1][QUOTE=ehquestionmark]Wow. This little thread got CRAZY. People telling me to abuse my girlfriend, people showing an alarming lack of respect for women as a whole, people questioning my masculinity in some kind of bizarre machoistic pissing-contest. Hell, I even got called stuffy. [/QUOTE]
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One word: Conformism.
If characters in your film say things like "I haven't been fucked like this since gradeschool" don't expect it to make a lot of money.
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yeah, but what about american pie, then?
[SIZE=1][QUOTE=ehquestionmark]Wow. This little thread got CRAZY. People telling me to abuse my girlfriend, people showing an alarming lack of respect for women as a whole, people questioning my masculinity in some kind of bizarre machoistic pissing-contest. Hell, I even got called stuffy. [/QUOTE]
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[URL=http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=15714&highlight=interview+insomnomaniac]Insomnomaniac: the found interview[/URL][/SIZE]
when i saw commercials for it i wanted to see it, unfortunately i was way too young at the time...
It probabl would've been more succesful if it was advertised as a more straight conventional thriller or something. You know, trick em and make them PAY
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Schwabe [/i]
[B]When faced with death how many people are suicidal?
how many people are suicidal in america.
fucking seatbelts. warnings on coffee cups.... [/B][/QUOTE]
what are you, retarded?
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by corruption [/i]
[B]
Well, I hope that all makes sense. [/B][/QUOTE]
It makes perfect sense, and I would tend to agree with you. Plus, it [b]was[/b] marketed poorly. I was unfamiliar with CP's work, saw the previews, and thought, "Brad Pitt? Boxing? [i]Fuck that![/i]" Had there been any real indication of what the story was, I might have taken notice.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by penguin [/i]
[B]One word: Conformism.
If characters in your film say things like "I haven't been fucked like this since gradeschool" don't expect it to make a lot of money. [/B][/QUOTE]
Had that line been in the previews, I definately would have gone to see it.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by bane [/i]
[B]its also rated r. Many rated r movies dont do very well in the box office [/B][/QUOTE]
I'd think otherwise. Many studio contracts stipulate to the director(in not so many words) [i]You will deliver an R-rated film with a running time of under two hours.[/i] This has been changing of late, but was a standard from about the late 70's through much of the 90's...
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by bane [/i]
[B]what are you, retarded? [/B][/QUOTE]
Probally. at the time I wrote it the comment seemed to fit in....
...
I tell you all now that I've come to the conclusion that God is insane; it would explain everything.
This conclusion is watery, for I myself am more likely to be insane. What breaks it apart is I don't beleive in Insanity.
I think.
their marketting scheme was bad!!!! thats all, they just marketted in the wrong way. wath all the tv spots and previews on your dvd for the film, and than try to take a non-bias standpoint and try to figure out what the movie is about, and if it is appealing or not
To be honest, when Fight Club first came out, I was like, "Wow, doesn't that sound like a load of Top Gun style macho non-plotted bullshit?"
I learned there was a twist in the end a few years later, and I thought, yeah, might as well give it a go.
I thought the movie kicked ass. I loved the narrative more than anything.
But anyway, I think Fight Club did badly because it seemed like the movie was just about fighting and nothing else.
Xk3zofrenik is right about the movie getting people into reading the books, it's what it did with me.
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I agree totally. The movie's name suggest macho action without plot annd with hot girls in bikinis running aroud. I'm actually glad the movie didt do so well, they probably would have tried something stupid like a sequel or else everyoe would start to imitate the movie like a bunch of idiots.
the marketing was as good as it could be without ruining the movie... i mean when i saw the poster i just knew... this is the best movie ever, i put two and two together, Ed Norton, great actor, David Fincher, director of se7en, etc. etc. but you could also assume it's just about fighting... but that's the point, you gotta see it completely raw. the less idea you have of the movie the better. now if that means it won't do so well at the box office who gives a shit? Fight Club prolly wouldn't have done good anyway... cause it's actually the best movie on earth, and when you think about it, you should realize that the best movie on earth wouldn't make a lot of money. it would be a cult classic adored by few and misunderstood by most. because what is the majority of people if not morons, sheep, lemmings?
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Lost his faith in all that's good
Closed the curtain, unplugged the clock
Hung his clothes on the shower rod
But he didn't get undressed
And no, he didn't seem depressed
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[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by bane [/i]
[B]its also rated r. Many rated r movies dont do very well in the box office [/B][/QUOTE]
Heh. I find this kind of funny because the Australian rating system basically goes G, PG, M, MA then R. R is 18+, and few movies get it. If they do, everybody and their grandmother just [i]has[/i] to see it because of that!
I remember standing in line for Kill Bill and seeing people get carded! That was a novelty, and I swear, more people turned up just to see what was so cool that people were getting carded over!
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Fake Plstic Trees [/i]
[B]I agree totally. The movie's name suggest macho action without plot annd with hot girls in bikinis running aroud. I'm actually glad the movie didt do so well, they probably would have tried something stupid like a sequel or else everyoe would start to imitate the movie like a bunch of idiots. [/B][/QUOTE]
It be successful enough to spawn a videogame, it be.
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i didnt hear about the film until one of my friends insisted i watch it.
at that time, it had already been moved from the new releases to the regular rental section.
i really think that it did have to do with marketing. had i seen previews, or marketing that i could recall, i would have been in the theatre multiple times, at least.. but i didnt.
perhaps i just didnt notice it, and it was everywhere.. but i really dont remember hearing about it until that recommendation.
[COLOR=Red] with a bit of luck, his life was ruined forever. always thinking that just behind some narrow door in all of his favorite bars, men in red woolen shirts are getting incredible kicks from things he'll never know.[/COLOR]
as someone already said, it would contradict itself to market it to it's full sales potential
so there was a lot of reliance on word of mouth.
I had it penned down to a macho movie about frustrated men who realise in the end violence is not the key, if not for my friend esther's insistance I wouldn't have seen it
I think it did poorly because it's a shitty movie and pitts and snorton couldn't "act" their way through a game of charades.
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Scary movie 3 made 50 millon on its opening. What the hell is going on............all there is out now is crap... if a movie like scary movie 3 is makign 50 million on its opening well than something is definately wrong. Fight CLub is one of the best movies of our time... it deserved much better..althought it did make great dvd sales
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I think it did poorly because it's a shitty movie and pitts and snorton couldn't "act" their way through a game of charades.
Are you serious? Edward Norton is one of the best out there - if not the best - and brad pitt, after i got past all my hating him because he's married to the wonderful jennifer aniston - isn't that bad on screen himself. The movie's basically perfect, so I can't see how you can classify their acting as shitty. Respect your opinion though.
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i think it didn't do wel because, basicly, people don't understand it, the same as with so many great movies. i had a couple of friends see it after i did, about 3 years ago (it wasn't even shown in the theatre here), and none of them really got it. maby its just for like kinda messed up ppl, who'd rather die be4 being faced to the system for life.
as critics and ppl who saw it didnt understand it, they gave it really bad reviews, which made ppl who hadn't seen it yet believe it was the worst movie ever.
i didnt see any advertising at all here (im in south america, but movies starring actors like bradd pitt and edward norton, and direced by david fincher are always shown on the theatres), but i can see why it wasnt advertised that much, it would kind of contradict itself in some way.
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i'm gonna quote Brother Supremo to make my previous point, hope he doesnt mind:
"The movie made such an impact on me. I tried recommending ti to everyone I knew. Of course I know a lot of idiots. "I didn't get it." or "It was too slow." or "What?" Dumbass responses."
(its in the "did everybody like the movie?"thread)
this is why it did so badly.
Namer of a thousand names, maker of meanings, transformer of the world, your parents and the parents of your parents continue in you.
[QUOTE=Lazlosdead]I think it did poorly because it's a shitty movie and pitts and snorton couldn't "act" their way through a game of charades.[/QUOTE]
So wait...when you say this...im assuming you have seen: Primal Fear and American History X? The 25th hour and a few more are good but I would definetly say you must watch Fight Club, Primal Fear,and American History X before making judgement on Edward Nortons acting abilities. I consider him one of the best actors working.
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Well it's not that it was marketed poorly, but honestly, how would you market a movie like this? But that's definately the reason why the movie didn't do well. I thought it looked stupid as hell when I first saw the trailer.
Then again, I might be wrong.