Major Flop Alert! Uma Thurman's New Movie Rakes in Just $131 Bucks - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-27-2010, 01:01 AM

Even films that pull in $100 million can still be considered flops, but no one needs any fancy cost analysis on this one: Uma Thurman's latest movie is making news for earning an embarrassingly paltry $131 in its opening weekend in London.

The Guardian reports that a dozen -- at most -- people paid to see 'Motherhood,' a semi-autobiographical pic about a harried Manhattan mom, written and directed by Katherine Dieckmann. On the film's opening day, only one ticket was sold, meaning the movie played out to a single audience member.

Critics haven't been kind to the film (it's rated 20 percent at RottenTomatoes), but then again, compare that to say, 'The Bounty Hunter,' which earned an ultra-low 9 percent RottenTomatoes score, but has managed to haul in $33 million worldwide in one week.

Producer Jana Edelbaum is suing Metrodrome, the company responsible for marketing the film in the UK, for their ill-advised ploy to build buzz with an exclusive one-theater booking. Edelbaum got the news about the film's disastrous debut when The Guardian called for a comment. "You're kidding?" she told the UK paper. "We must have broken a new record for grosses." Her defense of the film, however, was weak at best. "'Motherhood' is not bad. It's a very decent movie. I've seen movies that are not half as good."

'Motherhood' first screened in January at Sundance, then opened in limited release in the U.S. in October. According to Boxofficemojo.com, the film didn't fare much better in the States, earning only $93,388 in a short four-week run. Word of mouth must have been terrible: more than half of that gross is from the film's opening weekend. At last count the film, which co-stars Minnie Driver and Anthony Edwards, has earned a mere $701,784 worldwide.

So who's to blame: The terrible film or the lackluster marketing? Metrodome's support of the theatrical release does sound halfhearted, by their own admission: "Inevitably some films will work better on some platforms than others. In this particular case the DVD was stronger than the theatrical result," the company said.

Perhaps they have a point: When The Guardian asked the ticket seller at the film's one London location, he couldn't even remember the film. "Have you got the right cinema? There's another cinema down the road -- perhaps it was on there instead?"

We're betting that everyone involved, including Thurman, wants to forget this particular fiasco.

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/20...ing-film-flop/

catlover79 · 03-27-2010, 12:33 PM

OUCH.

Brian Damage · 03-27-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

OUCH.

That's about what it costs to go to the movies nowadays

catlover79 · 03-27-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

That's about what it costs to go to the movies nowadays

I know. Thank God my movie theater days are over. I worked at one for 6 1/2 years, mainly as a box office cashier. If I had a dollar for every time someone moaned to me about the ticket prices, I could've retired and set up trust funds for both my nephews.

Plus, I quit in 2005 - so I can only imagine how worse it is now!!!!

Brian Damage · 03-27-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I know. Thank God my movie theater days are over. I worked at one for 6 1/2 years, mainly as a box office cashier. If I had a dollar for every time someone moaned to me about the ticket prices, I could've retired and set up trust funds for both my nephews.

Plus, I quit in 2005 - so I can only imagine how worse it is now!!!!

If I am not mistaken, I *think* it is like $19 bucks for a single ticket.

catlover79 · 03-27-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

If I am not mistaken, I *think* it is like $19 bucks for a single ticket.

I didn't think it was THAT bad!

JamesG · 03-27-2010, 01:32 PM

I guess to be fair this film also came out on DVD on the same day that this one theater was showing it. The DVD also cost less than the movie ticket.

It looks like a contractual thing to me that guaranteed the film got reviews (good or bad) in the major papers and not be ignored as a straight-to-dvd release.

Brian Damage · 03-27-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I guess to be fair this film also came out on DVD on the same day that this one theater was showing it. The DVD also cost less than the movie ticket.

It looks like a contractual thing to me that guaranteed the film got reviews (good or bad) in the major papers and not be ignored as a straight-to-dvd release.

Interesting, I still don't think Uma will be putting this on her movie resume anytime soon. lol

JamesG · 03-27-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Interesting, I still don't think Uma will be putting this on her movie resume anytime soon. lol

Yeah, this film didn't do that great during its small run here in the US either. I think it came to DVD in Feb.

Actually, most of her movies after the Kill Bills weren't that well-received.

HuntingtonM15 · 03-27-2010, 02:18 PM

Still grossed more money than this:

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=zyzzyxroad.htm

catlover79 · 03-27-2010, 02:32 PM

^ Never even heard of it until now. Thank goodness.

gidgetgrape · 03-27-2010, 03:49 PM

I don't know why Uma agreed to be in this film anyway. It sounds really boring.

JamesG · 04-01-2010, 08:33 PM

Thurman Film Saved By DVD
April 1, 2010

Uma Thurman's flop film Motherhood is proving to be a hit on DVD less than a week after only 12 people went to see the movie during its opening weekend in Britain.

The film's failure at the U.K. box office hit the headlines after making a meagre $132 (£82.50) last weekend (26-28 Mar 10), and it seems that Brits now want to see the flop.

According to Entertainment Weekly, 6,000 copies of the DVD, which was rush released at the beginning of the week (beg. 29 Mar 10), have sold in the U.K.

The $5 million (£3.1 million) movie made just $93,000 (£58,100) at the American box office when it was released in October.

-IMDB News

03-27-2010, 01:01 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Major Flop Alert! Uma Thurman's New Movie Rakes in Just $131 Bucks Even films that pull in $100 million can still be considered flops, but no one needs any fancy cost analysis on this one: Uma Thurman's latest movie is making news for earning an embarrassingly paltry $131 in its opening weekend in London. The Guardian reports that a dozen -- at most -- people paid to see 'Motherhood,' a semi-autobiographical pic about a harried Manhattan mom, written and directed by Katherine Dieckmann. On the film's opening day, only one ticket was sold, meaning the movie played out to a single audience member. Critics haven't been kind to the film (it's rated 20 percent at RottenTomatoes), but then again, compare that to say, 'The Bounty Hunter,' which earned an ultra-low 9 percent RottenTomatoes score, but has managed to haul in $33 million worldwide in one week. Producer Jana Edelbaum is suing Metrodrome, the company responsible for marketing the film in the UK, for their ill-advised ploy to build buzz with an exclusive one-theater booking. Edelbaum got the news about the film's disastrous debut when The Guardian called for a comment. "You're kidding?" she told the UK paper. "We must have broken a new record for grosses." Her defense of the film, however, was weak at best. "'Motherhood' is not bad. It's a very decent movie. I've seen movies that are not half as good." 'Motherhood' first screened in January at Sundance, then opened in limited release in the U.S. in October. According to Boxofficemojo.com, the film didn't fare much better in the States, earning only $93,388 in a short four-week run. Word of mouth must have been terrible: more than half of that gross is from the film's opening weekend. At last count the film, which co-stars Minnie Driver and Anthony Edwards, has earned a mere $701,784 worldwide. So who's to blame: The terrible film or the lackluster marketing? Metrodome's support of the theatrical release does sound halfhearted, by their own admission: "Inevitably some films will work better on some platforms than others. In this particular case the DVD was stronger than the theatrical result," the company said. Perhaps they have a point: When The Guardian asked the ticket seller at the film's one London location, he couldn't even remember the film. "Have you got the right cinema? There's another cinema down the road -- perhaps it was on there instead?" We're betting that everyone involved, including Thurman, wants to forget this particular fiasco. http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/20...ing-film-flop/ Attached Images
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03-27-2010, 12:33 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	OUCH.
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03-27-2010, 01:32 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	I guess to be fair this film also came out on DVD on the same day that this one theater was showing it. The DVD also cost less than the movie ticket. It looks like a contractual thing to me that guaranteed the film got reviews (good or bad) in the major papers and not be ignored as a straight-to-dvd release.

03-27-2010, 02:18 PM	#10
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	Still grossed more money than this: http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=zyzzyxroad.htm

03-27-2010, 02:32 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Never even heard of it until now. Thank goodness.

03-27-2010, 03:49 PM	#12
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,504	I don't know why Uma agreed to be in this film anyway. It sounds really boring.

04-01-2010, 08:33 PM	#13
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Thurman Film Saved By DVD April 1, 2010 Uma Thurman's flop film Motherhood is proving to be a hit on DVD less than a week after only 12 people went to see the movie during its opening weekend in Britain. The film's failure at the U.K. box office hit the headlines after making a meagre $132 (£82.50) last weekend (26-28 Mar 10), and it seems that Brits now want to see the flop. According to Entertainment Weekly, 6,000 copies of the DVD, which was rush released at the beginning of the week (beg. 29 Mar 10), have sold in the U.K. The $5 million (£3.1 million) movie made just $93,000 (£58,100) at the American box office when it was released in October. -IMDB News