The Lowest-Grossing Film Of 2012 Made Less Than $300. Wait, What?
2012's lowest-grossing film has been revealed, and people, this one kind of hurts.
[Related: Domestic Box Office Rises In Dollars And Audiences In 2012]
The Christian Slater horror film Playback gathered an astonishing $264.00 – yes, that's two hundred and sixty four – in theaters. Well, theater, to be exact; it only showed for one week in a single cinema. The figure gives Playback the honor as 2012's lowest grossing film of the year. It earned $252.00 on opening night and just 12 dollars more during the following week, after which it was pulled. It has since made its way to VOD via Netflix and Amazon Prime.
That has got to hurt, but when your career includes Gleaming the Cube and Hard Rain, at least you're probably prepared for the emotional toll. Still, it makes me wince, even 20 years later, every time I'm reminded that I once actually liked Christian Slater movies. At least Heathers and True Romance still hold up*!
As 2012 comes to a depressingly apocalypse-free conclusion, it's not surprising that we're seeing the last, painful lists of ignobility slipping out at the last minute. What better way to prepare ourselves for the new year than by embracing obstacles head on.
If yesterday's news of the most pirated movies proves that a bumper crop (cash-wise) for Hollywood doesn't mean there still isn't a problem with pilfered films, today's offers unexpected confirmation that F. Scott Fitzgerald might have been right about there not being any second acts in American lives. At least for formerly successful actors.
So at least we can all take comfort that our English teachers may have been onto something after all.
* Well, True Romance, at least.
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Comments
The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure.
Wow! That does not even cover lunch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1wkM1fTWIA
don't forget "Pump up the volume" that was a good one
Never heard of it now I see why.Thats pretty bad so only about 25 people say it.
Fuck you ROss Lincoln. Gleaming the Cube is great
I agree, Gleaming the Cube is one of my favorite childhood movies
Gee, Conner....what else did you get for Christmas besides a 'toilet tongue'?
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X was the lowest grossing movie of 2012 making only 117 dollars
I actually like chrisrtian Slater and am sorry he is in such bombs..better luck next time Chris!
Dam i love that movie Gleaming the Cube , was my favorite when i was a kid also pump up the volume....
What about "Interview With The Vampire"?
Ross A. Lincoln-- "F. Scott Fitzgerald might have been right about there not being any second acts in American lives. At least for formerly successful actors." REALLY?? You have heard about this weird thing that happens sometimes called a comeback, haven't you?? Maybe it didn't happen for Slater this time, but that doesn't mean he's dead & buried. Did you even SEE "Playback"?? I'd never even heard of it 'til now, but I'm encouraged that it was such a major flop. For me, that's usually a good sign. Definitely need to check that out, or at least read about it on IMDB. Btw, another cool Slater movie (with 2 Slaters at that, though, as far as I know, they're not related--"The Legend Of Billie Jean").
Maybe they should have spent more on the poster artwork.
What do you expect when it was only in one theater for only a week? And why the hell was it on only one theater for only a week?? Why bother at all??
Because it only made $247.00????
I wonder if there was something in the financing paperwork that stated that it had to have a theatrical release? If so, it obviously had no specifics on how many theaters 🙂
looks like the acting thing's not working out, this is when you have a backup plan...
Thats sad. I think this little film from my friend fingerguy111 will make more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XqwmEoKUic
$264 - talk about crash and burn!
I will not see the film, I do not go to the movies, most are an insult to my integrity. Between the four letter words, violence and rolling around in bed, what is there? What is Spike Lee complining about most of his films he uses the N-word along with several other four letter words reason I do not like his films. He like numerous other African-Americans use the excuse the ethnic cultural accepts the word do not know what they are talking about, it is how they justify the useage. When Lee first displayed his-so-called talent to the public years ago I felt he copied the directorial methods of another director/actor, he still does. When he first arrived on the scene a couple of his movies I saw, the subject matter was good but difficult to watch because of the so-called need to use language that was insulting.
Kerry Washington, she is not a good actress in fact, I wish they would remove her from the TV program, Scandal, most times it is diffiuclt to understand what she is saying, she talks to fast and what those facial expressions are about I do not know. The program is good because I like political plots, it would be nice to know what is being said. She needs to be as masterful at expressing herself as the older more talented actors who know how to speak well. And, to me Jamie Foxx is just another foul mouth nasty individual who cannot act.
yes (Laust Cawz)they are related in billy jean, also i happened to like true romance, and christian slater, hope he has better luck in 2013
Can we get a list of the poor souls who endured this film?
Gleaming the cube, pump up the volume, young guns 2 and true romance good movies! I must of watched gleaming the cube and pump up the volume 100 times growing up and now that they are on top of my head i think its time for happy harry hardon to make an appearance!
wow, maggie b sure is the queen of run on sentences. this reminds me of a movie in the 80's called ishtar. i loved it, but it's one of the biggest flops in history. of course, i don't like a lot of huge movies, so go figure.
Okay, so the movie probably sucked. So what? I'm not a huge Christian Slater fan, but if I had already made more money in a 20 year timespan than most people make in a lifetime, I seriously doubt that I'd care what people thought about my attempted comeback. Christian Slater is the one getting the last laugh.
The movie cost 7.5 mil to make - its a considerable failure.
You know, I get tired of 'reporters' putting out stories like this without any context.
The movie was done as a straight-to-video title. It's theatrical run was simply a formality for the production. In the movie biz, DVD films are often sold to theatres overseas and if the distributor can say that a film played in a domestic theatre (even if it's just for a week), then it is worth more overseas.
Putting a second tier, low budget, straight-to-DVD flick in the theatre for a week with no marketing expenditure covers the minimal contractual obligations of the production and increases the value of the film when selling it to foreign markets.
The low return on the theatre run wasn't Slater's fault, it was part of the producers plan from day one.
Every article I see about this film seems to try and hang it around Slater's neck like he's done something wrong.
Movieline should know better.
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