“Focus” topped the weekend box office charts with $19.1 million, but the heist film didn’t make off with as much loot as many analysts expected.
The film had been projected to earn between $21 million and $23 million, so cue breathless stories about whether or not Will Smith’s fastball has lost some heat. The debate may be excessive. “Focus” shows the limits of star power generally, not Smith’s particularly.
Charisma lacks the punch it did 10 years ago, particularly given that advances in digital technology and the growth of fanboy culture mean films can’t just be films anymore to succeed at a high level. They must be events. Would “Focus” have performed better had George Clooney starred in it or Brad Pitt?
“With all big stars, it depends on the movie they’re framed in,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “If you put Will Smith in a...
The film had been projected to earn between $21 million and $23 million, so cue breathless stories about whether or not Will Smith’s fastball has lost some heat. The debate may be excessive. “Focus” shows the limits of star power generally, not Smith’s particularly.
Charisma lacks the punch it did 10 years ago, particularly given that advances in digital technology and the growth of fanboy culture mean films can’t just be films anymore to succeed at a high level. They must be events. Would “Focus” have performed better had George Clooney starred in it or Brad Pitt?
“With all big stars, it depends on the movie they’re framed in,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “If you put Will Smith in a...
- 3/1/2015
- by Brent Lang
- Variety - Film News
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