Chapter 345: Box Office

The premiere concluded amidst the ongoing snowfall. Each audience member received a customized European-style warm hat and an umbrella from the crew.

Richardson donned one of these hats with the crew's logo and entered a commercial vehicle with his assistant. The bitter cold prompted a quick turn-on of the heater.

His assistant glanced toward the side door of the Metropolitan Theater and spotted Martin Davis, immediately engulfed by reporters upon his exit.

"Only three years!" the assistant mused. "Boss, doesn't it feel like the movie's protagonist is a reflection of Martin's Hollywood journey over the past three years? Life seems like a video game cheat code, going from a poor boy to a superstar."

Richardson removed his hat, gazed at the logo, and commented, "For lead actors, a successful film can transform their fate."

As others returned, Richardson instructed his assistant to drive and had the rest collect audience ratings, inputting them into the system right after the film ended.

Two IMB little black books circulated among the crew, swiftly yielding an average score.

"A+!" Richardson, with his ample experience, proclaimed, "Following the first week of 'Never Ending,' the on-site audience rating should be no less than an A. With Martin Davis's charisma and the scale of the release, this film is poised for box office success."

The assistant inquired, "Has North America crossed 100 million again?"

Richardson nodded, saying, "It's highly likely."

The snow continued to fall endlessly.

The day following the premiere, Martin woke up, parted from Aniston, and immediately checked his phone after washing up. There was a message from Warner Bros. The premiere audience had awarded the film an average "A+" rating! Warner Bros. had also lifted the embargo on word-of-mouth ratings in all aspects.

Martin powered up his computer and visited two websites. "Limitless" had an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and MTC Media gave it an average score of 78.

As Aniston emerged from the bathroom, brushing her teeth, she asked, "What's the word on the film's reputation?"

Martin responded straightforwardly, "Audiences love it, and the critics are on board."

Aniston's relief was evident, and she suggested, "Let's go out for breakfast and celebrate."

Martin agreed, saying, "Call the rest of the crew, and I'll treat you all."

Jennifer Aniston hurried to get ready, while Martin made calls to the crew. Their high spirits stemmed from the positive audience feedback, ensuring the film's box office success and potentially earning them a bonus in addition to their regular salaries and union shares.

...

In Brentwood, Los Angeles, Leonardo, having washed up the previous night, woke up early with a burst of energy. He could now run 100 meters in just 15 seconds.

Bar Refaeli brought him breakfast and poured a glass of milk.

Leonardo, with a smile, asked, "Do you have today's newspapers?"

Bar Refaeli embraced a large stack of them, saying, "I turned to the 'Never Ending' page in every newspaper and magazine for you."

Leonardo appreciated her thoughtfulness and was pleased with this temporary companion. He had given her more opportunities for exposure.

As they enjoyed breakfast, he perused the comments in the newspapers. Since "Never Ends" had just premiered and hadn't seen a wide release yet, the reviews primarily consisted of quick critiques.

"A peculiar and engaging pseudo-sci-fi thriller."

"Very intriguing, a mainstream entertainment film."

"It allows every audience member to sit in the theater and live out their fantasies."

Leonardo couldn't help but chuckle, as he had seen the film during the test screening and had fantasized about some of the plot elements back when he was not yet famous.

Continuing to read, he stumbled upon something about the male lead, that rascal Martin.

"Martin's performance is outstanding. Once again, he has demonstrated with his work that his acting skills are as remarkable as his looks."

Most of the film's plot relied on Martin Davis's performance to connect with the audience, swiftly immersing them into a daydream. "His character is as enthralling as the leader of the Coca-Cola Cult."

Leonardo recollected a time before he took on the role in Titanic, when he had received praise from many film critics for his exceptional acting skills. Yet, Titanic's success had altered his trajectory.

Hollywood had never witnessed a box office phenomenon like Titanic, and for some reason, he had become a "pretty face" unable to act, according to critics. Leonardo had a feeling that Martin was on a similar path.

Perhaps, one day, critics would wield their pens like knives to tear down the hapless Martin, sparking quite a spectacle.

After breakfast, Leonardo stopped reading the newspaper and phoned Martin in New York.

"Hey, Martin, do you think your new movie is going to be a blockbuster?"

"It hasn't had a wide release yet. Who knows for sure?" Martin sounded a bit perplexed. "Plus, there's heavy snow in the northeast, and the freezing cold might affect the box office."

Indeed, the weather was beyond their control, and New York had seen persistent snowfall. Although the snowflakes were smaller, they accumulated heavily on the roads.

"Limitless" would stick to its North American release plan.

On Thursday afternoon, many people sporting warm red hats braved the snow and cold to purchase tickets for "Never Ending" at the AMC theater in Times Square. Their practical support was a vote of confidence in Martin, even under the heavy snowfall.

In Brooklyn, not far from one of Martin's fan groups in New York, a long line had formed in front of a local movie theater.

Despite the heavy snow and severe cold, the enthusiasm of the Coca-Cola Cult and Martin's fans couldn't be dampened.

Red T-shirts were not practical for this season, so red hats became the signature choice for the majority of North American theatergoers on Thursday nights.

On this particular evening, the color of choice at major theaters across North America was Coca-Cola red.

...

In Atlanta, within an office on Peachtree Street, Robert donned a red Coca-Cola baseball cap. Due to his unusually large head, he had to adjust it to fit properly. Donning his red coat, he carefully applied olive oil to a bottle of Coca-Cola from 2003, placing it on his old-fashioned desk facing the west.

Robert's demeanor was solemn, resembling a cardinal celebrating a religious service, mumbling something.

In a country with countless cults, the Coca-Cola Cult boasted a substantial following despite its loose organizational structure.

If Robert weren't a partner in the company, he might have contemplated resigning and focusing on becoming the high priest of the Coca-Cola Cult.

Once the ceremony concluded and he headed out, a thought struck him.

From the leader of the Cola Cult, Martin, to the deputy leader, Bruce, and even the saint, Elena, they all held part-time roles.

"Let's continue with our part-time jobs," Robert muttered as he went downstairs, wearing his hat. "The high priest can't do it all alone."

Driving home, he passed the Peachtree Street Cinema. The theater's façade had turned into a sea of red. There was no need to ask; the color alone indicated that this was the crowd going to see "Limitless."

...

Thursday came and went, and early Friday morning brought the latest box office report, published in entertainment sections across numerous newspapers.

With a premiere in 2,800 advance screenings, "Limitless" effortlessly raked in $4.68 million.

The film also garnered positive reviews. On its first day of wide release, screening in 3,285 theaters, "Limitless" faced the challenge of severe weather conditions in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Despite this, its strong reputation and immersive quality drew a substantial audience.

The film earned $12.45 million on its first day in North America, surpassing Jennifer Garner's "Catch and Release," which had a concurrent release, and claiming the top spot at the box office.

Word of mouth from the audience spread rapidly across North America, generating a buzz.

"The portrayal of a life filled with cheats and desires is thrilling!"

"Martin's character is simply my life's dream."

"The plot is incredibly captivating, and for some reason, it feels like the protagonist is another me. It's such an incredible experience in the theater!"

"The plot and character development are so fresh that you get completely lost in it."

The audience's positive word of mouth attracted even more moviegoers, and the film's box office increased by 1% on Saturday. By day's end, it had reached $14.44 million.

Unfavorable weather conditions did have some impact on the film's box office, but not as much as anticipated.

On Monday morning, Christian Bale met with Heath Ledger for coffee. He wanted to help his friend navigate through the challenges and get back on track.

The heavy snow had finally stopped the day before, and the main roads were cleared. Heath Ledger held a newspaper under his arm, entered the coffee shop, ordered a hot coffee, and sat across from Bale.

Bale, noticing Ledger's red face from the cold, inquired, "What happened? You seem upset."

Heath removed his scarf and pushed the newspaper towards Bale, saying, "The heavy snow couldn't stop Martin Davis. That rascal and his movies."

Bale picked up the newspaper and read the entertainment section of The New York Times. The weekend box office report was on the front page.

"BOX Office" had grossed $38.97 million in North America in three days, surpassing Jennifer Garner's "Catch and Release," which had been released simultaneously, and claimed the top spot in the weekend box office rankings.

Bale set down the newspaper and remarked, "The heavy snowfall in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada did impact the box office, but not enough to stop the film's success."

Heath, feeling slightly agitated in these densely populated areas, added, "The first-weekend box office was... more than the production cost. Martin Davis's new film has once again proven successful."

He went on, "CS gave it an A rating and predicted a North American box office of over 100 million."

Bale urged Heath to remain calm. "If you want him to stumble, don't count on the weather."

Heath took a sip of his coffee, letting the bitterness dissolve in his mouth, and felt his mood stabilizing. "I've had my fantasies, hoping for his downfall, but they are just fantasies. Martin Davis's momentum is unstoppable."

Bale concurred, saying, "As time passes, we can only outdo them by standing on higher ground."

Heath nodded, acknowledging Bale's wisdom. "You're right."