Initial Box Office and Reception
The next morning, the reviews of film critics were out and they were very much same as the studio had predicted, considering the fact that most of the critics left halfway through the premiere last night. The reviews were totally one sided negative.
"James Cameron really wasted the talents of two talented actors, and he should be punished for this sin."
"Cameron's stubborn mentality stopped him from seeing the fact that no matter how much special effects or budget you spend, in the end 'Titanic' is just a pop corn teen movie at the core."
"A third rate copy of old Hollywood romance, but the movie failed to achieve both the past and the present."
A film critic for the Chicago Times wrote, "Cameron's overweening pride has come close to capsizing this project"
Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan raved about the movie: "What to do with the audiences who pay to go into the movie theater, and what did they end up seeing? The dialogue are cliché, and it's a completely outdated Hollywood cliché love story. It's a rotten copy! It's a film full of hypocrisy and no creativity!"
San Francisco Observer reviewer Barbara Stenfried also gave "Titanic" only the lowest score: "Unbelievably bad script, from the hand of the film's director, James Cameron. Just judging by the two leading actors calling each other's names vigorously throughout the whole process, you know that this is really a boring story that explodes. I don't think anyone is willing to spend money on it, unless it is for the popcorn and Pepsi."
Following Titanic's London premiere, the popular British film magazine Empire originally gave the film two stars, but later changed its rating to just one after fierce criticism from its Hollywood peers.
Although the British media pride themselves in being artistic and mock Hollywood for being barbaric and rude, but in fact British film industry is no less than Hollywood wether it's in criticism or praise.
A film critic from New York Times wrote: "No amount of excellent period costuming and brilliant set decoration can substitute for a good story and decent acting."
A very famous film critic Warren Tristan, whose voice even holds weight in Oscars wrote: "Cameron manhandles the real story, scavenging it for his own puny narrative purposes. It's a film made with boorish confidence and zero sensitivity, big and dumb and hulking."
There were also few good reviews especially about the lead actors, but it still couldn't solve "Titanic's" bad situation in the market.
"Titanic's" box office did not live upto studio's expectations, but it was also not bad as the film critics and prediction companions had predicted.
"Titanic" earned 28 million $ in its opening weekend in North America, surpassing "Scream 2", "Mouse hunt" and "James Bond: Tomorrow never dies". But there is a big difference here. These movies were made in a very low budget, and only bond movie had a medium ranked budget. But on the other hand, "Titanic" is the most expensive movie ever made. 28 million dollars is nowhere near the word good when comparing it to the movie's budget of 200 million $, especially when considering that week one is usually the highest grossing week for a movie.
"It's all over now, my career is over." James Cameron looked at the box office statistics and reviews about the film, and cried: "Now even Jon wouldn't believe me. I have to get Jon, otherwise he might really end himself."
If it weren't for James Cameron's patient persuasion, I'm afraid that Jon Landau, who is currently relying on cigarettes and alcohol to continue his life, would have collapsed after the box office results of the opening weekend came out-oh, the estimated 90 million $ box office means a loss of more than 100 million $.
And James Cameron, who is under the greatest pressure among all, only dares to show his inner pain in front of the two leading actors who maintain a relatively good mentality.
"You should James, even Liam's situation is not good." Eve comforted. Even Liam has been drinking a lot recently. Even if she comforts him, he only thinks that she has a strong mentality and starts to blame himself even more for destroying his daughter's career by allowing her to sign this movie.
"Anyway, I can now at least shoot some literary movies without any distribution." said Leonardo, but his words would have been more credible if there were no dark circles and a continuous wine bottles in his hand.
Eve sighed and stood up to go back. In fact, her situation at the time is even bad than Leonardo. All the praises she was recieving in the industry till few days ago have changed into sharp ridicules and attacks biting her at every turn. In the span of just few days, she has changed from a lucky charm to a bad luck in the eyes of industry.
Even if she had thought of this before and had prepared herself mentally, but it still hurts a lot when you experience it in reality.
Even Universal Studio has started the wait and see attitude, and according to Kevin, they are even ready to pay the contract breach compensation if the results of Titanic do not get better.
The situation has reached so bad that sometimes she even starts to doubt it all, even when she knows that it's only temporary. Hollywood really is a merciless place, people are waiting at every turn to trample you.
The box office of the "Titanic" for the second and third week was not anything special. The film grossed over 30 millions dollars in second week, while it earned 22 million in the third one. The initial box office predictions also increased from 90 million $ to 120 million, but it still couldn't deny the huge damage of the movie.