Chapter 258: Box Office Champion

Over time, "Wanted" garnered a larger audience, making it increasingly easy for critics to find fault with it. Consequently, the film's reputation began to wane.

The IMDb rating dropped below 8 points, and a flurry of negative reviews and disparaging articles surfaced. With the constant influx of new movie releases and the need for market space by competitors, this decline was inevitable.

Various marketing strategies, including efforts by Martin and Jolie, aimed to draw audiences into theaters during the opening weekend, but a dip in momentum afterward was expected.

In the second weekend of November, "Wanted's" box office declined by nearly 60%, yet it managed to maintain its position as the top-grossing film in the North American box office, raking in $27.2 million.

"Derailed," which had its grand premiere during that weekend, secured second place on the box office list, with an opening weekend revenue of $12.21 million.

Hollywood producers recognized the limited commercial appeal of Clive Owen and the challenge of Jennifer Aniston carrying a movie's box office on her own. It appeared that the audience still associated Aniston primarily with her "Friends" role and had not yet accepted her post-"Friends" work.

Martin celebrated his fourth North American box office victory and his first consecutive box office wins.

Ten days after its North American release, "Wanted" exceeded expectations by crossing the $100 million mark, reaching $116 million in box office revenue.

Simultaneously, the film was released in overseas markets such as Western Europe, South Korea, Australia, and Mexico. As is common with Hollywood movies, a successful North American box office translated to strong performance overseas. The film earned $48.6 million in its first week abroad.

With two consecutive starring films grossing over $100 million in the North American box office, Martin's star was on the rise. He crossed the threshold into Level Four customer status at WMA, earning the title of a renowned movie star within the agency.

"In Coca-Cola's evaluation, you're one of the most valuable talents among the younger generation," Justin, representing Coca-Cola, congratulated Martin at the Coca-Cola branch in Los Angeles. Martin responded modestly, comparing himself to other accomplished actors from his generation.

Justin smiled and said, "Coca-Cola sees your value in the industry."

The two exchanged business pleasantries and visited Coca-Cola's Los Angeles branch while a photographer captured their interaction, part of the promotional efforts.

Martin's statement was not mere modesty; his contemporaries had indeed surpassed him in some aspects, notably in terms of box office performance.

Justin inquired about Martin's next project. Martin shared that his upcoming work was set in modern New York. He handed Justin a copy of "Dark Realm," a novel for his reference, and tentatively asked about the possibility of continuing the advertising sponsorship.

The outstanding box office success of "Wanted" had increased Coca-Cola's confidence in Martin, leading Justin to confirm that Coca-Cola would continue its sponsorship.

Martin expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that having Coca-Cola's support was invaluable.

As Justin stated that Coca-Cola fully supported Martin, a photographer documented the occasion. Success in Hollywood often hinged on the backing of influential partners.

Later, someone guided Martin to Coca-Cola's top floor, where he sampled Coca-Cola's new bottled cocktail, a product developed in Atlanta.

Thomas, an executive, had a private conversation with Justin. He revealed that according to their endorsement agreement, Martin was entitled to a $1 million bonus for achieving a single North American box office gross of over $100 million.

Justin assured Thomas that the bonus would be received without delay, likely within the same month. However, the tone of their conversation shifted as they discussed Coca-Cola's interest in renewing the endorsement contract with Martin for another two years. Justin emphasized that the Atlanta headquarters was eager to continue their partnership.

Martin's stance was clear: they were strategic partners, and their collaboration was essential. Yet, he suggested that there was no rush to renew the contract, preferring to revisit the topic next year.

With the success of "Wanted," several brands, including BOSS, expressed interest in forming partnerships with Martin. Together, they decided to select high-end brands that aligned with Martin's image, maintaining his style and reputation.

Reflecting on the serialization of his articles in News of the World, Thomas shared that the agreement had concluded. Martin had been invited to write ten articles, each with a compensation of $120,000, as part of the Washington honor bestowed upon him.

Martin brushed aside his own concerns, emphasizing that he could face any challenge, whether it was life or death. However, when it came to writing, he acknowledged that it was beyond his abilities and was ultimately delegated to Thomas.

"The manuscript is well written. I've read some of it," Martin expressed timely encouragement. "I'll personally ensure you receive royalties."

Thomas had put in a lot of hard work and didn't mince words when it came to getting compensated. "You have my account."

Midway through, as Bruce parked the car in Century City and dropped off Thomas, the scene transitioned back to Cotis Community.

As Martin's car door opened, a neighbor immediately paid him a visit. The Joneses, his neighbors, came over for a chat.

Martin invited them into the living room and inquired about the purpose of their visit.

The Joneses had brought gifts, and Mr. Jones explained that, as neighbors, they felt it was important to socialize.

Martin acknowledged their neighborly intentions and mentioned his busy schedule due to the upcoming movie release, but he promised to invite everyone out for a drink when he had some free time.

Jenna Jones then presented a wrapped gift box to Martin, expressing her excitement about attending the Hollywood premiere of "Wanted."

She praised the film's popularity, particularly mentioning the concepts of curved bullets and adrenaline bursts. Her comments seemed suggestive, with a focus on adrenaline bursts, speed, impact, strength, and heightened sensations, leading to some confusion for Martin.

Jenna revealed her interest in adapting "Wanted" into a film set in the Sacred Valley, with her directing and taking on the role of the heroine. Martin was open to the idea of adapting a popular Hollywood movie for the Sacred Valley.

Jenna explained her intention to use the same movie title, similar posters, and faithful plot designs, emphasizing a genuine adaptation rather than a superficial one.

She then requested authorization from Martin for this ambitious project, and he agreed, directing her to Warner Studio's Pacific Pictures and Louise Meyer, the person in charge of licensing.

Bruce, cooperative and understanding, provided Louise's assistant's business card.

Mr. Jones commended Martin's communication skills, and Martin decided to leverage his neighbor's connections for a recommendation letter to CalArts, which Mr. Jones agreed to provide.

The Joneses didn't stay long and left the visit on a positive note.

Back in the living room, an unopened gift box remained. Martin opened it and discovered beautifully packaged discs, featuring Jenna as the heroine and including titles such as "Battle of the Beasts" and "The Best Couple."

Bruce picked up one of the discs, surprised by the unusual gift. Martin handed them all to Bruce, who then considered giving them to Mene, although he eventually deemed her too young for such films.

Bruce received a phone call regarding the arrival of Australian goods. Martin was eager to inspect the cargo and left to oversee the unloading process.

A truck arrived, carrying wooden cargo boxes filled with crocodile fang pendants. The items were checked and stored in the grocery room next to the garage.

Upon seeing the goods, Bruce made a comment about the crocodiles in Australia possibly becoming extinct due to their activities. Martin dismissed the notion, explaining that Australia was vast and sparsely populated, with no significant predators.

The largest cargo box contained Australian bison feet and crocodile bones. Martin instructed two of the boxes to be sent to Atlanta, with a note specifying his desire for a similar number of finished carvings. Bruce was astounded by Martin's unique preferences.