Chapter 77: Low-Level Mistake

Beverly Hills, the famous enclave of wealthy celebrities in North America, is home to the Cruise estate, perched on the southern slope of the mountains. This is the residence of Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, who is on the verge of becoming a megastar, and it is also the focal point of the paparazzi and media. His every move, along with his beautiful wife, easily grabs the attention of the American public.

As the morning sun rose, Tom Cruise left the gym, grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and heard Nicole Kidman's greeting. First, he took all the day's newspapers from the rack, then slowly walked into the dining room.

"Honey, your breakfast."

Just as he sat down at the table, Nicole Kidman brought over coffee and a porcelain plate, placing them in front of him.

Taking a sip of coffee, Tom Cruise didn't immediately start eating breakfast but instead opened the newspaper. Sitting across from him, Nicole Kidman frowned slightly, seemingly wanting to say something but ultimately held back.

Flipping to the entertainment section, Tom Cruise glanced at it, and the corners of his mouth turned upward, indicating he was in a good mood.

"Although 'The Rock' boasts a star-studded cast and grand scenes, the story is cliché, and the plot design is mediocre at best. This is the kind of movie we'll forget shortly after watching it, a typical American dumb-action flick!"

It was clear that CAA and 20th Century Fox had already begun their promotional campaign against "The Rock."

"Sure, the action is cool, but it's too overly stylized; the plot is also predictable and lacks logic…"

Even though he knew much of this was the result of his own PR team's work, Tom Cruise still enthusiastically flipped through the entertainment sections of one paper after another, seemingly enjoying the idea that "The Rock" would be deemed a flop by audiences.

However, in the next few papers, Tom Cruise saw quite a bit of negative criticism of "Interview with the Vampire."

"The film is flashy but lacks substance, overly long and tedious. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt's performances fall short of the roles they portray as vampires!"

"A numb movie, a senseless mishmash of elements…"

Seeing this, Tom Cruise understood that Warner Bros.' PR department had not been idle either. Like his team, they were not hesitating to attack the competition while promoting their own films.

Suddenly, the phone in the living room rang. Nicole Kidman quickly ran out and, a few seconds later, returned with the cordless phone.

"It's Pat's call." She handed it over.

Taking the cordless phone, Tom Cruise listened as his agent listed a series of numbers, his expression gradually darkening.

"Tom…" Seeing Cruise put down the phone, Nicole Kidman tentatively asked, "How much did our film make on its opening day?"

"$13.89 million!"

That number sounded quite good. If the following two days maintained similar results, there was a chance the film's opening weekend could reach $40 million, and it would undoubtedly take the weekend box office crown.

"And 'The Rock'?" Nicole Kidman asked.

"$10.13 million!"

Hearing the number from Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman immediately understood the reason for his mood shift. Her famous husband had contributed a full $3 million to the opening day of "Interview with the Vampire"!

In other words, if no other tampering had occurred, the true opening-day box office for "Interview with the Vampire" was $10.89 million—only about $700,000 more than "The Rock." And while the latter was shown in 2,512 theaters, the former had a higher count of 2,689!

Nicole Kidman was aware that, from the director to the cast, the people behind "The Rock" were among the less affluent in the industry. She suspected there wasn't much manipulation in "The Rock's" opening day box office numbers. Additionally, the collective box-office draw of those involved in "The Rock" couldn't even match her husband, Tom Cruise. Could the Super Bowl halftime ad have been that effective?

However, what she didn't know was that Tom Cruise's mood had changed due to two other numbers!

As the screenings expanded and more people saw the films, Fox's hired research firm had gathered more authentic audience feedback. "Interview with the Vampire's" audience approval rating had dropped from 79% A or higher at midnight showings to 68.5%, while "The Rock's" audience A or higher rating only fell by three percentage points and remained at 89%!

Although the opening day viewers of "The Rock" were undoubtedly fans of action films or those inclined toward the genre, weren't there also many book fans and his own supporters for "Interview with the Vampire"?

Even someone as proud as Tom Cruise understood a basic industry rule: in the world of summer blockbusters, the audience's word of mouth is far more reflective of a film's market acceptance than media scores and professional reviews. The latter are merely promotional tools, while the former represents the market's true reaction!

What was more concerning was that, according to the research firm's feedback, there had been instances of early walkouts during screenings of "Interview with the Vampire."

Yesterday morning, Tom Cruise had gone to watch "The Rock." In terms of artistic expression, "Interview with the Vampire" far outshone that film. But in the summer blockbuster market, or any release window, art has never been the primary driver of a film's financial success!

For a moment, he even had an uneasy premonition.

"Tom Cruise's new work is a complete failure…"

"The superstar couldn't withstand the challenge from a new director…"

He didn't need to think about it; Tom Cruise knew that the media would inevitably ridicule him when the time came. For years, he had enjoyed smooth sailing, and countless people were waiting for him to fall so they could have a laugh and maybe kick him while he was down.

At that thought, he grabbed the cordless phone and dialed his agent's number. "Pat, I need to discuss something with you. Okay, I'll see you at CAA in half an hour!"

"Tom…"

The voice on the other end carried a word of caution. Pat Kingsley clearly knew that Tom Cruise was not the most reliable star. If it weren't for her, CAA, and the PR team's full effort in shaping his image, he wouldn't have the healthy public persona he enjoyed now. His arrogant nature and his beliefs would have caused countless issues.

"'Interview with the Vampire' just premiered. There are definitely reporters and paparazzi around your house. Don't say anything rash!" Not even a spouse knows these stars better than their agents.

"I got it." Tom Cruise impatiently hung up the phone, stood up, and said to Nicole Kidman, "I'm going out."

"Do you need me to come with you?"

"No!"

He strode toward the garage, and soon, a blue sports car zoomed out, heading straight for the estate's gate.

As the car turned the corner, its speed inevitably slowed, and a crowd of reporters and paparazzi, armed with cameras, camcorders, and recorders, swarmed the sides of the sports car. Despite Cruise honking repeatedly, he couldn't accelerate, and loud voices of inquiry surrounded the vehicle.

"Tom, the first-day box office and reviews for 'Interview with the Vampire' are out. Can you share your thoughts?"

"Mr. Cruise, is it true that Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst kissed during filming? We heard the Children's Protection Agency got involved?"

Hearing this question, Tom Cruise immediately thought of Warner Bros. They were surely behind this.

Instantly, his already sour mood worsened.

"Mr. Cruise! Someone mentioned that you watched 'The Rock' yesterday. Could you share your thoughts on the movie?"

Suddenly, a louder voice rang out, and even through the car's windows, Tom Cruise could hear it clearly. "Also, according to the data Warner Bros. released to the media this morning, 'The Rock's' audience reception far surpassed that of 'Interview with the Vampire.' Warner Bros. believes 'The Rock' will ultimately surpass your film and take the weekend box office crown. If you lose the top spot, will this affect your choice of future projects?"

Instinctively, Tom Cruise hit the brakes, bringing the already snail-paced sports car to a complete stop. There were still two days left in the weekend, and the box office outcome was uncertain. Yet, to this reporter, it seemed like his film had already been defeated!

'The Rock's' audience reception? Tom Cruise smirked coldly a few times, feeling he should do something about it. After all, he was a superstar with massive influence!

Without a publicist, an agent, or the sharp-minded Nicole Kidman by his side, no one could stop Tom Cruise. If Duke were here, he'd surely guess that this heavily packaged, arrogant, and impulsive star would inevitably say something reckless!

The sports car window slowly rolled down, and all the reporters froze for a moment. Then, countless camera lenses and microphones pointed at the face in the window.

"Is 'The Rock' impressive? I don't think so. It's a film filled with errors!"

Feigning nonchalance, Tom Cruise shrugged, suppressing his displeasure and flashing his signature smile. He didn't even wait for the reporters to ask; he continued his critique of "The Rock" without hesitation.

"You all know I've worked with the military and have filmed military-themed movies like 'Top Gun.' Anyone who looks closely can easily spot the numerous errors in 'The Rock.' These mistakes are so basic that they severely undermine the film's logic and realism in terms of its genre. It makes you wonder—was director Duke Rosenberg trying to shoot realistic flim or pure fantasy flim"

Hearing Tom Cruise's usual confident words, the reporters and paparazzi were as excited as if they had been injected with adrenaline. They could sense there was no one else in the sports car to remind Cruise to tread carefully, and they knew today's interaction would surely lead to explosive headlines.

"Tom! Tom!"

One reporter managed to ask while the others momentarily fell silent, "Tom, can you point out a few of the stupid mistakes in *The Rock"

.....

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