Chapter 179: Box Office Success

The film had its grand premiere and immediately garnered glowing reviews. That very night, the crew and Warner Bros. set the wheels in motion for word-of-mouth marketing.

The following morning, praise for "The Hills Have Eyes" echoed across various media platforms, from print newspapers to online websites.

"Succeeding 'Scream,' 'The Mountain Has Eyes' marks Wes Craven's best horror film yet," one review exclaimed. "It's a shame it's not a series; under Martin's influence, it could easily claim the title of the best in the franchise."

Variety, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Los Angeles Times, among others, all showered the film with positive feedback.

Rotten Tomatoes launched the day after the premiere, boasting a fresh rating of 78%. On the MTC website, media professionals bestowed the film with an average rating of 68.

This was, after all, a horror movie!

Praise was predominantly centered on the fusion of horror and action, as well as Martin's exceptional performance.

"Martin Davis, armed with nothing but a baseball bat and with his loyol dog, masterfully depicted the fury that engulfs a husband and father in times of extreme pain," read one article.

"Martin Davis's character becomes even more unhinged than the murderers in the second half of the film," humorously remarked a gossip newspaper. "Isn't this what a real man should be like?"

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times heaped praise on Martin's acting abilities, stating, "Young Martin Davis flawlessly portrayed the transformation of a good man into an avenging, wrathful figure under the weight of extreme pain and sorrow. His portrayal was vivid, and his descent into vengeance felt natural. The contorted expressions and gruesome acts didn't repulse; instead, they compelled cheers."

Most media outlets shared this enthusiastic sentiment.

The internet was ablaze with positive reviews on film platforms like IMDb.

"Martin is incredible. The father he portrays is unbelievably brave. I wish my own father could be like him," one comment read.

"Never mess with a father who combines courage, bravery, strategy, and skill to save his child," remarked another viewer.

"This is a horror film, but Martin uses his intense acting to show the world the warmth and love of family."

The external agency responsible for viral marketing embraced a new role, focusing on building "The Hills Have Eyes" reputation online.

The next day, Martin paid a visit to the set of "The Devil Wears Prada," slyly dropping intriguing tidbits to keep the gossip mill running.

Some gossip newspapers and websites even boldly declared that Martin was preparing to propose to Anne, and they even divulged the details of his proposal plans.

The website that used to be known as "The Decryption" now proudly adopted the name "The Hills Have Eyes." They posted a video showcasing the premiere audience's ecstatic cheers for Martin.

One would easily assume the movie must be incredibly thrilling to elicit such a response from fans.

Videos were shared across numerous websites and entertainment blogs, claiming to have been shot by fans. Viewers clamored to buy repeated tickets to watch "The Hills Have Eyes."

All this information reached the North American public through various media channels.

Given the film's strong foundation, Warner Bros. continued to market it aggressively, ensuring no post-release backlash.

Following the premiere, Martin kept up the pace, and as the first weekend of February arrived, he and Anne made a joint appearance at the Super Bowl.

During any break in the game, this crafty man would seize the opportunity to kiss Anne. Their displays of affection, including wet kisses, were frequent, ensuring they remained in the spotlight.

By halftime, Anne felt her lips burning and remarked tactfully, "Martin, you're particularly passionate today."

Martin gazed affectionately at Anne, saying, "I want everyone to know the depth of my love for you."

Anne disregarded the discomfort and initiated another kiss, prompting them to appear on television screens once more.

During the halftime break, alongside traditional performances, there were crucial advertising moments. Since the success of "Independence Day" in 1997 with Super Bowl advertising, Hollywood films had made it a tradition.

Martin saw advertisements for two films he was associated with, "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

The latter would provide Angelina Jolie a career-defining role leading to "Wanted."

When one's star power was insufficient, leveraging opportunities like these became inevitable.

By the final quarter of the game, Anne's lips were no longer burning but had turned painful and somewhat swollen.

Martin sympathized with Anne and refrained from further kisses in the last segment. Partly because there had been so many earlier in the game, and also because the director in the studio was berating them, saying, "Are they here to watch the game or exploit our cameras? Don't give them the camera! Don't give them anything!"

This was the unanimous opinion in the studio, as it was deemed excessively shameless for Hollywood stars.

During a close-up shot, viewers could clearly see Anne's swollen lips from the kisses, and she was even leaning in voluntarily.

As for Martin Davis, what was so special about him? Anne Hathaway didn't seem particularly impressed.

After the Super Bowl, Martin escorted Anne back to Los Angeles and then joined the crew for relentless promotion, primarily in New York and Chicago, where they participated in local radio, television, and roadshows.

Additionally, Warner Bros. announced that "The Hills Have Eyes" would be competing in this year's Saturn Awards and Teen Choice Awards.

The latter was established in 1999 and was steadily gaining influence among young audiences.

"The Mountain Has Eyes" would be vying for the Best Horror Scene in a Movie category.

When Martin returned to Los Angeles, the film was merely a day away from its nationwide release.

Alexandre Aja had arranged to meet him and Craven for a night out at a nightclub.

The three of them evaded the paparazzi and entered a strip club through the back entrance. After selecting dancers, they retreated to a VIP room on the second floor.

With generous tips in hand, the three dancers departed for their break.

Under the car's interior lighting, their faces were illuminated, making Martin and his companions particularly clear-headed and sharp-witted.

Ajia tossed his tip, washing his face in the car's light, and said, "I can finally relax a bit."

Martin playfully gestured with his middle finger and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Maybe I'll head back to France to shoot 'Woodpecker.'"

Ajia inquired, "Would you star in it for me?"

Craven chimed in, "Martin has quite the experience. In 'Zombie Stripper,' he even had a flying dance scene with the Queen of the San Francisco Valley."

Ajia, intrigued, started to ask a question, but Martin interjected firmly, "Please, I'm a professional actor with integrity. Acting is acting."

"Now that he's with Anne, he doesn't need to worry about that," Craven added.

Aja slipped another tip into place, letting the car's headlights wash his face, and remarked, "We do have some competition, especially in the horror and thriller genres."

Martin had already checked the film schedule, saying confidently, "You mean 'The Evil Dead' by Screenshot Pictures? Don't worry; we have Craven on our side!"

Craven added, "The key is this weekend, and next weekend is Valentine's Day."

Martin handed over a tip and said before getting his face washed, "After that, it's Will Smith's 'Hitch.'"

Ajia inquired, "But the genres are quite different, and the audiences too, right?"

Martin attempted to respond, but before he could, the car wash interrupted him, and he resorted to gurgles.

After his face was washed, he continued, "These days, Will Smith is taking down everyone, men, women, young, and old."

Craven, temporarily blinded by the headlights, couldn't speak.

Ajia, her face now clean, said, "The first-week box office is crucial."

Craven, spitting out the headlight's glare, said, "North America accounts for over a third of the box office."

Martin added, "Warner Bros. has a distribution prowess that's hard to match."

The movie was set to premiere the following day, and this time, it was just Martin, Ajia, and Craven—no entourage.

Bruce waited by the back door in the car as Martin hopped in. They drove back to North Hollywood.

Martin commented, "I invited you to join, but you declined."

Bruce, with a professional demeanor, replied, "I prefer to keep an eye on your exit."

Bruce then asked, "The media is buzzing about your upcoming proposal to Anne. Has she talked to you about it?"

Martin, with an air of seriousness, stated, "When a fine man like me proposes, you can be certain it will be sincere."

Bruce, getting straight to the point, said, "So, you're planning to be a scoundrel. Why not just say it?"

After a moment of contemplation, Martin responded, "Let's wait and see."

Bruce probed further, "If she takes the initiative to profess her love to you, will you still be a scoundrel?"

Martin firmly asserted, "No, I'm certainly not a scoundrel. I won't make a promise unless it's initiated... so I won't break it."

Bruce mused that even Satan himself wouldn't accept this guy as a passenger if he continued with this line of thinking: "What are you planning, then?"

Martin, deep in thought, finally stated, "Bruce, as an upstanding man, it's only right to test a woman's love."

Bruce reluctantly gave in.

This so-called test would have to wait, though, as the film was about to be officially released.

On Thursday at 4 p.m., "The Mountain Has Eyes" had its advance screening in 3,280 theaters across North America.

Fans led by Rachel, who were staunch supporters of Martin, rallied others to watch the film, and many responded enthusiastically.

Even fans who were struggling financially made an effort to buy tickets and show their support.

Casual moviegoers, influenced by the film's publicity and marketing, also opted for this particular movie.

Among the two major releases of the week, "The Hills Have Eyes" was the top choice for most.

The advance box office soared to an impressive $4.25 million, nearly double that of "The Evil Dead," which grossed $2.28 million.

On the following Friday, "The Hills Have Eyes" predictably claimed the top spot at the box office, earning $10.51 million on its opening day.

Three days later, at the end of its first weekend, the film triumphed as the highest-grossing movie in North America with an impressive $34.15 million, leaving the second-place contender with less than $20 million.