Premiere box office

The first batch of enthusiastic reviews, the lively first-day screening, and the madness of the first-time mobbing all seemed to foretell a bright future for "A Few Good Men" at the box office.

The next day, the incident where Hugo was mobbed by over a hundred fans made it to the front page of USA Today. The bustling scene of the film's premiere day became the most prosperous sight of the second weekend of December, which most media outlets had not anticipated. After all, the holiday season consisting of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas had more competitive family-friendly holiday films at the box office, and "A Few Good Men" was not one of them.

Facing the grandeur of the premiere day of "A Few Good Men", the authoritative magazine in the film industry, The Hollywood Reporter, expressed its own insights in the film's reviews.

"There is no doubt that "A Few Good Men" is a film belonging to Hugo Lancaster. Even Jack Nicholson's brilliant performance cannot overshadow Lancaster's charm.

Having experienced the remarkable success of "Dead Poets Society" and the slump of "Hudson Hawk", Hugo returned to the public's attention a month ago with a splendid performance in "Scent of a Woman". However, his performance in "A Few Good Men" is even more praiseworthy. It not only marks Hugo's end to a three-year slump and the reemergence of his dazzling acting skills but also propels him into the position of a popular idol.

The 25-year-old Lancaster has an undeniable handsome appearance, and his talent in acting has many shining points. However, it wasn't until the recent release of two consecutive outstanding works that Lancaster's charm truly blossomed.

His sharp edges, resolute demeanor, and carefree spirit; his witty humor, sunny smile, and captivating eyes; his slightly raised eyebrows and bright, neat teeth; his athletic figure and the strikingly heroic posture while swinging a bat on the field—all of these make countless women blush, lose their composure, and lose self-control.

His dignified military uniform, speaking confidently in the courtroom, engaging in verbal duels with formidable opponents—what a splendid display of talent. A rookie lawyer challenging a corrupt system and an outstanding senior officer, ultimately bringing them to justice, shows immense courage. From being carefree to having a great epiphany, bearing the tremendous pressure of future and life, and persisting until the end without hesitation—this embodies unwavering determination. With bravery and strategy, real and illusory elements intertwined and pressing forward step by step, it forces an arrogant colonel to confess the truth that was forever buried beneath the innocent victim's body in the courtroom—an act of wisdom.

It is more accurate to say that "A Few Good Men" has shaped Daniel Kaffee, played by Lancaster, rather than Lancaster shaping "A Few Good Men". His every move exudes enchanting charm, captivating both the audience and fans.

As The Hollywood Reporter stated, if "Scent of a Woman" wasn't a film that showcased Hugo's charm, then "A Few Good Men" did just that. This could be seen from the reaction of girls represented by Melory. Thanks to this film, Hugo has become the most anticipated man in December, shaking the hearts of countless women.

"A Few Good Men" wasn't initially a film that targeted fanatics, but the character of Daniel Kaffee, portrayed by Hugo, successfully attracted countless fans. After the buildup in "Scent of a Woman", Hugo completely swept away the shadow of the Razzie Awards, ushering in the true peak of his acting career!

The flattering comments, the fans' cheers, and the energy emanating from the box office success allowed Hugo to enjoy treatment he hadn't received since 1982.

On the second weekend of December, apart from two limited-release films, "A Few Good Men" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol" were the two widely released films of the week. The former needed no introduction, while the latter starred Michael Cain, the 1986 Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor. Although it had an investment of only $12 million, it was an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Christmas-themed work. The fact that it was released in 2,100 theaters indicated Disney's confidence in its production and distribution. Therefore, the premieres of these two films were bound to have fierce competition.

In addition, "Home Alone 2", which had been the box office champion for three consecutive weeks, continued its strong momentum. "The Bodyguard", a highly discussed film in its second week, still had a powerful presence. The animated film "Aladdin", which had won many praises, entered its third week of expansion with great momentum. This made the box office competition for this week particularly intense.

According to previous predictions by major media outlets, it was widely believed that there would be a fierce battle between "A Few Good Men" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol", and the possibility of "Home Alone 2" winning the fourth consecutive crown still existed. "The Bodyguard" and "Aladdin" were considered dark horses. It was certain that the champion of the week would come from these five strong contenders, but different media outlets had their own opinions.

However, after the films were released, the high quality of "A Few Good Men" and its strong appeal to the audience surprised the media. The film achieved impressive results with a box office of $15,000 per theater in the 1,900 theaters where it premiered, easily surpassing its competitors and taking the top spot on the North American box office chart for the week. This truly shattered the expectations of the entire entertainment industry.

Although the premiere performance of $28.5 million for "A Few Good Men" did not surpass the numbers of "Home Alone 2" or cross the $30 million threshold, it ranked as the fifth highest-grossing premiere of the year, following only "Batman Returns", "Home Alone 2", "Lethal Weapon 3", and "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Comparing with these four films, which consisted of sequels or highly anticipated productions, their victory in premiere performance was almost predictable. In this context, the premiere performance of "A Few Good Men" seemed even more incredible.

Before the release of the film, whether it was the official prediction by Columbia Pictures or the professional predictions of major media outlets, the boldest speculation for the premiere box office of "A Few Good Men" was only $15 million. This was not only due to the doubts some media had about the film's quality or Hugo's leading role, but also because it was a serious courtroom drama, making it not an easy task to achieve success in premiere box office results. Moreover, the film also lost the star power of Tom Cruise, which could have attracted more audience attention.

However, who could have anticipated the tremendous energy that "A Few Good Men" unleashed in its first week of release? It not only shattered everyone's expectations but also became the first film in Hugo's acting career to surpass the $10 million mark in a single week at the box office. It was truly an unexpected achievement.

Faced with the strong performance of "A Few Good Men", not only did the media exclaim in surprise and praise Hugo, celebrating his first peak in the ten years since his debut and his entrance into the ranks of A-list stars, but also the competitors admitted defeat.

Apart from "A Few Good Men", no other film this week had a weekend box office exceeding $10 million. "Home Alone 2", "The Bodyguard", and "Aladdin" were embroiled in intense competition, occupying the second to fourth spots on the box office chart. The highest difference between them was not more than $500,000, indicating the fierceness of the competition.

As for "The Muppet Christmas Carol", it was disappointing to see that it only grossed $5 million at the box office in 2,100 theaters, despite the high expectations. Although this premiere figure was acceptable compared to its $12 million investment, Disney couldn't help but be disappointed. As one of the witnesses to the sudden rise of "A Few Good Men", it was hard for Disney to smile at the box office performance of "The Muppet Christmas Carol".

It is worth mentioning that "Scent of a Woman", which entered its ninth week of release, earned $3.5 million over the weekend, securing the seventh position on the box office chart. This also made it a rare sight to see Hugo with two films on the list.

No wonder the media rushed to praise Hugo. Releasing two films within two months was already an impressive achievement, especially considering Hugo's Golden Raspberry Award win in January. Now, both films have achieved success, excelling in both word-of-mouth and box office performance. This accomplishment is not only comparable to Hugo himself but also stands strong against the current reigning star, Tom Cruise.

The gloom of the past three years has finally dissipated for Hugo. Not only did he not succumb to the ill luck brought by the Golden Raspberry Award, but he also reached new heights through his own efforts. He has truly reached the first pinnacle of his career, marking a Christmas miracle in 1992.

When analyzing the remarkable premiere performance of "A Few Good Men", the media inevitably mentioned a few key factors. The first was the highly publicized Rodney King case, which increased people's interest in courtroom-themed films. With the unclear truth, people are willing to believe that Rodney King is the film's Dawson and Downey, and the white police officer represents the arrogant Colonel Jessep. This emotional attachment has unleashed astonishing energy at the box office.

The second factor was Hugo's own journey from a low point to a new peak, which naturally piques people's interest. The groundwork laid by "Scent of a Woman" and the high exposure from the intensive two-month promotion also generated more anticipation for "A Few Good Men". At least in terms of attendance during the premiere weekend, "A Few Good Men" had an innate advantage. If it were starring Tom Cruise, perhaps "A Few Good Men" would not have achieved such remarkable results. It was not that Tom lackd box office appeal, but rather he did not have the same timing and favorable conditions.

Of course, the highlight of the premiere box office does not guarantee the film's overall success. The steep 50% drop in box office earnings for "Bram Stoker's Dracula" in its second week was still fresh in people's minds. The decline in "A Few Good Men" box office performance in the second week became the next focal point of attention.

Fortunately, after the premiere of "A Few Good Men", the second batch of reviews brought good news. It seemed that Hugo was truly climbing the first peak of his career.