Box Office Calamity: No Magic as “Burt Wonderstone” Crashes with Carrell-Carey-Arkin-Gandolfini
SUNDAY UPDATE: Worse news than was thought: “Burt Wonderstone” comes in at $10.3 million for the weekend.
Earlier: This has not been a great winter for Warner Bros. This morning they’re waking up to their fourth box office disaster in a row. “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” — with real stars Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, James Gandolfini, and Oscar winner Alan Arkin. The movie looks like it will make a very meager $11-$12 million. The official budget is listed as $30 million, but of course, that’s highly unlikely given just that quartet. The cast also includes Olivia Wilde, Jay Mohr, and actual magician David Copperfield. “Wonderstone” also sports 11 producers, 4 writers, and 1 director–Don Scardino, a highly regarded television director and former actor.
“Burt Wonderstone” caps a long, bleak stretch that started with “Gangster Squad,” “Beautiful Creatures,” “Bullet to the Head,” and “Jack the Giant Slayer.” Every studio has its run of back luck. Warners is also coming off a mega success with “The Hobbit” and a Best Picture Oscar for the hit “Argo.” Last year “The Dark Knight Rises” was a monster success. And the studio is looking forward to a glittery opening for “The Great Gatsby” in May including the Cannes Film Festival premiere. Also about to be unleashed: “The Hangover Part III,” “Man of Steel,” a promising comedy called “We’re the Millers,” and “Gravity” with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.
This film, though, is a puzzlement. Why it was allowed to butt up against “Oz the Great and Powerful,” another family film with magic that had “The Wizard of Oz” marketing edge? And the mixed to poor reviews didn’t help. Neither did the very tacky looking posters. Oh well. This, too, shall pass.
You know when the trailers suck, the movie is horrible. There was not one funny thing in any of the trailers for this movie.
well being one of the victims who saw it. while the movie on the whole was horrid. you have to love arkin out of the bunch he put his best into the part. the rest looked like they were working snl on a boring night.
thanks for the tip.
you’re really in the know!
The only way I would watch this movie is if I’m inflight and my iPad battery is dead.
Jim Carrey is a satanic jewish creep.
Carrell isn’t funny. Carrey isn’t funny. They thrive on making people uncomfortable through their awkwardness and seventh-grade humor. Olivia Wilde is a chameleon, perfect for an actress, and she’s quite underrated. Her presence in this movie proves her agent is a complete idiot. She’s above this D rated movie. Kathy Griffin on the other hand, would be right at home.
I could care less about Carrey’s politics, because he’s proven himself an idiot and I don’t take counsel from idiots. Carrell is a one-note horn, and I’ve heard the song already. I saw the previews for this movie and cringed. If I were a Warner Brothers shareholder, I’d have been really, really pissed.
What alien force inhabits the hearts of those in Hollywood that are absolutely determined to destroy every good thing that Christianity has made possible.
Lae, eltreo, and squirefld are the same person.
Carey is not funny. His 15 minutes have long passed so he is doing what every Liberal in Hollywood does. Try and get attention by spewing stupidity . If you are a true Conservative you shouldn’t go to any movies. Its like paying the the Liberal party directly.
I am still amazed that the dipsticks of the Academy of Motion Pictures actually believe that “Argo” was the best movie of 2012. Absolutely appalling…
I will not spend one more red cent on these brain-dead celebrities. They have turned their backs on America and American values. I hope they all find themselves face down in a gutter somewhere and soon.
According to the previews I’ve seen for this movie I guess Hollywood was going for the dumb, mindless people to see this film, unfortunately they don’t have any money. The rest of us will pass on idiotic movies like this when spending our hard earned money for ENTERTAINMENT.
We stopped going to movies at the movie theatre years ago. I don’t give the Hollywood lefties my money. I don’t know how this business stays “in business…..”
It is extremely rare that I go to the movies. I’m not married, my most recent true love moved back to Chicago, and most movies are either too violent or too politically contrived to correctness. In other words, I am a Tea Party Man.
I walked out on AVATAR after 20 minutes, because I was bored. The last movie I saw at the theatre was THOR, which I liked immensely.
So I’m asking those of you who frequent the picture shows this question;
What sort of offensive statements has Jim Carrey made?
I think he’s Canadian by birth, not one of us. Does that fact excuse any of his Mouthy Moments?
I saw the ad and didn’t even know it was a film.
Carrey has had his day.
Sounds like 70’s really bad movie.
So many in the entertainment industry have insulted many of us with their irrational rants against Republicans and Conservatives that, speaking for myself, I don’t spend money to support them.
Besides, I’m not a Carey fan anyway and I think he is one that went on a rant. Rant away you libs, keep insulting us and you will probably see more stay away.
Movies would make more money if they had more boobs in ’em. I love boobs.
50+ year old men acting like doofusses does not sell.
20 year olds can do it, 50+ cannot.
Slick dry humor would have been better.
It looks to me that all of the conseratives and people who believe in the Second Admendent stayed home. Why would they give money to someone who openly shows he doesn’t like them.
Maybe, Carey and other Hollywood leftists are beginning to have to pay the price for their Leftists Rants! I wouldn’t spend my money on the likes of Carey, Penn, Affleck or Damon et al. I’m getting so tired of the “Church of the Hollywood Hypocrites” constantly preaching in their films, TV show, and any podium they find. Is there anyone in Hollywood who can make a movie without preaching the leftist line?
I’m sure it had something to do with Jim Carrey publicly name calling millions of law abiding, movie going audiences a few months ago. I know I’m never going to one of his movies again.
This is no surprise; this movie looks awful. “Star” power cannot save bad movies, and this looks to be a bad movie. Steve, Carrell has a knack for picking bad material; he should have stuck with The Office.
Any movie called “Burt Wonderstone” was always gonna fail.
Dumbest name for a film