Saturday, October 5, 2024

Box Office: Tina Fey’s “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” Dances Paramount Into More Trouble

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Yes. Disney’s “Zootopia” finished number 1 and set a record for animated movies released in March when warm weather was near.

But Tina Fey’s “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” made just $7.6 million for the entire weekend, and joined “Zoolander 2” in Paramount’s winter of discontent.

Even though “WTF” cost less than “Z2”– $35 million to $45 million — the prospect of breaking even is a dream. Foreign interest is probably nil. Everyone loves a funny Tina Fey, and she is a brilliant writer. But that kind of vehicle might have worked a little better with a movie star to pull it along. Whatever happened to Renee Zellweger?

Anyway, Paramount has “Star Trek” in the summer and strong slates coming for 2017 and 2018. But we still have to get through 2016.

Meanwhile “London Has Fallen” made $21 million, far more than it deserved. Prospects are not pleasant, however. Weird how Focus Films went from indie gay-themed minor attractions to overblown studio films. Focus needs focus.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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