From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

March 21, 2004, Sunday.

Everything is as expected. Across the Northern Hemisphere, winter is giving way to spring, and the changing seasons are altering people's lifestyles.

According to past habits, the climate usually doesn't completely change until May or June. In March and April, it's still bitterly cold after nightfall. Although people's desire to leave their homes and go outside is beginning to stir, this impulse may still need to wait.

However, this year is slightly different. Due to media publicity and promotion, and also because "The Passion of the Christ" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" have ignited heated discussions one after another, the subtle changes in the weather have become a catalyst for people to enter the cinemas. The market is indeed experiencing unexpected changes.

The crowds are not surging like they do in summer, but young boys and girls are happily heading to the cinema to gather, breaking free from the shackles of the harsh winter. The air is filled with a youthful atmosphere, and the number of pedestrians in sight is noticeably increasing.

This is true for large chain cinemas, and small independent cinemas are no exception.

Among the crowds of people coming and going, reporters can be unexpectedly found. Some television stations have sent live broadcast teams, some print media have sent interview reporters, and some sampling survey agencies have sent professional data surveyors—

Everyone knows that waiting until tomorrow morning, the North American weekend box office charts will be released, and patience will allow them to see the data clearly presented in front of them.

But people still can't suppress their enthusiasm and excitement, and they flock to cinemas to conduct interviews and observations, and carry out field investigations to see what differences there are in the flow of customers compared to Friday and Saturday.

More, or less?

They use these clues to speculate on box office data and peek into market changes.

It's hard to imagine that the spring season, which has always been in an awkward and unremarkable position in the annual schedule, would receive such treatment. You can clearly feel the recovery of the entire market—

The predictions of Hollywood professionals are turning into reality.

Thanks to the Academy Awards ceremony being moved forward by a month, there is a short window of opportunity after the Oscars and before the summer blockbuster season. If it can be managed properly, perhaps market potential can be tapped, just like a warm-up act before a concert officially begins. Even if it can't ignite the box office like the summer season, it can still rejuvenate the spring season.

Following the holiday season, major Hollywood film companies are eagerly targeting the spring season.

Things are happening.

However, because of Anson, things have slightly deviated from the track, not happening in April, but impatiently being staged in March.

If you add "The Passion of the Christ", this year's spring season order has indeed been turned upside down, and the entire Hollywood is stirring restlessly.

According to media observations and predictions, the Sunday viewing traffic is basically the same as Saturday, without a significant decline, showing the enthusiasm of the market.

With the classic remake of "Dawn of the Dead" in front, and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" unleashing imagination behind, plus "The Passion of the Christ" igniting controversy, the early spring film market is much more interesting and fun than imagined. The bustling audiences don't seem to mind choosing to go out to see movies in the still-chilly season.

Judging from the level of crowds, "Dawn of the Dead" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" continue the stalemate of Friday and Saturday, and the box office trend is still fiercely competitive. The champion of this week's North American weekend box office chart may have to wait until the last moment to determine the winner—

This is definitely an accident.

How can a film released in three thousand theaters and a film released in three hundred theaters be so entangled in the box office charts, engaging in close combat to the end?

Even though "The Butterfly Effect" and "Elephant" have successively created good box office results, and even though Anson continues his undefeated box office myth, this scene is still unbelievable—

Shock, everywhere.

The entire Hollywood has clearly recognized Anson's box office appeal in the North American market, but they have completely failed to realize that this appeal has reached such a level.

Not to mention that box office superstars such as Tom Cruise, Will Smith, and Harrison Ford have never completed such a feat, even Tom Hanks can hardly achieve the current goal. In the history of the North American film market, it is definitely the first time ever, attracting everyone's attention.

Then, the third week of March, the North American weekend box office chart is released—

Champion, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", 23 million US dollars.

Runner-up, "Dawn of the Dead", 22 million US dollars.

Third place, "The Passion of the Christ", 19 million US dollars.

Heck!

A gasp of cold air, collective freeze!

Even if they have personally experienced and witnessed it, even if they have prepared themselves in their hearts, they are still caught in the frontal impact of a shocking wave at this moment.

Things are happening, and they really happened.

Even Focus Features is completely stunned. No one expected this scene, and even more, no one thought that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" could reach such a height.

The per-screen box office of 74,900 US dollars, although temporarily unable to compare with the per-screen box office record of live-action movies in limited release created by "Elephant" three months ago, is still ranked thirteenth in the per-screen box office history record list—including all works including animated films.

What about the historical record of per-screen box office for live-action movies?

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is temporarily ranked fifth.

Moreover, the most incredible part is that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is the only work in the top 200 of the per-screen box office history list with more than 30 theaters.

Thirty theaters!

In other words, those works with excellent per-screen box office results are only released in up to 30 theaters, relying on hunger marketing to gather customer traffic; but now "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is released in 300 theaters, but still writes such achievements, no wonder the entire North American market is completely stunned.

If anyone still thinks Anson is not a superstar, I am afraid no one would support such an absurd idea.

"This is all Charlie Kaufman's credit!"

Perhaps some people think so, but Charlie Kaufman himself refuses: This matter has nothing to do with me. Anson, this is completely because of Anson.

In fact, when the media surrounded Charlie Kaufman, this talented screenwriter actually ran away—

Yes, ran away, at a speed he had never shown before, at full speed.