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Could you drop some reviews? It helps to get this fic a rating.
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In the North American film market of June and July 1994, there was an abundance of movies that were either classic or blockbusters.
On June 10th, "Speed" was released, a quintessential action movie with dashing men and beautiful women. Keanu Reeves, then relatively new to the scene, was at the height of his career, and Sandra Bullock was also in her prime. While their acting skills could be described as a work in progress, their charisma alone was enough to captivate a multitude of young viewers. And let's not forget the sizzling scenes that sent adrenaline surging.
Shortly after, on June 15th, "Wrong Turn" hit the screens, closely followed by a modern classic, "The Lion King." This marked the swan song of Disney's 2D animation era, with far-reaching impact. Disney's trademark family-friendly appeal was an instant box office hit, transcending age boundaries with ease.
But the real competition loomed ahead.
Come July 4th, U.S. Independence Day, an unforgettable movie emerged, "Forrest Gump," directed by Robert Zemeckis, known for the "Back to the Future" series, starring Tom Hanks. This all-American film didn't just receive critical acclaim but also proved to be a long-term box office sensation, ultimately becoming the North American box office champion of 1994.
But wait, there's more.
Less than two weeks after "Forrest Gump," James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger unleashed "True Lies," a veritable cinematic juggernaut. While it may not have had the same cost-effectiveness as Cameron's previous works, it still outshone most other films. With its significant investment and special effects, it had the potential to dominate the silver screen. In fact, upon its release, it threatened to overshadow "Wrong Turn," even if it didn't strike the latter with a knockout blow, it would certainly claim a lion's share of theatre screens.
This was the release schedule of "Wrong Turn," a battlefield with challenges on all fronts.
"Why did you and the producer opt for such a schedule in the first place?"
After listening to Christian's explanation, Charlize was at a loss for words. While she was unaware of the impending competition from "Forrest Gump," the strengths of "Speed" and "The Lion King" were already evident, not to mention "True Lies," which featured the iconic T-800 from her poster collection. Any movie starring the future governor was bound to be a box office magnet in her eyes.
"Given this schedule, our box office is bound to take a hit, isn't it?"
"Not necessarily," Christian countered.
The schedule had been carefully chosen to ride the wave of excitement surrounding the Allen case, but it didn't mean that Christian hadn't considered the competition. In fact, with the advantage of foresight, he was more familiar with his opponents' strengths than others.
"While these films have a strong pull at the box office, it doesn't mean they'll leave us high and dry. Considering the genre, 'Wrong Turn' can coexist with them. After all, 'Speed' and 'True Lies' fall into the action category, while 'The Lion King' and 'Forrest Gump' cater to family audiences, making it less likely for them to overlap with our horror film audience."
"Really?"
A look of disbelief crossed Charlize's face.
"Indeed."
Christian exuded confidence. In his recollection, be it in the United States or China, during the annual blockbuster movie schedule, there would always be one or two low-budget genres that managed to break through the encircling competition. This demonstrated that even in the face of a barrage of commercial blockbusters, as long as the film's quality was exceptional and it carved a niche within the market, it could make a significant impact.
"The opponent I'm currently more concerned about isn't these four films, but the 'Wolf' set to release tomorrow."
"'Wolf'!?"
As an avid fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, Charlize had only taken notice of "True Lies" besides her own "Wrong Turn." She hadn't even heard of "Wolf," so Christian proceeded to fill her in:
"'Wolf' is a thriller with a touch of fantasy, and it largely targets the same audience as our film. The lead actors in this movie are Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer."
"The Joker and Catwoman as the leads?"
Upon hearing this, Charlize's interest was immediately piqued, and Christian couldn't help but suppress a sigh. He had accurately predicted her reaction!
Though Jack Nicholson is renowned for his role in "The Shining," he also delivered a memorable performance as the Joker in the older version of "Batman." Speaking of which, in both the older and newer versions of "Batman," the villains excelled while Batman, the titular character, often paled in comparison and was somewhat overshadowed.
In other words, "Batman" is a franchise primarily propelled by its villains.
Christian couldn't help but contemplate this rather harsh revelation, especially for Batman fans.
As for Michelle Pfeiffer, she portrayed both a villain and a heroine in the Batman series. She famously embodied the sultry and dangerous Catwoman in Tim Burton's 1992 version of "Batman Returns." Despite mixed reviews for the film due to Burton's penchant for dark, gothic aesthetics, Michelle's rendition of the enigmatic and fierce Catwoman has become a legendary portrayal in cinematic history. Subsequent versions, including Halle Berry's Black Pearl and Anne Hathaway's revamped portrayal, appeared lackluster compared to Michelle's interpretation.
Now, even Christian found herself genuinely intrigued by this "Wolf," where the Joker and Catwoman formed a unique couple. Unfortunately, he hadn't watched this movie before his transition, making it challenging to assess whether it posed a threat to "Fatal Turn."
"However, despite my fascination with this unusual pairing, I can't help but feel that the Joker and Catwoman as a duo is rather unconventional."
Christian mused to herself, ultimately marking "Wolf" as the primary competitor to "Fatal Turn."