Bounce
Rate Movie[Total: 6 Average: 3]
- Directed By: Don Roos
- Written By: Don Roos
- Release Date: November 17, 2000
- Domestic Distributor: Miramax
- Cast: Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natasha Henstridge
Box Office Info:
| Budget: $35 million | Financed by: Miramax |
|---|---|
| Domestic Box Office: $36,805,288 | Overseas Box Office: $16,620,004 |
Bounce was initially developed at Polygram, when producer Steve Golin optioned the spec script in 1997 for $800,000 against $1.25 million. Universal acquired Polygram in May 1998 and the picture was sent into turnaround and Miramax quickly picked up the project. Miramax regulars Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow were attached and
the budget for Bounce was $35 million.
When Miramax took the project from Universal, they brokered a deal where Universal had the option to board the movie before its release as equal financier and share all revenue — but Universal did not go through with the agreement.
Bounce was originally filmed as a dark drama, but the movie tested poorly and it was retooled into a generic, nondescript romantic fluff piece. Writer/Director Don Roos (who previously helmed the dark comedy The Opposite Of Sex) talked about the changes Bounce went through after preview screenings: “Bounce was a much edgier, darker film. It wasn’t necessarily a romantic—whatever they thought it was—a great love story. It was really the story of a man’s disintegration. So, it went differently once the preview audience saw it. They’re like, “Oh I don’t like that character. He makes me uncomfortable.” Then we had to change it to get people to like him more. The problem is you never really make a better movie that way.”
Bounce was first dated for an October release, but was pushed back to November 17. It bowed against How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and The 6th Day. Reviews were mixed and Bounce pulled in a soft $11,423,716 — placing #5 for the weekend led by Grinch. Bounce dipped a modest 32% in its second frame to $7,762,647 and continued to post small weekly declines, but closed with $36,805,288. Miramax would see returned about $20.2 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross, which would cover most of the P&A expenses.
Miramax sold off most overseas rights, as per their usual financial model, which would limit their exposure to the budget. Bounce was a dud for the distributors that picked up the title and it cumed $16.6 million from its offshore run.
Affleck’s previous feature was the Miramax film and box office flop Reindeer Games, which was released in February.