Tears Of The Sun

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  • Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
  • Written By: Alex Lasker, Patrick Cirillo
  • Release Date: March 7, 2003
  • Domestic Distributor: Sony
  • Cast: Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser

Box Office Info:
Budget: $100.5 million Financed by: Revolution Studios; Sony
Domestic Box Office: $43,734,876 Overseas Box Office: $42,733,286

“Bruce Willis. Pain in my ass.”
Director Antoine Fuqua

tears of the sun bruce willis
Revolution Studios financed this Bruce Willis vehicle for what was originally listed as a $75 million budget, but when Revolution Studios shuttered and their library was up for sale, the actual budget of Tears Of The Sun was listed as $100.5 million.  Revolution’s financing slate agreement with Sony had Sony contribute 42.5% of the budget and 100% of the marketing costs.  Revolution Studios head Joe Roth told the Wall Street Journal that releasing the huge 2003 flops Gigli‘ ‘Hollywood Homicide‘ and ‘Tears of the Sun,’ was “humiliating.”  It certainly should be humiliating to spend $100.5M on this schlocky military interventionist nonsense, that felt like an expensive 1980s Cannon Films actioner.

Sony distributed Tears Of The Sun, as per their output agreement with Revolution.  Tears Of The Sun was dated for March 7 and bowed against Bringing Down The House.  Bruce Willis was coming off of two very expensive flops Bandits (2001) and Hart’s War (2002) and followed this turkey with the bomb The Whole Ten Yards (2004).

Tears Of The Sun had a decent enough start at $17,057,213 — placing #2 for the weekend led by Bringing Down The House.  Sony expected the film to have enough legs to reach at least $60 million domestic, but Tears Of The Sun fell 49% to $8,705,853 the following weekend when the action flop The Hunted opened and ate into Tears‘ audience.  Tears Of The Sun closed its run with a disappointing $43,734,876.

The film did poor business overseas, grossing a terrible $1.3 million in the UK and Japan posted the highest numbers with $7.9 million.  The offshore total was $42,733,286.  The worldwide cume came to $86.4 million and Sony would see returned about $47.5 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross — which would not even cover P&A expenses.

8 Comments

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  1. I’m from watching this movie again, and still think it’s one of the best movies. I don’t know why it’s a flop as it has a good story, best moral.
    Applause to all the actors and producers
    I’m from Zambia

  2. Very Very Nice Movie. Love the roll of Bruce Willis & other members.
    This movie show the real spirit of Soldiers who care for all. Very very feelingfull/emotional movie.

    Best wishes to all cast members for this movie from India.

  3. I think this is the best Bruce Willis film. I have watched it numerous times. I think I like it even more than the Die Hard movies. I certainly like it more than Bruce’s later films. I totally liked the character Bruce portrayed as a tough military officer with a soft spot. I thought it realistically portrayed incidents of genocide in countries that experience civil war or civil unrest. I am both sad and surprised that it was not a financial success.

  4. This was a well done movie the writing was tight and the cinematography created one of the better battle sequences I have viewed I think only Willis could have played this part as he can communicate so well with facial movements you feel the unsaid dialog. Zimmer did a masterful score. The casting was well done as the characters compliment each other . There is a sense of real team spirit . The blocking had great flow and led you through the story
    This film has Karma !,
    I am amazed that it did not do better at the box office.

    This is a film you can watch and watch and watch .

    .

  5. This movie was powerful! I had to watch it twice. So realistic and shower and what happened over in Africa to those poor people. I found myself wanting to help as I was watching this movie!

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