Firewall
Rate Movie[Total: 5 Average: 2]
- Directed By: Richard Loncraine
- Written By: Joe Forte
- Release Date: February 10, 2006
- Domestic Distributor: Warner Bros
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen, Paul Bettany
Box Office Info:
| Budget: $50 million | Financed by: Warner Bros; Village Roadshow |
|---|---|
| Domestic Gross: $48,751,189 | Overseas Gross: $34,000,000 |
The Firewall spec script (originally titled The Wrong Element) was first setup at the short lived Signpost Films, but the company shuttered before their first co-production Bulletproof Monk (2003) was even completed. The project then moved over to MGM in March 2003, which acquired the script for mid-six figures against high-six-figures, but it was quickly put into turnaround. Firewall was then scooped up by Warner Bros, which financed the picture with Village Roadshow for $50 million.
Firewall was dated for February 10, 2006 — marking Harrison Ford’s return to the big screen three years after he had toplined Hollywood Homicide (2003) and K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), both of which ended as two of the biggest money losers on record. This generic thriller was tracking soft going into release and the trailer and marketing material gave away most of the lazy plotting. Reviews were mixed to poor and Firewall was expected to open in the low double digits, in-line with the performances of his previous two box office bombs.
Firewall bowed against The Pink Panther, Final Destination 3 and Curious George and pulled in a soft $13,635,463 — placing #4 for the weekend led by The Pink Panther. The movie declined 34.5% to $8,932,525 in its second frame and then posted a modest 25.2% dip in attendance to $6,682,212 in its third session. The domestic run closed with a disappointing $48,751,189.
Harrison Ford’s bankability had also wanned overseas since his last hit What Lies Beneath (2000) and Firewall posted just $34M in receipts. The worldwide cume was $82.7M and WB would see returned about $45.4M after theaters take their percentage of the gross — leaving at least $25M in P&A expenses in the red and the budget untouched by the theatrical revenue.