The Sentinel
Rate Movie[Total: 4 Average: 2.3]
- Directed By: Clark Johnson
- Written By: George Nolfi
- Release Date: April 21, 2006
- Domestic Distributor: FOX
- Cast: Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger
Box Office Info:
| Budget: $60 million | Financed by: New Regency |
|---|---|
| Domestic Gross: $36,280,697 | Overseas Gross: $41,804,130 |
In March 2001, Paramount purchased the book rights to The Sentinel for six-figures as a vehicle for Michael Douglas and Barry Levinson was tapped to direct. The project stalled and was eventually brought over to New Regency, which went into production in 2005 with a now very miscast and far too old Douglas playing a secret service agent. New Regency financed The Sentinel for an estimated $60 million, with FOX distributing in most territories.
The Sentinel was dated for April 21, 2006 and Michael Douglas had been off screens for three years and his drawing power had faded. After his strong work in Traffic and the underseen Wonder Boys in 2000, he churned out three lazy projects Don’t Say A Word (2001) and the flops It Runs in the Family (2003) and The In-Laws (2003). After The Sentinel tanked, it would mark Douglas’ last studio vehicle until the Wall Street sequel in 2010.
The Sentinel bowed against Silent Hill and the low budget flop satire American Dreamz, which also featured a plot about assassinating the president. Reviews were mixed, leaning negative. The movie was tracking poorly for an opening near $10M, but opened above expectations with a soft $14,367,854 — placing #3 for the weekend led by Silent Hill. The picture declined 45.8% in its second frame to $7,787,208 and then sank 60.4% in its third session to $3,086,304. The domestic run closed with $36,280,697.
Overseas, the movie pulled in soft numbers in most markets, with Spain posting the highest offshore gross at $6,255,372. The overseas cume was $41.8 million, bringing the worldwide total to $78 million. FOX would see returned about $43 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross — which would not even cover P&A expenses.