The 33
Rate Movie[Total: 2 Average: 2.5]
- Directed By: Patricia Riggen
- Written By: Mikko Alanne, Craig Borten, Michael Thomas
- Release Date: November 13, 2015
- Domestic Distributor: Alcon Entertainment (through Warner Bros)
- Cast: Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin
Box Office Info:
| Budget: $26 million | Financed by: Phoenix Pictures |
|---|---|
| Domestic Box Office: $12,227,722 | Overseas Box Office: $15,863,174 |
The 33 was based on the 2010 Chilean mining accident and producer Mike Medavoy purchased the miners’ life rights in 2011. Initial financing came from Medavoy’s company Phoenix Pictures and Good Universe began pre-sales at the American Film Market in 2013. Fox International took Latin American rights, where the movie was expected to play well. In the weeks leading up to the production, the 33 miners became involved in a dispute over the life rights they signed away, as they felt they were duped by lawyers — you can read more on this over at The Guardian. The 33 was the first movie to qualify for a rebate program for films shot in Columbia, which included 40% for film services (pre-production, production or post-production services, including artistic and technical services) and 20% for film logistics services (hotel, catering and transportation).
In April 2015, Medavoy took the movie to Alcon Entertainment and Alcon took domestic rights and most international rights. Alcon would pay for P&A expenses and distribute through their long standing deal at Warner Bros. Medavoy told The Wrap that the picture would make $300 million worldwide. Close, but his estimate was only $272 million off.
In early November 2015 Alcon Entertainment extended its distribution agreement with Warner Bros through 2019 and landed $200 million in new funds and blew through tens of millions to market The 33. It was dated for November 13 and opened against Love the Coopers and My All American and was tracking for a soft $8 million. The 33 came in below expectations with a poor $5,787,266 — placing #5 for the weekend led by the holdover Spectre. Despite landing a solid A- cinemascore from audiences, The 33 sank 59.5% in its second frame to $2,342,030 and then promptly lost most of its theaters count. The domestic run closed with only $12,227,722. Alcon would see returned about $6.7 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross, leaving most of the P&A expenses and their unreported acquisition cost in the red.
The 33 posted a solid $4.9 million in Chile for FOX, which was the strongest box office take overseas. The offshore cume was just $15,863,174. Alcon released only two movies in 2015, The 33 and the Point Break remake.