THE HOUSE

The House

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  [Total: 14 Average: 1.6]
  Genre(s): Comedy

• Directed By: Andrew Jay Cohen
• Written By: Brendan O’Brien, Andrew Jay Cohen
• Release Date: June 30, 2017
• Domestic Distributor: Warner Bros (New Line)
• Cast: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mantzoukas
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Box Office Info:

Budget: $40 million	Financed by: Warner Bros; Village Roadshow
Domestic Gross: $25,584,504	Overseas Gross: $8,600,000

The spec script for The House was in a bidding war between studios in February 2015 and Warner Bros’ New Line division landed the project with a production commitment.  “Ferrell plays a father who, along with his wife, blows their daughter’s college fund and have to make it back by illegally running a casino out of their home.”  How does this sub-sitcom nonsense land in bidding wars for millions and attract talent that should know better?  The budget for The House was $40 million and Warner Bros and Village Roadshow co-financed.

WB first dated this high concept comedy for June 2nd and then in March 2016 shifted it to June 30th.  The House received predictably terrible reviews and bowed against Despicable Me 3 and Baby Driver.  WB did invest in a typically expensive advertising campaign and spent $17.89 million (as per iSpotTV) on television ads going into release, plus a few million after the opening.  With other traditional marketing and distribution expenses, the domestic P&A was at least $35 million.

The House was tracking for a mid-teens opening and came in way below expectations with a poor $8,724,795 — becoming Will Ferrell’s worst wide opening in his career.  His first starring vehicle A Night at the Roxbury (1998) opened with $9,604,791 which was previously his lowest opener.  The House placed #6 for the weekend led by Despicable Me 3.  The second frame numbers declined 45.2% to $4,778,272 and then it sank 63.7% to $1,732,777 in its third session and promptly lost most of its theater count.  The domestic run closed with only $25,584,504.  WB would see returned about $14M after theaters take their percentage of the gross, which would not even cover half of the P&A expenses.

The reported offshore cume was just $8.6M.  Village Roadshow distributed in their home country Australia, which saw $3.4M in receipts, which comprised the majority of the offshore gross.

The House was the lowest grossing Will Ferrell vehicle to have a wide release and his next toplined picture, the execrable Holmes & Watson bombed but performed marginally better.