Chapter 84: Underestimating Link
[Chapter 84: Underestimating Link]
As Link and Monica enjoyed their time in the study, the media and entertainment world were still buzzing about the connection between Paranormal Activity and the Murrieta murder case.
In mainstream discourse, the media focused on the accusations made by suspect Tina Worthington, who claimed that Paranormal Activity had infringed on her rights. The blockbuster film found itself engulfed in a controversy over copyright.
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In this frenzy of reporting, the tabloids outperformed conventional newspapers in both activity and creativity. The Weekly World News fervently promoted the idea that ghosts existed, siding with Tina Worthington's assertion that she hadn't killed her husband, Paul Worthington. According to her, it was a ghost hiding in their home that was responsible for his death.
If that were true, it seemed plausible that Link's Paranormal Activity had drawn inspiration from Tina's experience, leading him to craft such a terrifying film. Therefore, Link and Guess Pictures should pay Tina Worthington royalties, and she ought to be released from charges.
Why did the Weekly World News make such claims? Because it was a newspaper known for sensational stories and absurd news, previously fabricating tales about Bat Boy, alien P'Lod, giant locusts, and a millennial mummy found pregnant. They understood that promoting the idea of ghosts would likely boost their circulation, and they weren't going to miss this opportunity for attention.
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Other newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle and National Enquirer also published detailed analyses of the Murrieta murder case alongside Link's new movie, Paranormal Activity, exploring their potential connections.
With the media's promotion, Paranormal Activity became closely tied to the Murrieta murder case. Many began to support Tina Worthington, believing she was innocent and that her husband had been killed by a ghost in their house.
However, the media landscape was divided. Respectable outlets like the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Chicago Tribune dismissed these claims, arguing that Tina Worthington was merely trying to evade her responsibility by connecting her case to Paranormal Activity. They insisted that the court should scrutinize the case thoroughly without being swayed by outside commentary.
Some media criticized Guess Pictures for employing unconventional methods to draw public interest while undermining the integrity of the film market and potentially affecting judicial fairness. Such practices were highly inappropriate and should have faced severe repercussions.
Nevertheless, since the media had no evidence, their criticisms were carefully worded, aimed at avoiding legal disputes. Under both direct and indirect media influence, the entire nation took notice of Paranormal Activity.
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The film's popularity surged in North America, eclipsing other simultaneously released films like Hero, A Few Good Men, and Patriot Games. In the sixth week, Paranormal Activity raked in $53.39 million across 2,034 theaters, shattering the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film in a week and maintaining its position as the box office champion for three consecutive weeks in North America.
Paranormal Activity's skyrocketing success forced the box office numbers of other films to plummet. Except for Patriot Games, no other films saw box office returns above $10 million. The film A Few Good Men, which had originally hoped to surpass $100 million, earned just $7.41 million this week, a 63% drop from the previous week, bringing its total to $98.19 million.
Dustin Hoffman and others starred Hero only earned $970,000 this week, with a total of $10.62 million and predictions pointing to a financial loss.
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The Hollywood Reporter declared that Paranormal Activity was not merely shaking up the North American film market; it was a killer whale, devouring everything in its path and leaving competitors hungry.
Vanity Fair published an article stating that with the huge success of Paranormal Activity, Link had become one of the brightest stars in Hollywood, rivaling the fame of Robert Downey Jr, even Tom Cruise. For a director, Link undoubtedly achieved great success, but the triumph of Paranormal Activity adversely affected the profitability of his peers. Moving forward, Link was likely to face increased opposition and challenges in Hollywood due to the very success that had elevated him.
The implication of the Vanity Fair article was clear: Link made a fortune with Paranormal Activity but also stepped on a lot of toes. To continue his climb in Hollywood, he would face heightened obstacles.
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With the release of the sixth-week box office figures, Paranormal Activity's total had reached $198 million in North America, just a step away from surpassing $200 million. Last week, Variety and others had projected the film would only reach $180 million, thinking it had little chance of breaking the $200 million barrier.
In just one week, the media shifted their predictions, now estimating Paranormal Activity's North American earnings to be around $280 million, with a real chance of exceeding $300 million given its current momentum.
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"$300 million! Oh my God, look at what I missed," Harvey Weinstein groaned as he gazed at the numbers on the newspaper. He envisioned a different scenario, one in which he and his team had recognized Link's talent and potential earlier at the Sundance Film Festival.
What if they had been patient with him? What if they had secured the rights to Buried at a low price and crafted a sincere contract to sign him? Then Miramax would have not only had the sleeper hit Buried but also the sensational Paranormal Activity. Together, these two films could have generated a profit of three to four hundred million dollars.
Such a windfall would have elevated Miramax's status in Hollywood, establishing them as a leader in the independent film sector and perhaps even rising to become the "eighth major" studio in Hollywood.
Unfortunately, not recognizing Link's talent at Sundance meant that Miramax missed a huge opportunity.
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Harvey was not alone in his regrets. Robert Shaye from New Line Cinema felt even more regretful. When Link had approached him to discuss a partnership for Buried, wanting to work with New Line Cinema, they underestimated him and turned away this potential gem.
In 1990, Robert had made over a hundred million dollars on the release of the unpopular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, produced by Hong Kong's Golden Harvest. His success with that film had earned him much recognition.
This time, however, he let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers.
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As Paranormal Activity broke records, one man's reputation suffered severely for his lack of foresight. That man was Andrew Reiner, a well-known producer associated with Castle Rock Entertainment. He had participated in the making of films like When Harry Met Sally..., Stand By Me, and Misery, gaining some fame in the industry.
Initially, after the filming of Paranormal Activity, he had been invited to preview the film. However, only a few minutes into the screening, without grasping the plot, Andrew stood up and loudly denounced the film as trash, claiming it was a waste of time before exiting with a group of acquaintances.
Afterward, he openly criticized Link and Paranormal Activity to reporters. But six weeks into the film's release, Paranormal Activity grossed $198 million in North America, with a return on investment that soared to ten thousand times. It became the highest-grossing film in terms of profit margins in history.
If Paranormal Activity was a terrible movie, what does that say about other films? It was rumored that after the success of Paranormal Activity, Castle Rock Entertainment didn't fire Andrew Reiner but instead put him on extended leave to quarantine his embarrassment.
The fate of the more than ten producers who left with Andrew became awkward as they faced jokes from their colleagues for underestimating Paranormal Activity.
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