Chapter 361: The Sixth Sense's Opening Weekend Box Office

[Chapter 361: The Sixth Sense's Opening Weekend Box Office]

"Link, that was an amazing film! Congratulations on making a great movie with The Sixth Sense!"

"Link, how did you manage to create such a brilliant film like The Sixth Sense? Do you have a secret?"

"Link, I've heard that you can see ghosts. Is it true that The Sixth Sense is based on your real-life experiences?"

At Los Angeles International Airport, Link and his team, carrying their luggage, received a warm welcome as fans began shouting his name.

"Thank you! Thank you for your support!"

As the airport exit was crowded, Link didn't stop to answer questions; he simply waved, thanking his fans. A couple of young fans rushed over for autographs, and he paused briefly to oblige their requests. As he did, other passengers nearby joined in, asking about his new film, The Sixth Sense. Some praised young actor Haley Joel Osment, while others commented on the emotional storyline. Many hailed The Sixth Sense as the best film they had seen that year.

Link expressed his gratitude once more, and after about three to four minutes of navigating through the crowd, with the help of his bodyguards and airport security, he finally made it outside with his team.

...

Once back in Los Angeles, Link immediately jumped into promoting The Sixth Sense. The film received rave reviews, and media coverage exploded with reports about it. While some pieces focused on promotional material, most reflected the societal buzz and discussions surrounding the movie.

According to a survey by the Los Angeles Times, the film enjoyed an astonishing 98% approval rating among viewers. Almost everyone who saw it sang its praises, calling it one of the best films they had seen all year.

The public's reaction turned the film into a hot topic, surpassing discussions generated by hits like Paranormal Activity, The Blair Witch Project, Final Destination, and other horror flicks from previous years.

Numerous fans wrote letters to newspapers claiming that, like Cole, the young protagonist, they too possessed the ability to see spirits when they were kids, though it had faded over time. These letters sparked renewed conversations about the existence of ghosts in the world.

Publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and Chicago Tribune featured these letters in their entertainment sections, leading to a noticeable increase in circulation. Other media outlets soon followed suit, and ghost stories became the talk of the nation.

Link's directorial skills received acclaim, with praises acknowledging him as a master of the thriller genre. The Hollywood Reporter dubbed him the "Master of Thrillers," noting his impressive repertoire since 1992, which included six horror films ranging from low-budget, ground-breaking horror flicks like Buried and Paranormal Activity to critically acclaimed pieces like Se7en and The Sixth Sense, as well as innovative films like The Butterfly Effect and Final Destination.

There were also praises for the film's leads, Tom Hanks and Haley Joel Osment. Commentators highlighted Hanks's impressive performance, continuing his streak of great projects post Forrest Gump and Apollo 13. They praised Osment's powerful and spiritual portrayal as nearly overshadowing Hanks. Supporting actresses Holly Hunter and Diane Lane also garnered significant attention for their compelling performances.

Many critics classified the film as a masterpiece, commending its script, cinematography, directorial style, and every aspect of the production, including makeup, special effects, and props, calling it a rare perfect piece of cinema in recent years.

...

"Perfect? Ha, guess what? The Guess Pictures are ready to sell their souls to promote this movie. They dare to call such a film perfect? I can only give it a 92," Rob Reiner grumbled while reading the newspaper in a cafe.

Harvey Weinstein, brooding silently beside him, thought the praise of perfection was indeed overstated but acknowledged that the film was of high quality -- a classic at that. He lamented that it was Link at the helm and Guess Pictures behind its distribution. He had read the script once but declined due to Link's changes, which led him to choose The Butterfly Effect instead, a move that cost him dearly.

"Link's a lecher, chasing women like he's on a mission. I can't understand how someone like him creates something this good," Bob Weinstein ranted.

"With current public sentiment, The Sixth Sense might break records, possibly reaching over $40 million in its opening weekend," Mario Kassar, head of Carolco Pictures, said with concern, seeing the newspaper headlines.

In September, under pressure from Harvey and others, Carolco had pushed their big-budget film, Cutthroat Island, to its upcoming release, intending to undercut The Sixth Sense's box office. If The Sixth Sense did indeed perform well, Cutthroat Island might struggle significantly.

"Mario, don't fret. Our film is a huge action-packed spectacle with a strong cast, so we're definitely have better box office potential than that creepy, ghost-infested The Sixth Sense," Rob Reiner reassured him.

"I sure hope so."

Ding! Ding! Bob Weinstein's new Motorola flip phone buzzed on the table.

"It's Laura," he said as he answered, listening intently for a moment before looking at the three men at his table. "The first weekend box office figures are in."

"What about The Sixth Sense?" Mario Kassar, along with Harvey Weinstein and Rob Reiner, leaned forward earnestly.

With a look of shock spreading across his face, Bob nodded at what he was hearing. "$88.17 million, setting a new record for North America's opening weekend."

"$88.17 million? How can that be?"

"How could a film like this make more in its opening weekend than Jurassic Park?"

"Did you mishear that?" Mario Kassar exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. If that number was accurate, then even if The Sixth Sense faced a drop in its second weekend, it would likely not fall below $40 million.

Competitively launching Cutthroat Island alongside this film would surely create challenges for their box office returns.

Too bad that early marketing had already commenced, with over $10 million spent, and film prints distributed far and wide -- delaying the release was no longer an option.

Harvey Weinstein and Rob Reiner frowned deeply; The Sixth Sense had only cost $40 million to produce, and the box office was more than $80 million in the opening weekend -- twice the production cost. Given the current trajectory, domestic revenues could soar past $200 million and $400 million globally -- yielding a tenfold return.

Link and Guess Pictures were set to rake in the profits.

Frustration brewed in Harvey; after twenty years in the industry and overseeing hundreds of films, the question remained why Miramax couldn't create something like that. Why had he not seized this script when he had the chance?

It was Link's fault -- his dirty tricks made every opportunity slip through his fingers, especially the plot twist at the end of The Sixth Sense. The devious methods Link employed had cost him dearly.

Rob Reiner's scowl mirrored Harvey's as they ruminated over their respective studio's underperforming abilities. Carolco's yearly losses continued while Guess Pictures rose to the top.

"With The Sixth Sense crushing the holiday box office, indie film companies like ours are definitely in for a tough time," Mario sighed.

Harvey's frown deepened; Miramax had three films still slated for year-end release, and if The Sixth Sense kept its pace, they would likely all tank.

*****

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