The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 667

The premiere had just ended, and Matthew hadn't even made it back to the Horner Estate when his phone rang. It was Helen, calling to inform him that Walt Disney had already tallied the preliminary box office results for "Twilight." From its early screenings in 3,150 theaters across North America, the film had grossed an impressive $13.2 million.

It was an outstanding result, easily surpassing the summer releases of "Iron Man" and "Hancock."

Among all the films released in 2008 so far, this figure was second only to "The Dark Knight" ($18.5 million).

And the total domestic box office for "The Dark Knight" had already exceeded $500 million!

The success was so immediate it was almost dizzying. In the span of just ten minutes, Matthew received calls from David Ellison, Lily Collins, and Sofia Coppola.

Sofia was keenly aware of how crucial box office performance was for a director. It wasn't that she didn't want to venture into more commercial territory—"The Greatest Showman" was her attempt to do just that—but the percentage of female directors who found success in commercial cinema was vanishingly small. She felt, perhaps, that her talents were better suited to the arthouse side of the industry.

Sofia sounded emotional on the call, even suggesting she come over to talk.

But she quickly composed herself and dismissed the idea.

On Friday morning, as theaters across the country opened their doors, a flood of young women surged into the lobbies, all of them buying tickets for "Twilight."

This teen fantasy romance proved to be a massive sensation."'Twilight' is a story of unconditional love between a human and a vampire, a modern-day, vampiric 'Romeo and Juliet.' While the film primarily plays the romance card, it cleverly weaves in fantasy elements like vampires and werewolves to heighten the story's appeal. It’s a narrative that many young women will naturally gravitate toward, as love has always been a powerful catalyst for passion. What’s more, the film is imbued with a melancholic atmosphere, and its musical score is particularly noteworthy."

On social media, girls who had seen the movie couldn't stop gushing about their love for it.

Even some older female critics seemed to be won over by the film.

"As a film aimed squarely at a female audience, 'Twilight' is beautiful and remarkably successful. It combines modern love with fantasy, building a magical world that satisfies the dreams and desires of teenage girls. It's a film of undeniable charm, a story of beautiful young love where a handsome vampire with supernatural abilities and a kind, beautiful girl fall for each other despite the barriers between them. The power of their love is so romantic and sincere as they come to know and love one another, overcoming countless obstacles."

"The characters in 'Twilight' are so tender and gentle that even the conflicts between vampires lack any real bloodshed. This film satisfies the desires and imagination of young women when it comes to love; it is a beautiful and romantic love story."

As the film officially opened in over 3,600 theaters across North America, more and more viewers flocked to see "Twilight."

Thanks to the frenzied support of its fanbase, "Twilight" grossed an astonishing $41.2 million in North America on its first day of release!

In a single day, the film's domestic box office had already surpassed its entire production budget.

"That's $41.2 million in a single day!"

In her Beverly Hills mansion, Natalie Portman stared at the number printed in the newspaper, completely shocked. "Based on typical patterns, 'Twilight' is guaranteed to break $100 million in its opening weekend!"

A lump formed in her throat. Matthew Horner was still the same Matthew Horner, with an uncanny ability to pinpoint what the market wanted.

Success! Success! And more success!

Suddenly, a thought struck her: had she made a mistake introducing Brad Pitt to the Wachowskis? Perhaps if she had worked with Matthew instead, her chances of success would have been higher?

But the thought was fleeting. Natalie was not one to second-guess herself. If she hadn't partnered with Brad Pitt and Plan B, how could she have afforded the mansion she was living in now?

With "Cloud Atlas" in post-production and "John Carter" about to begin filming, she had already cast her lot with Brad Pitt and Plan B. There was no turning back now.

***

Following the first day's box office results, most media outlets that had been critical of "Twilight" before its release changed their tune, conceding that the film was, at the very least, a commercial triumph.

"Matthew Horner knows how to make money, and 'Twilight' is a classic example of a savvy investment. He understands that the primary audience for such films is young women, and any young men in the theater are likely there because they were invited by them. So, pleasing the female audience is the same as pleasing the entire crowd." The Sun acknowledged the film's commercial success but couldn't resist a final jab: "The commercial success of 'Twilight' is due to a precise understanding of its target market segments, but behind the $41.2 million first-day box office are countless disappointed male viewers."

Inevitably, reviews for "Twilight" were sharply polarized. The male audience, in particular, was overwhelmingly dissatisfied.

"So bad I wanted to cry!"

"A movie for brainless teenagers!"

"I can't stand movies like this. I just couldn't get into it at all."

"How can anyone like this? The plot is stupid, the characters' love for each other is inexplicable, and the portrayal of vampires is ridiculous!"

"The lead actress's performance is truly awful. There's no emotional change from beginning to end."

"The theme is outdated, the plot is boring—the worst vampire movie I've ever seen!"

"Bella could have just fed Edward her monthly menstrual blood, why not?"

The reaction to "Twilight" created a stark divide between male and female audiences. While popular female-centric films in the past hadn't caused such a dramatic split, the sheer number of female viewers for this one far outweighed the male contingent.

Teenage girls, swept away by the romance and the heroes, were certainly not going to stand by while someone tried to shatter their beautiful dream world.

Even Miley Cyrus, in character as Hannah Montana, responded to the male audience's tirade as a proud "Twilight" fan.

And in a savvy marketing move, Disney brought out its most popular teen idols to champion the film.