With a runtime of over three hours, by the time the midnight screening ended, it was already past 3 a.m.
However, the moviegoers leaving the Saint Carlo Theater still had excited expressions on their faces, unable to hide their exhilaration.
A reporter stopped a group of seven or eight people and asked, "Hello, can I ask about your experience watching the film? If possible, could you please fill out a survey?"
"Of course," the leader of the group took eight survey forms from the reporter, distributed them to his friends, and added, "Make sure to give it an A+ rating."
"Don't worry, boss. Giving this movie anything less than an A would be a crime."
"Exactly, exactly…" The others all nodded in agreement.
The leader quickly filled out the survey while accepting the reporter's interview.
"What do you think of this film?"
Still looking thrilled, he told the reporter, "It was amazing! The best film I've ever seen, without a doubt."
"Yes, yes!" The others chimed in enthusiastically. "The epic battle at the beginning, the breathtaking landscapes of Middle-earth, and Legolas… Ah! I'm absolutely obsessed with him."
"Me too! Arwen and Galadriel are so beautiful—I adore them."
The audience members were so excited that they all crowded in to answer every question, giving the film overwhelmingly high praise.
"Gilbert has created a dreamlike Middle-earth. If possible, I'd love to experience it myself."
"I wish I could live there forever—as a resident of Middle-earth. I want to live in the Shire; it's absolutely stunning."
"I want to go to Rivendell. How can such a beautiful place even exist?"
The reporter then asked, "So, do you think the film or the novel is better?"
"The film, without a doubt," the fans answered firmly. "I've read the book, but the original novel can't compare to the movie."
"Exactly! Gilbert has an incredible sense of pacing, and the battle scenes are exhilarating."
One fan shyly admitted, "I even cried when Gandalf and Boromir sacrificed themselves. It was so moving."
"I think even Star Wars can't compare to this film. I'm already looking forward to next summer's The Two Towers."
"The Two Towers…"
Someone in the crowd shouted the title, and soon, all the departing audience members were chanting it, eagerly anticipating the sequel.
The reporter quickly signaled the cameraman to capture this incredible moment. The conclusion was clear—the film was truly outstanding and had won over all the fans.
Despite the late hour, the audience members showed no signs of exhaustion. Instead, they were still energized, a testament to the joy of the movie-watching experience.
Meanwhile, near the Saint Carlo Theater, a merchandise store had a display of the nine Nazgûl, glowing ominously and drawing in fans.
After finishing the interview, the group rushed toward the merchandise store, only to find it already packed with people.
Curious about the sales, the reporter followed them inside.
As expected, most people were there to buy The Lord of the Rings merchandise.
Wizard hats, Arwen's necklace, Gandalf's staff, Aragorn's sword, Legolas and Arwen figurines, Balrog plushies—there was a vast selection.
Even Galadriel's and Arwen's gowns, priced at $398 each, had already sold several pieces.
Some excited girls immediately tried on the gowns in the store's fitting rooms. When they stepped out, they had transformed into the Elven Queen and the Elven Princess.
The store also had Elven ear accessories and jewelry sets, which together cost over $800.
Yet, these passionate fans didn't hesitate—they swiped their cards without a second thought.
One fan, when interviewed, said, "Even if I have to eat instant noodles for the next month, I have to buy this gown for my girlfriend."
For male fans, it was simple—they put on wizard hats and robes, grabbed Gandalf's staff in one hand and Aragorn's sword in the other, looking utterly pleased with themselves.
Some even dressed as Legolas, though they didn't quite match Orlando Bloom's looks—but confidence was all that mattered.
When this group of Gandalfs, Aragorns, Galadriels, Arwens, and Legolases walked out of the merchandise store, the reporter almost felt as if they had stepped into Middle-earth—if not for the flashing neon lights of Times Square.
By now, it was nearing 5 a.m.
As the North American distributor of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Disney's distribution department was still hard at work.
Robert Iger himself was present, waiting for the first official data.
"Sir, the numbers are in." His assistant handed him the report immediately.
Robert Iger took a look and smiled. "I knew this movie wouldn't disappoint."
The report was exceptional. After the midnight screenings in 3,230 theaters across the U.S., The Lord of the Rings had earned $9.2 million, breaking the record for midnight box office earnings.
The average occupancy rate for the midnight screenings was an impressive 60%, while theaters in major metropolitan areas saw nearly full attendance.
Audience reception was equally outstanding. Disney had collected 150,000 survey responses from theaters across the country, and fewer than 3,000 had given the film a rating lower than A-.
Less than 100 people had rated it a C-.
Seeing even a few A- ratings, Robert Iger wasn't surprised.
The Lord of the Rings was already near perfection, but after all, it wasn't a stack of dollar bills—not everyone was going to love it.
Besides, even dollars had people who hated them. It was normal. There were always people in this world who wanted to be different.
Due to the advancement of the internet and computers, North American theaters had begun modernizing their ticketing systems. As a result, accurate box office data could generally be obtained within an hour after the midnight screening ended.
Robert Iger's lips curled into a smile. He thought about sharing this data with Gilbert, but considering Gilbert was probably asleep at this time, he chose not to disturb him.
With such an outstanding midnight box office performance, the opening week's box office numbers were bound to be impressive as well.
In the morning, at the Melon Manor by Malibu Beach, Gilbert went for a jog along the shore. After washing his face, breakfast was already prepared.
Sophie Marceau and Anne Hathaway accompanied Gilbert for breakfast. Naomi Watts and the others had a heavy workload during the summer season. After attending the premiere last night, they hadn't come back to stay.
While drinking black coffee with apple cider vinegar, Sophie Marceau read the newspaper aloud for Gilbert.
The combination of black coffee and apple cider vinegar was a rather peculiar way to drink it. It was said to suppress appetite and be effective during a fat-loss period.
Sophie Marceau's trick had been picked up by everyone. Now, drinking black coffee with apple cider vinegar had become trendy.
> "The content that the film consistently explores is so exceptional that its thematic expression surpasses what this genre of films usually possesses, even exceeding the Star Wars series."
Sophie Marceau read aloud.
Eating his fried egg and toast, Gilbert raised an eyebrow and asked, "Which media outlet is that?"
"The Washington Post wrote it. Why?"
Gilbert frowned. "Is this media outlet trying to stir things up? If a film is good, it's good. Why compare it to Star Wars?"
"But I do think the film is better than the Star Wars series. Even George Lucas himself wouldn't be able to deny it," Sophie Marceau said.
Gilbert shrugged. "Whatever. Keep going."
Sophie Marceau continued flipping through the newspaper until she reached The New York Post, and her tone became one of surprise. "This newspaper interviewed a lot of moviegoers. Look at this photo—it's quite interesting."
She showed Gilbert the picture. It was taken outside a movie theater, where a group of Arwen and Galadriel cosplayers posed together.
Gilbert finally felt satisfied. "It seems our merchandise is quite popular. That means the film's commercial prospects are very promising."
"Indeed," Anne Hathaway added after finishing her milk. "Even I love Arwen's jewelry and outfits—I've collected them myself."
"I bought some too," Sophie Marceau said while continuing to read. When she saw that some fans had come out of the theater shouting The Two Towers, she couldn't help but smile.
It was just like what had happened at the premiere. Clearly, fans were already eagerly anticipating the sequel.
Most of the newspaper reviews were positive, but Sophie Marceau soon spotted a negative review.
"Huh, The Chicago Reader's critic says that while the film boasts magnificent scenery and top-tier content, its storytelling is rather mediocre, especially those dull battle sequences."
She turned to Gilbert in disbelief. "Gilbert, you've been criticized."
Gilbert wasn't surprised. "That's normal. Even gold isn't loved by everyone, let alone an artistic film."
"True," Sophie Marceau nodded, flipping to The Chicago Sun-Times and seeing Roger Ebert's predictably enthusiastic review. She was already used to it.
Still, she read it out loud to Gilbert. Ever since Roger Ebert had aligned himself with Gilbert, unlike other declining critics, his reputation had actually soared.
The key was that Roger Ebert was skilled at praising both films and people. His words were precise and insightful, far better than the typical comments from regular moviegoers. Combined with his significant influence, he was now hailed as Gilbert's number-one fan.
By continuously showering Gilbert with praise, Roger Ebert had rejuvenated his career. Thinking about it, he did have a unique approach.
This time was no exception. Roger Ebert once again gave The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring the highest praise, and at the end of his review, he was already looking forward to The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
As July began, The Fellowship of the Ring was unquestionably the most anticipated film—there was no competition.
On Friday, July 7th, The Fellowship of the Ring opened nationwide in the largest release ever—3,950 theaters—marking the start of the tail end of the summer blockbuster season.
But for many, this was when the real summer movie season began.
Gilbert wasn't idle. After breakfast, he drove to Disney's headquarters, where Robert Iger was already waiting for him.
"I didn't go home last night, Gilbert. I just made do on the couch in my office," Robert Iger said, dark circles under his eyes, though his excitement kept him from looking tired.
He continued, "The midnight box office results were excellent—we pulled in $9.2 million.
Merchandise sales are strong too. In New York, a single specialty store near the Saint Carlo Theater made $125,000 in sales."
Gilbert was surprised. "At this rate, the merchandise might be an even bigger financial surprise than the box office."
Robert Iger's expression remained relaxed. "The Lord of the Rings' first installment is a hit. Next year's The Two Towers and the year after that, The Return of the King, our work will be much easier."
That was true. As long as the first installment laid a solid foundation, judging by the premiere and midnight screening reactions, The Lord of the Rings movies would be the biggest films for the next two summers.
"What a pity," Robert Iger sighed. "The film's runtime is just too long. If we could squeeze in one or two more screenings a day, the box office would be even higher."
Gilbert patted Robert Iger on the shoulder. "Bob, sometimes that's just how it is. I need this much time to tell the full story.
If it were any shorter, the film wouldn't have such a strong reputation.
You can't have both fish and bear's paw at the same time."
Robert Iger sighed regretfully but nodded. "I know. I know you're right. Let's not dwell on it. We're going to make history this summer."
The marketing teams working on The Lord of the Rings were all thrilled. Despite working through the night, they still showed no signs of exhaustion during their shift handover.
A massive hit like The Lord of the Rings meant they would all receive substantial bonuses.
The shareholders were pleased too. The film's success was pushing up stock prices for both Disney and Warner Bros. That was the kind of commercial impact a summer blockbuster could bring.
Since Friday was still a workday, theaters in busy commercial districts had more foot traffic during the day.
But when work hours ended, around 6 or 7 p.m., cinema crowds surged dramatically.
At a theater near San Francisco's Chinatown, Jack Zhao looked at the packed auditorium and his thriving merchandise store, grinning from ear to ear.
Since opening the store, business had been booming.
With the help of Eileen's father's connections, he had secured the largest merchandise supply chain in San Francisco. His stores had expanded beyond Chinatown into the city's luxury shopping districts.
But Jack Zhao still preferred staying at the Chinatown store, going to the theater with his girlfriend Irene, reliving their sweet memories.
They had met at a movie theater. This year, they were getting married.
"Honey, are you ready?"Irene arrived, wearing an Arwen-inspired gown.
Jack Zhao was momentarily stunned. "Babe, you look gorgeous."
Irene confidently twirled, then laughed at his dazed expression.
She quickly pulled his hand. "Come on, the movie's about to start."
"Alright," Jack Zhao called out, "Liu Yue, keep track of the sales figures. I want a report later."
"Got it, boss," Liu Yue responded without looking up, already swamped with work.
Jack Zhao's chain of stores had become one of San Francisco's largest merchandise retailers. Their data tracking provided valuable insights into The Lord of the Rings' merchandise sales.
And as Friday's opening day concluded, The Fellowship of the Ring grossed $17.359 million in North America—not counting the midnight screenings.
With all the buzz, some might have expected a $20 million or even $30 million opening day. But this was perfectly normal—Fridays were still workdays. And with a three-hour runtime, showtimes were limited.
If it had been kept under two and a half hours, there could have been two more screenings per day.
But as Gilbert had said, not even a second could be cut.
So neither Disney, Warner Bros., nor Gilbert himself had any complaints about the opening numbers.
...
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (20 chpaters)
MV Director (30 chapters)....
Douluo Dalu:Breaking Clan(30 chapters)
Made In Hollywood (50 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu