Saw II earned another 17 million US dollars at the box office the following weekend, accumulating a total North American box office of 62 million US dollars in ten days, a drop of 47%.
In its third week, Saw II earned 9.2 million US dollars at the box office, with a 46% drop, clearly showing the lack of staying power for horror films.
Although The Grudge also saw a 45% drop from its second week, it is now only two or three million US dollars away from reaching 100 million US dollars at the North American box office after one month of release, and it can surpass 100 million next week.
Saw II will certainly not achieve a box office of over 100 million US dollars in North America; 90 million US dollars is probably its limit.
Halloween in October had just passed, and this month it was Thanksgiving again. Bush, who won the presidential election, gave a speech stating that he would celebrate this special Thanksgiving with all Americans!
At the famous Michelin two-star Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, Charles was having dinner with his mother, also celebrating Thanksgiving.
"I am going to Colorado to Aspen for a vacation next week. Do you want to accompany me?" Evelyn asked while eating her steak.
"To ski?" Charles smiled, then shook his head, saying, "Next week, brokeback mountain will first be released in some European countries, such as Italy, France, and Germany. North America will have to wait!"
"Dear, there are also many ranches of all sizes near Aspen where you can ride horses!" Evelyn reminded her son again.
"Ranches," Charles looked at his mother and suggested, "How about we buy a ranch? Anyway, there's a lot of land for sale in the West?"
Evelyn thought for a moment, then nodded, "Then I'll look into it. Ranches in Colorado are actually quite good, and the scenery is beautiful."
"Saw II had a good box office, more popular than the first one. It's estimated to have at least 100 million US dollars in global box office!"
Charles smiled, "James Wan, though young, is capable. I'm confident entrusting the sequel to him, and I believe the third installment will still bring surprises."
Evelyn also nodded in agreement. James Wan was also signed by her to ETA. Although Evelyn now holds a high position, she still pays attention to many capable young filmmakers.
"Zack Snyder's low-budget horror remake, dawn of the dead, also achieved a global box office of 100 million US dollars. These two young directors you introduced indeed have great potential!"
Charles had almost forgotten him. Now, hearing his mother mention Zack Snyder, he immediately thought of the highly personal film 300!
"I suddenly thought of a good idea that I can give to Zack Snyder to develop!" Charles knew he had to get Frank Miller's graphic novel 300.
"Oh, what idea?" Evelyn stopped, quite interested in hearing it.
"Frank Miller's graphic novel 300, about the Battle of Thermopylae, requires a strong visual impact, and I believe Zack can handle it well!"
"Frank Miller's graphic novel, Miramax's Dimension Films just developed a unique sin city this year, directed by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, and Quentin Tarantino, which will be released in April next year," Evelyn said, nodding.
"Then you need to act quickly, otherwise other film companies might make a move!"
"Don't worry, I never wait!" Charles seemed quite confident.
"By the way, with brokeback mountain's release approaching, you haven't encountered any troubles, have you?" Evelyn, of course, knew that brokeback mountain faced boycotts from many conservative groups.
"Not at all. After all, many people support this film. The conservative groups' boycott is also an activity within a certain scope, and they wouldn't dare to go too far!" Going too far would be a political incident, just like you can discriminate against black people, whether in your mind or actions, but you cannot say it publicly.
"Moreover, the film's attention is mainly on the director and main actors. Ang Lee, Heath Ledger, and Jake Gyllenhaal have received quite a bit of criticism, and even the actress Michelle Williams, who has more screen time, has been somewhat affected."
Evelyn had seen Charles interview and was relieved that he appeared very composed when facing reporters.
After dinner, Evelyn went straight home to rest, while Charles made a phone call and then drove his corvette directly to Scarlett Johansson's house.
Six months of filming the island made Scarlett Johansson realize that commercial films were much more taxing than art-house films. She had just returned to Los Angeles a few days ago.
"Mmm," Charles hugged Scarlett Johansson, who was only wearing pajamas, and kissed her as soon as he entered the door.
"Alright, alright, I'm really a bit tired these days," Scarlett said with a smile to Charles, who was pressing down on her on the sofa.
"Oh, was the filming of the island not going smoothly?" Charles sat up, pulled the Lady into his arms, and slipped his hand into her pajamas, feeling her full breasts.
Although Scarlett was somewhat aroused, she held back and explained, "Director Michael Bay is really too strict when filming; many scenes have to be shot many times!"
"Were there many action scenes?"
Scarlett Johansson shook her head, "Most of it was done with special effects. It mainly focused on the humanistic reflection of cloning technology. The action scenes were also car chases, gunfire, and explosions! I didn't participate in many action and explosion scenes."
"If Michael Bay doesn't film explosions and action scenes, he really wouldn't know how to film," Charles said, shaking his head.
"The love scenes in pearl harbor made the plot long and tedious. He didn't learn his lesson and added some of his subjective ideas to a sci-fi film. He probably doesn't even know that he can't tell a story."
the island, as a sci-fi blockbuster, continued Michael Bay's old ways. Charles, of course, knew how much of a failure this film was.
Exaggerated audiovisual effects, dazzling editing to create atmosphere, gunfire, and explosions – always his three-pronged approach. But now, these have already been greatly developed by other directors.
In films that don't require a plot, expanding these scenes to become popcorn movies can certainly attract many people into movie theaters.
No wonder even the transformers series in his hands would have such a low reputation that it was unwatchable, with nothing to show for it except explosions.
If he developed transformers in the future, it seemed he couldn't use Michael Bay as the director. Not only was he expensive, but he also killed the series.
"Charles, I'll run your bath and get your pajamas. You take a shower first!" Scarlett Johansson said, getting up from Charles arms and going to the bathroom.
"Thank you!"