After pulling in $18 million and touchdown within the prime spot on its Christmas Day launch—the biggest Christmas Day opening in 14 years and second-biggest ever for that vacation —The Colour Purple is struggling to remain afloat. After that blockbuster opening, the movie reportedly struggled to garner $5 million in ticket gross sales in its second weekend, coming in sixteenth place for the week, with $59.3 million in gross sales, and little hope of recouping its $100 million price ticket.
The record-breaking opening was doubtless buoyed by the energy of sistergroup viewings; Greeks, The Hyperlinks, church girls’s ministries and Black lady bookclubs flocked to see the remake of the Broadway musical in droves in December. The assist of the movie was on-point, thanks largely partially to Black girls. In fact, the stellar solid, together with Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Colman Domingo, with Oprah Winfrey on board as a producer, didn’t damage.
However did the Black Lady Magic put on off? Depends upon who you ask. And we requested. We heard every little thing from the Taraji-Oprah supposed beef, to people being bored with Black trauma, to nobody wished a musical. Take a look at what some folks needed to say.
Traci Lynn Manigault – “As soon as the phrase bought out that it was a musical many have been now not focused on going to see it.”
Kesha Washington – “Individuals didn’t watch any of the promo in order that they didn’t know that it was an adaptation of the stage play. The primary batch of those folks complained a lot. This made folks not wish to see it. The same factor occurred with “E-book of Clarance”. Nice film. Individuals who hadn’t seen it mentioned the film was mocking God. So folks didn’t go see it.”
Janice Jackson – “Whereas I beloved it, I don’t really feel it was higher than the unique film. Additionally, so many have seen the film AND the play so there isn’t any newness to it. Additionally, so many different non remake films to see.”
JoAnn Hardnett “Whereas I get pleasure from musicals, I believe it has rather a lot to do with Taraji popping out and saying they didn’t wish to pay her based on her value. As soon as that got here out, it went downhill after that. Individuals love Taraji and might relate to jobs not desirous to pay you what you’re value.”
Lina Samuel – “I beloved it, however I heard lots of people hating that it was a musical and want they knew earlier than they went. Those that discovered beforehand didn’t go from what I’ve heard. Individuals didn’t perceive that it was a remake/film adaptation of the Broadway musical. I beloved it and I like musicals, however even for me, it actually was loads of singing.”
Lareeta P Robinson – “An excessive amount of promotion from Oprah. She was in every single place.”
Lynn Marie Davis – “As a result of if it’s not an motion film. Additionally we (some) don’t assist our folks like we suppose to. Interval the top.”
Tracy Nicole Stokes – “Our tradition nowadays depends on social media critiques and takes that as reality.”
LaDawna Miller – “I beloved the musical, nonetheless there was one musical choice that was within the authentic that ought to have stayed within the remake, particularly with all the super singers. The tune “God is attempting to let you know one thing”. That complete scene strolling from the juke joint and the band coming into that church and the reconciliation with the daddy… that ought to have stayed and expanded. The singers on this musical manufacturing are unparalleled Tamela, Fantasia, Danielle, Taraji and even Ciara come on we might have been shouting within the theater. However, I do consider that Taraji and her complaints about varied facets of the film ought to have been expressed later. She has damage herself for future performing gigs. As a result of nobody will take an opportunity on her with all of her complaints. I’m not saying she was proper or unsuitable however her timing was not good.”
Celia Anderson – “So many individuals have been speaking about it and reviewing it—you didn’t actually must see it to know what it was about. Too many spoilers.”
Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts – “Timing. Christmas will not be a superb time for the viewers it was attempting to succeed in. Outcomes would have been completely totally different, I believe, with a spring launch. I do know they have been attempting to qualify for awards season however they might have waited a yr.”
Landis Lain – “The story is so traumatic. I did go see it to assist, however whew. Youngster rape, incest, substance abuse, home assault. It’s a lot.”
Gracette Gi-Gi Spencer – “It was nice!! Individuals stored saying it was a musical which deterred folks from seeing it. And most have gotten used to streaming at dwelling. When you have a big household the price is huge now to attend a film.”
Victoria Grey – “Ought to have targeted on staggering organizations to do “pink carpet” occasions as an alternative of the sneak previews and opening day on Christmas. That they had so many sneak previews by the point Christmas got here it was a wrap.”
Stephanie Bullock Ferguson – “Individuals take social media because the gospel. Individuals made damaging feedback about it being a musical & it went viral. Additionally, sadly, many in our group are usually not followers of Broadway so a Broadway adaptation didn’t have the attraction to a big base.”
Thedrial Morris Jackson – “If we don’t assist our personal, why can we count on others to? We should always assist all issues Black. I assumed it was good leisure and A rated actors all on level. I noticed it twice. We should proceed to assist our very personal at least.”
Juanita Davis – “As a result of OUR people was out bashing it and as an alternative of getting a thoughts of your personal you hear and determine to not see it for your self. We’re the ONLY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DO THIS!”
Eddgra Fallin – “I didn’t learn the e-book earlier than seeing the transfer and I used to be depressed for days after seeing the primary Colour Purple. The bodily, emotional, sexual abuse, and degradation of Black Ladies was an excessive amount of. Going to see it once more could be a set off for me.”
Michelle Lynn Sumrall – “I’m troubled by the problems swirling round TCP. I’ve beloved all issues Alice Walker and TCP from the unique e-book launch. We should always all learn extra; that’s one factor that may have made this musical resonate. It was not a tragic musical for me; reasonably, certainly one of empowerment for the ladies within the story, and of redemption for the boys (which, by the way in which, was missing within the first adaptation). I’m additionally of the thoughts that we should assist all issues (nicely, virtually all) Black, or our possibilities or alternatives sooner or later will probably be restricted. Lastly, folks are inclined to blame Oprah for points that happen that she, herself, doesn’t have something to do with and will not be conscious of. I take from Taraji’s expressions that there are trade and studio woes, neither of that are solely or dominantly Oprah.”
Juan Gaddis – “As beloved as Oprah is to some folks, there are loads of folks who don’t like or assist her. She was entrance and middle within the press junkets which I believe labored towards the staff — I personally bought bored with seeing her and puzzled why she didn’t sit down someplace. If you happen to bear in mind, her final Christmas launch — Beloved — flopped miserably.”
Anthalone S Kirt – “Depart classics alone. Cease attempting to remake them.”
Adrienne Denise Pinchback – “It’s restricted to a choose viewers. The ladies who bear in mind the film. Take that choose group and minimize it in half for many who don’t get pleasure from musicals. It’s additionally not a “date” film. Anybody below 40 most likely gained’t see it in any respect, add on to that they aren’t going to see a musical. It ought to have launched straight to streaming platforms.”
Tammy Joyner – “I believe the choice to not put it on the market as a musical backfired as most individuals thought it was going to be an adaptation of the e-book and never the Broadway musical.”
Dee B Odom – “I believe some persons are simply damaging and in todays local weather that’s what travels. Individuals don’t notice that in the event that they don’t wish to take part or see one thing…. They will do it with out saying it. Couple that with the truth that folks don’t learn/comprehend/hear. So that they went considering it was a remake of a film not the Broadway manufacturing.”
Kenneth Royce Barrett – “For causes I don’t perceive, evidently biopics about Black people inflicting trauma on each other and themselves (particularly celebrities) are extra widespread with us than fictionalized tales about on a regular basis folks relating the identical topics.”
Stacey McCrary – “It’s disappointing that ‘we’ didn’t embrace this film. It was great and I cried at TCP for the primary time. It’s anticipated when ‘others’ don’t embrace the triumph of Black girls. It’s extraordinarily disappointing after we don’t do it for ourselves. If ‘we’ don’t embrace our ‘musicals’, who will?”
