Julia Roberts | 03/23/2009 10:40 am

Julia Roberts's 'Duplicity' Comes in Third at the Box Office — Why?

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Usually when a big Julia Roberts movie opens, you expect it to rule the box office. And "Duplicity," Roberts’ first major role since she became a mom in 2004, got the requisite great reviews as a witty, twisty, fun thriller (co-starring Clive Owen). But with a $14.4 million gross, the pretty woman came in number 3, after Nicolas Cage’s "Knowing" ($24.8 million) and the young-guy comedy "I Love You, Man" ($18 million). Should she be worried?

Not according to Hollywood analysts. "Knowing," in which Cage saves the world by breaking ancient codes, surprised the box office prognosticators with its strong opening, drawing an equal number of men and women. "I Love You, Man" and "Duplicity" both were expected to do a little better. The "I Love You, Man" guys, it’s thought, may have stayed home to watch NCAA basketball.

So where were the grown-ups expected for "Duplicity"? That crowd doesn’t always rush to the theater opening weekend and, according to Paul Dergarabedian, President of Media by Numbers, the film could have staying power as more people come to it. He likened the film to "fine dining" versus the "fast food" of the no. 1 and 2 films.

In a defense of Roberts’ potent star-power, MSNBC’s Courtney Hazlett points out that Roberts didn’t do a full-court publicity press for this movie, which faced a lot of competition, so she’s willing to cut her a break for the less than stellar opening. We are too.

18 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Ah well, her demographic doesn’t rush off to the movies on the first weekend, that’s all. She’s a beautiful woman and a good actress. I’ve heard this is a good movie too. But it’s not a shoot-em up and she’s over 40 and not a sex-pot type… so the 15-25 yr olds don’t rush out to see her movies. They don’t rush out to see a LOT of great quality movies.

By DeBúrca obj on 03/23/2009 11:03 am

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Am I her demographic? I’m 52 and I go to movies at least once a week. I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly (a smart magazine, btw) so I don’t have to sift through the movie dross out there.

I saw the movie last night and it was, um, slow. Dull. A snore.

Not to mention…predictable, too. Ho hum.

The clothes were nice. The music was pretty good, too. I know they were trying to make a "caper" film but it didn’t caper at ALL. It lumbered.

Watch "The Bank Heist" - far better, far snappier.

Sorry, but it was disappointing.

By Judith de Haan on 03/23/2009 11:24 am

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I would say you’re her demographic. But that’s not the demographic that usually gives the big numbers to movies. You are just one of the lucky ones who manages to see a movie a week.

By DeBúrca obj on 03/23/2009 11:27 am

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oops. I mean "The Bank Job" - a British flick.

Don’t miss it, in fact.

By Judith de Haan on 03/23/2009 11:25 am

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I went this weekend to see the movie and agree with Judith. When I hear Julia Roberts I run to see her movies and I’m 63. Unfortuantely I did not like the movie. I think the audience was made up of 40 and older and I think that for the first time in a long time my mind was wondering during a movie. The chemistry was not there with the two of them and after a while I did not care whether they we really in love or just playing each other. The writer and director jumped a little to much for me and after a while I got tired of figuring it out. Again not Pretty Women. I will say she will always get my support when she makes a movie.

By Barbara B on 03/23/2009 11:28 am

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The reviews were tepid at best for this film. I love Julia and would watch anything she is in, but if the reviewers that I usually trust aren’t enthusiastic, I will wait for DVD/On Demand to see it. Going to the movies on the weekend is an expensive proposition - I prefer the bargain times!

By Green Tears on 03/23/2009 11:55 am

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Barbara B, I watched it twice! I thought it was great. The dialogue was so smart and witty. Great flick!

But I have to admit you have to be paying attention to every word they are saying.

By Lori F. on 03/23/2009 5:48 pm

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I find it HILARIOUS to know that IF the movie is a flop——it has nothing to do with the writers, the Producers, the advertising, the age of the target markets—-it is ALL JULIA’S FAULT!!!!!! Insanity at its’ best!?

By Patty E on 03/23/2009 11:51 am

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I’ve taken to borrowing DVD’s from the library. There are some excellent choices! I’m watching how I spend my money. I will go to see a film if there’s an actor whose work I absolutely admire! I enjoy cerebral and foreign films! Ultimately I think it’s the material not the actor. If you start with nothing , it’s still nothing!

By L. C. on 03/23/2009 12:50 pm

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My daughter and I went to see Duplicity especially because we are fans of Julia and Clive and were disappointed in the movie. The stars and the supporting cast were excellent, the plot, though humourous in spots was a little too convoluted. The movie lost my daughter after 20 minutes, I kind of hung in there, but Julia needs to find another project, she’s too good to stay away.

By Rosalie Fuller on 03/23/2009 4:04 pm

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Lori I agree the dialogue was good, but I was in the mood to be entertained I guess rather than think to much. I still did not feel chemistry

By Barbara B on 03/23/2009 10:11 pm

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BB, I felt the chemistry. Remember they were two spies. The trust was always a problem for them but the chemistry was hot. Did Julia look at little "thick" to you Barabara? Clive Owens is younger than her am I right?

By Lori F. on 03/24/2009 12:40 am

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I had enjoyed the trailer, and always look forward to seeing Julia Roberts and Clive Owen … but this disappointment seems to be not any single element’s ’fault’ … it just didn’t come together … and the trailer was better edited and just captured the spiffy moments, the film did not …
I posted this in response to the NYTimes review: (most posters there seemed rather disappointed too) > … have to second the writer of ’ flat champagne’ … here are all these fabulous actors, but what … ?! That it was so highly reviewed by the NYTimes is surely a sign of how flat most movies have become … Didn’t find it confusing (come on people, just a bit of fragmented story telling, most of it predictable) … some funny bits, great locations … but Julia looked better on TV shows than in the film … And Yes: I did get my money back, not because of the movie … but: on the very first day, at an early screening, at a usually respectable NYC theatre, I had to watch this film with two huge scratches running the middle of the entire print … totally unacceptable … and surely one of the reasons I did not enjoy this as much as I had hoped … I had to explain to the manager that not only do I not like any audience to be treated like that (and paying $12.50 for it…), but it is really an insult to the filmmakers to have their work (even if it’ not their greatest…) shown in such condition … <

By Ulla on 03/24/2009 6:07 am

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Lori don’t get me wrong It wasn’t the worst movie I ever saw, but sometimes promo’s bring on a certain expectation that I anticipated I guess. My husband thought she did something to her lips but I think she may be just aging gracfully and of course men hold it together longer. My guess is they are the same age.

By Barbara B on 03/24/2009 7:03 am

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The movie was dull. I love Julia Roberts and usually love anything she is in….but this was a movie with no pazzazz. She and her co-star seemed to have no electricity between them…almost like one of them had bad breath. No sparkle in the scenes. And I didn’t think they had any chemistry between them at all.

By Rainbow Power on 03/24/2009 7:09 am