After four years in development hell, with months of actors considered for the lead roles and a protracted post-production schedule that delayed the film’s release for a year, “Gravity” made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year to rave reviews. But critical praise never guarantees financial success. Just look to Alfonso Cuarón’s last film, “Children of Men,” a critical success but box office bomb, for proof. In addition to a $100 million budget and not being attached to a franchise, “Gravity” made Warner Bros. nervous about how it would succeed at the box office.
But none of that mattered — audiences have loved “Gravity.” As of last weekend, the film grossed $171 million domestically, and it’s been the number one film at the box office for three weeks straight. So how did this happen?
Having two A-list stars in Sandra Bullock and George Clooney definitely helped. In addition, Bullock plays a strong dramatic role rather than her typical neurotic woman. With critics suggesting Bullock is destined for Oscar gold, audiences may have even come to “Gravity” just for the showcase of a strong lead female character.
The success also results from its IMAX 3D format, which brings in more money than traditional theaters. And because of this format, “Gravity” is a particularly immersive experience. It’s not uncommon when word spreads that a film is only shown in IMAX as a cheap cash grab. But after “Gravity’s” release, word spread that IMAX 3D offered the complete showcase of its technical achievements.
Another large source of its success came from Warner Bros. releasing “Gravity” during the fall against lesser competition. The biggest opening night opposition was “Runner, Runner” which received a disastrous critical response. The following weekend debuted “Captain Phillips,” which featured a big name actor and enjoyed similar critical acclaim. However, “Gravity” had the advantage of being groundbreaking cinema, while “Phillips” was more of a traditional story.
Nevertheless, the strongest contribution to the success of “Gravity” is the most obvious one — it is a one-of-a-kind film. Too often, Hollywood executives believe reutilizing similar tropes from other successful films will surely garner profit, leading to several critical and financial flops. With obnoxious tent poles being released out so frequently, it seems as if executives believe audiences are simple-minded. Hopefully, the success of “Gravity” will encourage producers to support originality and ambition, as it clearly still appeal to the average moviegoer if handled with the utmost skill.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Oct. 24 print edition. Zack Grullon is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].