Turns out, Atlas Shrugged: Part I didn’t really knock ’em dead at the box office this weekend:

For a pure independent release, Atlas Shrugged: Part I’s opening was fine. But for the first-ever adaptation of Ayn Rand’s influential mega-selling 1957 novel that had far more media hype than any other independent movie could dream of, it was disappointing…What’s more, Atlas Shrugged: Part I’s box office dropped six percent from Friday to Saturday, further indicating niche appeal. The movie would require exceptional holds moving forward to right its course.

Don’t believe anything Rand-apologist commenters might say about per-screen averages being hopeful, either; their precious movie came in third after the disappointing Scream sequel, and Box Office Mojo explains why per-screens don’t really matter all that much. The fact is, Atlas Shrugged: Part I is a bomb. It cost 10 million to make, it brought in 1.7 million, total, this weekend and it’s going to plummet to nothing next week. If Objectivists think they’re going to make up the difference on DVD sales, they’re dreaming. Nobody wants to watch this movie.

33 replies on “Suck It, Ayn Rand Fans”

  2. I’m a libertarian and I don’t want to see this movie. Here’s a review by a well-known libertarian blogger panning it.

    Of course, “action” is a strong word. Most of these scenes consist of people drinking in hotel lobbies, drinking at restaurants, drinking at cocktail parties, and drinking in their bedrooms. In between, they do a little bit of striding purposefully. Also, sometimes they sit behind improbably neat desks. When drama is required, they stand up.

  3. But they should be okay if it fails, right? Won’t that mean that the glorious Market will have determined it too weak to survive? And isn’t the market always right?

  5. More hilarious panning from McArdle:

    In this movie, “business” mostly consists of shuffling papers around a desk, telling your fellow capitalists how great they are, and instantly promising to deliver metal for a railroad bridge without probing trivial matters like how much metal will be required, when and where the bridge will be built, and how much the customer might be willing to pay.

    Sorry, but I had too much fun with this review not to cut-and-paste a bit of it.

  7. I’m sure the DVD will make a lovely Christmas gift, which would allow Libertarians and Objectivists to buy and support this endeavor, without having to watch it.

    Also, if it could get a commentary track like “Showgirls”, it might generate enough money in DVD sales to finance the next two movies, so we can “enjoy” the whole “Atlas Shrugged” experience.

  9. I have no doubt that some “objectivist” goober like Ron Paul will put out the word that purchase of this DVD is mandatory for his followers, and a million or so suckers will rise and take that bait.

    David, Ayn Rand knew even less about what real industrialists (or architects) actually do than she did about human emotions, which is very, very little.

  10. I wonder if the production took advantage of any of the state or local filming benefits that exist — tax breaks, assistance with policing, road closings, etc.

  14. Look, it’s The Invisible Hand, with a message for Objectivists re: this shitty movie:

    …………………./´¯/)
    ………………..,/¯../
    ………………./…./
    …………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
    ………./’/…/…./……./¨¯
    ……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
    ……………………..’…../
    ……….”…………. _.·´
    ……………………..(
    …………………………

  15. “Nobody wants to watch this movie.”

    More like, nobody wants to load up the car and take the kids to see this, yet along get a babysitter and see it with the wife.

    Chances are DVD sales will make up for lost box office sales.

  17. You are wrong Paul. I want to see this movie…but just to see how bad it is. Question is – will it make it on the in-flight entertainment anytime, ever? Of course, they will cut the plane crash scene – or is that Part II? Will Part II even be released?

  20. You cannot discuss “Atlas Shrugged” without including this quote from John Rogers of Kung Fu Monkey:

    “There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.”

  21. Fnarf @ 9: Sorry, I’m not here to defend Rand. I’ve never read her novels, although I’ve been meaning to get around to it for a long time now.

  22. @19: I wasn’t dissing “Showgirls”, I love that movie. It was clearly a labor of love, where everyone thought they were making something great and important, and it failed in a different way in every scene.

    But, “Atlas Shrugged, Part 1” is also a labor of love, where everyone thought they were making something great and important. And all the reviews suggest that it too is a failure, and with terrible performances of Ayn Rand’s dialogue, it may have the potential to reach the sublime levels of unintended beauty of “Showgirls” (except without the boobies, or the epileptic-fit/love-scene in the pool).

  24. @21, I know; I was agreeing with you. But I wouldn’t recommend it; whatever the virtues or lack thereof of her philosophy, the woman quite simply could not write. You’re better off with Bulwer-Lytton or Walter Scott or some other fulsome novelist no one reads anymore except to make fun of. There isn’t even any fun to be found in her (she was opposed to fun, but strongly supportive of forty-page speechifying as ordinary dialog).

  27. I predict I will eventually watch this movie on dvd or blu-ray or whatever the technology is now.

    Actually, I’m pretty sure I’ll rent/receive it, but might not watch it…. it’s likely to sit unwatched for some time. But I usually do get around to watching my netflix picks. Usually. I may send it back unwatched, but I’d feel dumb for doing so. But I’d get over that feeling fairly quickly.

    This is not the sign of a blockbuster.

  28. Objectivists don’t want to see this movie because we knew from the get-go that it wasn’t going to go right. And let me tell you, the Pauls sure aren’t Objectivists. That whole “being rational people” thing means we don’t invite anyone in that family to our dinner parties. 😉

  30. I hope the Koch brothers fund the hell out of the sequels. 2 reasons.
    1) waste some Koch brother money
    2) I’ve kind of wanted to read this book for a while but was never willing to spend the 2 years it would take me to get through it. I’m not really that slow of a reader but I think I’d fall asleep in the middle of each page. I would never spend money on the movie but I’d download it. Maybe I could sit through the 3 movies if I broke it up into 9 little chunks over the course of a month or so. If I spread it out that much It might not melt my brain.

  32. Hey Paul, don’t hold back now. You really hate Ayn Rand, Objectivism, and rational selfishness. Instead of dissing a rather lame film adaptation of a truly important, influential work, why not tell us what you really think? Oh that’s right: you’re a “writer” for the local weekly populist rag.

  33. The comments above are a very clear reaction of FEAR. I do not see an original thought in the bunch. I guess they will really cry that they Need the computer they are using (must all be at the same library) so someone has to give it to them so they can stay home in their BVD’s and peck away. . .

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