‘Bros’ Director Blasts Audiences for Film’s Box Office Failure
Nicholas Stoller: 'It's almost like people don’t know what’s good for them'
If anyone could bring comedy back to the cineplex, it’s Nicholas Stoller.
The writer/director previously delivered hits like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Get Him to the Greek,” “The Muppets” and “Neighbors.”
Now, with theatrical comedies on life support, Stoller is back with “Bros.” The gay rom-com follows two stubbornly single souls (Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane) who fall in love despite themselves.
And audiences are staying far, far away from the film.
The film infamously earned $4.8 million on its opening weekend, a far cry from its $22 million budget and reported $30-40 million marketing costs.
Hollywood news outlets have been wringing their hands over the film’s failure since last weekend. Now, the far-Left Hollywood reporter is asking Stoller and “Bros” co-star Guy Branum what explains the box office results.
Branum claims his marketing ideas were roundly rejected by Universal, the studio behind the film. Stoller struggles to process the movie’s commercial misfire, citing critical raves for the film (89 percent “fresh” at Rotten Tomatoes) and positive test screenings.
![Bros | Official Trailer [HD]](https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FBQIeBB9XMe8%2F0.jpg)
Eichner blamed the straight community for ignoring his film (he co-wrote the screenplay with Stoller). Stoller confirms Eichner’s comments, citing data privy to Universal. The dismal numbers still show most gay Americans chose other movie options last weekend.
The director trotted out other reasons for the film’s failure, including his assertion that Hollywood has “trained” audiences not to see comedy in theaters.
That’s certainly not true of the pre-woke era. Comedies routinely crashed the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. Think:
- “Bridesmaids” ($169 million)
- “The Hangover 1, 2 and 3” ($277 million, $254 million, $112 million, respectively)
- “Step Brothers” ($100 million)
- “Ted” ($218 million)
- “22 Jump Street” ($191 million)
- “Neighbors” ($150 million)
- “Pitch Perfect 2 and 3” ($184 million, $104 million, respectively)
Stoller partially blames audiences for not seeking his film out.
“It is very strange just because the movie is so much fun. And as someone who makes comedies for movie theaters — or did until, I guess, this weekend — I love seeing comedies in movie theaters, and people do. It’s almost like people don’t know what’s good for them. [emphasis added]”
Stoller turned his wannabe franchise “Neighbors” into a woke affair, hiring two female screenwriters to bolster its feminist bona fides. That sequel, “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” made $95 million less than its predecessor, killing the franchise in the process.
What the “Bros” director doesn’t realize is how the culture is to blame for “Bros” failure. Big screen comedies can no longer entertain like they once did. Even tepid fare like “Snatched” and “Get Hard” endure withering reviews for being “problematic.”
That mindset handcuffs artists, reducing the jokes they can tell in the process. Even far-Left comics like “Desus & Mero” self-censor for fear of Cancel Culture fallout.
It’s also why “Hangover” director Todd Phillips left the genre to direct 2019’s “Joker.”
Stoller ignores how too many Hollywood stars alienate potential audiences. Eichner is a prime example, using his Twitter account and public appearances to excoriate anyone with whom he disagrees on politics.
Billy Eichner Calls Out Supreme Court “Homophobes” at VMAs: “We Are Not Letting Them Drag Us Back Into the Last Century” https://t.co/yQK5pu6J76
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 29, 2022
Plus, audiences are exhausted by the Left’s weaponizing culture in every forum possible. That “Bros” trailer suggests the film is more of the same, mocking straight people, extolling an LGBTQ+ museum subplot and proudly sharing characters engaged in a “throuple.”
The “Bros” director’s comic timing remains on-point throughout his new film. He might want to step outside his Hollywood bubble, though, to understand why so many Americans, both straight and gay, didn’t line up to see “Bros.”
Society survives because of heterosexual coupling. The collective roots for the attractive male and attractive female to “get together “ and have babies. Basic instinct
Hi to all the commentors and readers. Look, lets square this away. I saw Bros. on opening weekend. I am gay and love movies. This film was extremely
boring!
The first hour was eichner whining about how the world is so tough. The trailer made it look great. But…it was bad stuff. The last minute of the film was like it was just starting to go somewhere. Very strange.
Bros. is no bridesmaides! It could have been great. If you havent seen bridesmaides, go see that…it is a great movie!
Bros. is 0 out 5 Brians.
One more thing. Billy Eichner complains inside Bros. and outside Bros. about everything. No dude…your sucky movie has nothing to do with homo phobia. Just because people dont like it doesnt mean they are discrimating.
The ultimate gay romance for me will always be brokeback mountain. Its not a rom com but I like it. I lived that movie!
Anyways, Billy, lay off the straight people. Keep your angst to yourself Bro. ❤️
This writer got damn near all of the cliched buzzwords into the article to distract from the fact that numbers show that straight audiences didn’t show up. Calling something “woke” anytime straight white men aren’t the center of attention? Check. Writing about the lefts so called weaponizing of culture? Check? Cancel culture. Check.
The subject matter isn’t my cup of tea. It never has been. Not before so-called Woke Culture, not during so-called Woke Culture, and long after so-called Woke Culture and it’s participants are dead and destroyed, will it ever. Hollywood will never brain wash us all to their nonsense. And this Eichner guy? The pouting, screaming, whining, gay crybaby? Perfect spokesman for a failed premise. Hollywood: Get the hint.
An 89% on rotten tomatoes means nothing. I remember Booksmart getting rave reviews, and I was excited to see it, as it was billed as a coming of age buddy comedy akin to Superbad. It stunk. The lesser reviewed movie Good Boys, that released around the same time, was much better.
Just because it reviewed good, does not mean it was good. A lot of times reviewers love the message or story of a comedy despite the comedy having surprisingly few comedic moments. This looks like one of those times. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…
call me names….. don’t care ….. am not about to go watch some $3 floating around the screen ……. PASS
This article is ridiculous. The failure of box office comedies on the last few years has everything to do with streaming and nothing to do with being “woke.” What a bunch of idiots.
The most recent example they could come up with was a sequel from 5 years ago, most of them much older. I guess since they don’t believe in the pandemic they don’t know it’s affected the movie business.
Spiderman made over a billion dollars post pandemic.
You have to make a film people want to pay to go see.
Why so angry at those pointing out why this movie failed?
It has nothing to do with streaming and everything to do with woke liberalism criticizing every comedy that doesn’t curtail its plot to the agenda. No one can do a theater worthy comedy anymore for fear if being canceled.
People want to go to theaters to be entertained, not preached to.
Eichner’s sophomoric, creepy double entendre comments while on the Steven Colbert Show to promote the film were and embarrassment.
By the the sounds of it it gives gays a bad name. And do all gays like straight movies?
Billy Eichner is upset because the heterosexual world is not embracing his unfunny movie….Well, he has filled the movie with 2 hours of every gay stereotype there is, affirming the straight world on how gay people live….I am a 67 year old gay man and I just sat there and wondered if we are really as desperate and shallow as Billy has painted us….plus the fact that the movie is just not that good…me and my partner chuckled in a few spots, and possibly teary eyed at the end, overall just thought it was boring.
So according to Eichner, you’re a gay homophobe. LOL. Oh the irony.
I watched it. It wasn’t that funny. Kind of painfully awkward. Super awk. Not funny
It’s a rom com put out when people want to see horror movies because of Halloween. It was set up to fail by the studio. It would be the same if you put a horror movie out just before feb 14. It needed to be released because it was in the contract.
I just watched this trailer. It was cringe inducing and I was way grossed out. Sorry I will never evolve as I still have a disgusted face on.
I just love seeing this ilk continuing to cry “WAAH wOkE!” whenever they have to be reminded non-straight/white/men/Christians have the audacity to exist. Oh and “aGeNdA”. “Cuz if we say a word that has negative connotations like AgEnDa it’ll convince the dummies that it’s bad”. This free speech. I’m not so sure lmao
Uhmmm what? Nobody cares about your audacity to live, they really don’t. We care about you tea VC int it to our children, and your constant, ever evolving list of demands that need to be met, and when they are, it’s never enough. You want to see somewhere where they don’t tolerate your right to exist, try China, Russia, any Muslim country, but it ain’t the white man. And by the way your response, is the EXACT reason people don’t accept the force it down your throat until you agree with it approach. You’re pompous, arrogant, entitled, and whiney. Average, every day Americans, regardless of background, do not want to watch stuff like this. I’m not offended by two or three men being gay, it just doesn’t appeal to me, so why would I watch it? To be lectured at and told I’m the problem? Yeah, no thanks.
I’m gay, and I refused to go see BROS. Eichner is so annoying even when he isn’t talking politics, and since he drags politics into everything he talks about now he is just an insufferable woke scold. Woke isn’t funny, and Hollywood now drips with hypocrisy and narcissism, so I mostly avoid it. And I’m still gay.
I agree 100% percent! I specifically stayed away because every time I see Eichner I am reminded of his constant berating of anyone who doesn’t think just like him which includes myself and most of my gay and straight friends.
PREACH ON! Let me add he isn’t easy on the eyes either. They should have made LUKE the main guy! I would like to make him UN-GAY for a day! WOW! He is a beautiful man!
OR we simply DON’T WANT TO SEE MALE GAY CRAP BECAUSE WE FIND IT DISGUSTING. We are not “afraid” of it. We do not need to be “educated” about it. WE ARE DISGUSTED BY IT AND BILLY EICHNER . Period.
Keith you sure have invested an inordinate amount of time and energy with your handful of comments. That speaks volumes to those who understand psychology.