The invaluable site for movie buffs who are also interested in the box-office business of film is BoxOfficeMojo. That site reports that “Merchants of Doubt” has earned $23,300 in the four theaters in which it opened on Friday.
So that means … “Merchants of Doubt” had the 314th best opening weekend ever for a documentary film in the United States! What an achievement! Congrats, guys.
In the contest of documentary film opening weekends, “Merchants of Doubt” finished $40 better than the 1999 opening of “American Movie” (#315), and just $55 behind 2008’s “Gunnin’ for that #1 Spot” (#313). Never heard of those movies? Neither has anyone else – and neither will anyone hear of, nor long remember, “Merchants of Doubt.”
But, for those curious about the company this film keeps, some details:
“American Movie” (1999) is a “documentary about an aspiring filmmaker’s attempts to finance his dream project by finally completing the low-budget horror film he abandoned years before.”
“Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot” (2008) is a documentary about “eight of the U.S.’s top high school basketball players [competing] in the first ‘Elite 24′ tournament at Rucker Park.” That film should have been helped by the fact that it was directed by Adam Yauch, better known as the late, great “MCA” of the legendary rap group Beastie Boys. It still only made a total of $50,804.
The market has spoken … again. The public just ain’t buying what the climate alarmists are selling – even at what is going to be an enormous loss for the producers of “Merchants of Doubt.” Couldn’t happen to a better group of film-makers whose piece of expensive propaganda demonized researchers who adhere to the scientific method.
PS: In fairness, I’ve actually heard of “American Movie.” It was a cult film that won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance. Looks interesting, and I might have to rent it one day.
Jim Lakely is the Vice President and Director of Communications of The Heartland Institute.
