Warner Bros. ‘Overestimated’ Box Office Numbers for ‘The Color Purple’
Warner Bros. is facing scrutiny after admitting it “overestimated” the opening weekend box office numbers for the recent film adaptation of The Color Purple by more than $2 million.
Originally, the American film and entertainment studio said that The Color Purple had earned $13.8 million in its debut weekend, World of Reel reported. However, the actual box office gross is said to be around $11.7 million, according to the site for alternative movie news.
The inflated numbers were already reported by media outlets before the correction was issued. On. Dec. 26, Deadline reported that the film featuring a star-studded cast of Black actors came up with $18 million for its debut. The number was also reported by Variety, which noted on Dec. 27 that the movie almost set a holiday record, “marking the largest Christmas Day opening for a movie since 2009 and the second-biggest Christmas Day opening of all time.”
Critics questioned why Warner Bros. invested $100 million in the big-budget musical that contains difficult subject matter. World of Reel noted that the movie had a $47 million domestic gross by the evening of Jan. 1.
The film contributed more than $74 million to the local economy in greater Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, according to the Motion Picture Association. Some of the spending went to crew and cast members on the movie’s production team of more than 2,500 local Georgians, the site noted.
Despite the “overestimation” by Warner Bros., BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported The Color Purple landed Danielle Brooks, who played the character Sofia, and singer and actress Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor, who played Celie, Golden Globe nominations. Known by her stage name, Fantasia was nominated for Best Actress, a first for the star. Brooks also experienced a first was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. On Dec. 11 the 2024 Golden Globes were announced.
RELATED CONTENT: Taraji P. Henson Called Oprah To Advocate For ‘The Color Purple’ Cast