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Bigger Stronger Faster Documentary a Box Office Success?

[June 10th, 2008] by Millard Baker

Will “Bigger Stronger Faster” be a commercial box office success for a mainstream documentary film?

I’ve written extensively about the steroid documentary “Bigger Stronger Faster*” since it screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008. I had the opportunity to watch the documentary twice - once at a screening in Dallas and also at the world theatrical premiere in Hollywood.

The movie is a masterfully crafted examination of steroids in society and sports. It exposes the anti-intellectual grounds of the steroid demonization movement in the United States and re-examines the real dangers of steroids. But it does so without advocating a particular point of view - either pro-steroid or anti-steroid. Instead, it is a pro-truth steroid movie.

The potential of “Bigger Stronger Faster” to become a mainstream hit could have significant positive consequences for the public perception of anabolic steroids in society. Consequently, I’m obviously rooting for film to do well!

So, how did “Bigger Stronger Faster” do in its opening two weekends at the box office in a limited nationwide release?

The first weekend, it was ranked 45th in total box office receipts of $31.576 while showing in 6 theaters in Los Angeles and New York City, earning an average of $5,262 per theater.

The second weekend, it was ranked 34th in total box office receipts of $50,966 while showing in 19 theaters earning an average of $2,682 per theater. I am disappointed to see the average per theater dropped so much.

The total box office gross for “Bigger Stronger Faster” over the first two weekends was $96,418. Approximately 14,014 people have seen the steroid movie in the past two weeks.

While I’m not an expert in evaluating box office results, I don’t think the numbers reflect Michael Moore-esque results for a documentary film. It’s respectable for a documentary as its already among the top 30 grossing documentaries of 2008 after two weeks; it has a chance of making the top 10 grossing documentaries although the top 8 have currently grossed at least $2,000,000 year-to-date.

I think the numbers make it obvious that the bodybuilding and fitness community really needs to make an effort to turn out and support this film and tell everyone they know about it. The movie has the potential to change attitudes regarding steroids in mainstream America. It would be unfortunate if the movie was not in theatres long enough to make a difference. That is why it is very important for the base of bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts to support it and spread the word about it.

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Tags: anabolic steroids, bigger stronger faster, bodybuilding, fitness, steroid documentary, steroids, title

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 11:04 pm and is filed under Posts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Rosemary 4 months ago 1 point
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You account of Bigger Stronger Faster* is a good one. However, box office is very tricky. First of all the movie came out against Sex And The City, Ironman, Indiana Jones and the list goes on. While Michael Moore's films have not grossed that much for earlier movies, this is typical of documentaries. Michael Moore's later movies have taken off in the millions. This movie is not directed by him, it's Directed by Chris Bell. Michael Moore later documentaries, are with larger company, behind his movies now, and can put the movie in many (thousands) of theaters, with a large advertising budget, whereby you'll see on TV, that the movie is going to play and it's in a theater near you. Bigger Stronger Faster* is in limited theaters and difficult to know about unless it's word of mouth or you catch an interview with the Director on TV. It's best to go on www.biggerstrongerfastermovie.com check what theaters it's screening in and then go see it, if it's anywhere near where one lives. This movie is critically acclaimed, was rated 97-100% on rotten tomatoes, whereby critics weigh in. It got nominated for Sundance Jury Selection, Got "Special Mention" award at Karlovy Vary in Czech and won "Special Jury Selection for best constructed film" in Traverse City Film Festival (run by Michael Moore) who has called the movie "incredible" This no doubt could have possibly gone to more screens if it was easier to get to theaters to support it. I hope everyone will check out the site and see if it's near where you live or a friend or family and go out and support it, while it's still in theaters. You can pre-order DVD from www.amazon.com (you'll notice a different jacket on the DVD, than that used for the movie posters in theaters) it is similiar to the one used at Sundance) In the meanwhile, while it's still in theaters the support of movie goers may make this important documentary go to more screens. Christopher (Chris) Bell is the Director and as you said this is a fantastic documentary that I think parents should bring their children (PG-13) to. I hope you'll go see it, it does not take a stand for or against performance enhancements and steroids, there are many forms of performance enhancements which the audience will be surprised to see, from kids on adderal to steroids 101, to hype in the media, to specialist in the field of performance enhancements to Olypians to the one of the biggest sports scandals challanged, to Senators, to trying to be the best or perhaps something you're not. You would love this movie. I hope you will go see it, look it up on the site and support this all important documentary, it is out in theaters until end of September at this point. You'll see on the website how few theaters it still runs in, the most it screened in one week is 26 theaters as opposed to let say Dark Knight which opened on over 4,000. Seeing Bigger Stronger Faster* on the big screen will give you an experience you won't soon forget. If you think you know all there is to know, you need to take a look at this movie. Thanks for your support

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