Box Office Flop: “Won’t Back Down”

October 11, 2012 //

Apparently audiences won’t pay to see a movie that demonizes teachers’ unions. “Won’t Back Down” had the worst opening weekend of any film in wide distribution (over 2,500 theaters) in the past 30 years.

And attendance has been dropping since then.

Categories Education Reform

21 Comments Post your own or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

Mark Collins says:

October 11, 2012 at 3:02 pm

The Real Audience for ‘Won’t Back Down’ May Not Have Been Moviegoers

http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/10/wont_back_down_goes_on_tour_in_cities_debating_the_parent_trigger.html

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Kathy1 says:

October 11, 2012 at 3:28 pm

Did they really expect it to be a blockbuster?

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- dianerav says:
  
  October 11, 2012 at 3:30 pm
  
  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Margaret Spellings) and Parent Revolution (Broad/Gates/Walton) are taking it on a 32-city tour and showing it for free.
  
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- Dienne says:
  
  October 11, 2012 at 3:36 pm
  
  The very fact that they didn’t expect it to be a blockbuster (as demonstrated by the fact that they’re showing it for free) should be great cause for worry. Clearly they intend to profit somehow, just not through ticket sales.
  
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  - dianerav says:
    
    October 11, 2012 at 3:37 pm
    
    The goal is propaganda, not profit.
    
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  - Mark Collins says:
    
    October 11, 2012 at 3:41 pm
    
    So Maggie, Rosie, Viola and others just got a straight salary and no points. Oh well. So it was an informercial after all.
    
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  - Dienne says:
    
    October 11, 2012 at 3:41 pm
    
    Yes, but what’s the goal of the propaganda? I’d say it’s to pave the way for profiting off education. And I’d guess that the cost of the movie was a drop in the bucket compared to what they expect to make. It’s just like buying a politician. No one “donates” a million bucks to a political campaign without expecting a hefty return on that “donation”.
    
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DonnaJoy says:

October 11, 2012 at 3:43 pm

Thank you Diane. This is great news. Maybe more and more Americans are interested in hearing truths.

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Jeremiah James Henderson says:

October 11, 2012 at 4:45 pm

People don’t like to see movies where they no the ending isn’t “happily ever after:” 🙂

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- Jeremiah James Henderson says:
  
  October 11, 2012 at 4:45 pm
  
  *know
  
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zulma says:

October 11, 2012 at 4:57 pm

It’s great news to know that the movie “Won’t Back Down”, won’t make a profit! Although the billionaires want to have a propaganda free showing in different states, it will won’t succeed in those efforts either. There are so many communities across the nation that won’t let these “traveling medicine” men sell their phony “kool-aid” elixir of falseness to them. By the way,maggie, viola and rosie should get paid the salary of the character they portrayed in the movie. Karma!

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Nancy says:

October 11, 2012 at 4:57 pm

If they show it in Toledo, I’ll watch it, and make my own feelings about it known to anyone who will listen.

The fact that no one will pay to see it warms my heart.

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readingexchange says:

October 11, 2012 at 6:16 pm

It’s a shame that time, talent, and a boatload of money was wasted on this piece of privatization propaganda.

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schoolgal says:

October 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm

Some theaters are offering 2 for 1 to see this dud.

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- Emily Adeshigbin says:
  
  October 11, 2012 at 9:46 pm
  
  I won’t pay to see it. If it is offered free, I would like the chance to screen it so I can debate it’s lack of merit accurately.
  
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  - dianerav says:
    
    October 11, 2012 at 10:04 pm
    
    You will have a chance to see it for free. The US Chamber of Commerce is taking it on a 32-city tour and showing it for free.
    
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philalisa says:

October 11, 2012 at 10:11 pm

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20120927_Director_Daniel_Barnz_defends__Won_t_Back_Down_.html

They have been backing down from “Don’t Back Down” since it hit the theaters.

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Lehrer says:

October 11, 2012 at 10:34 pm

Maybe it’ll go the way of “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

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DeeDee says:

October 11, 2012 at 10:44 pm

When will this nonsense end? Charter schools are not the answer for inner city education. It makes me sick that these super rich people are promoting this garbage as a solution. Does Gates have any idea what is going on in these charters? When he is surrounded by “yes” men and never talk to actual charter teachers he will remain clueless. This is a crime. I am so sick of lies and propaganda!!

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- dianerav says:
  
  October 11, 2012 at 10:45 pm
  
  Me too.
  
  Diane
  
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Diana Senechal says:

October 12, 2012 at 10:32 am

In the meantime, “Won’t Quiet Down,” the movie about the student trigger, is doing quite well.

http://dianasenechal.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/wont-quiet-down-a-stunning-new-movie-about-the-student-trigger/

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