After a first weekend of $14.31 million, 'The Butterfly Effect' ultimately grossed $21.69 million in its full opening week, making it the undisputed number one at the North American box office for the week.
Inside the apartment living room.
Simon looked at the box office data report in his hand, his first thought still being the film's upcoming box office trend.
According to the current media reviews for 'The Butterfly Effect', most people were not optimistic about the film's box office curve, and Simon himself couldn't say he was too optimistic.
If 'The Butterfly Effect' saw a box office drop of more than 50% in its second week, then, despite its high starting point of $21.69 million in the first week, the film's total North American box office would still only reach around $50 million.
$50 million, compared to the film's production cost and the average data of this era, is absolutely an excellent box office performance.
'The Butterfly Effect' had a production cost of $10 million, and the actual marketing and distribution budget was usually half of the production cost. Calculated this way, if the box office reached $30 million, Fox would already start to make a profit, not to mention the overseas distribution and later revenues from videotapes, TV broadcasts, etc. Fox would definitely make a fortune on this project.
However, this was absolutely not a good thing for Simon.
The reason Fox and Orion approved the revenue-sharing agreements for 'Final Destination' and 'Pulp Fiction' was entirely in anticipation of Simon being able to 'keep up the good work' after 'Run Lola Run'.
A large part of 'The Butterfly Effect's opening week box office relied on the popularity brought by 'Run Lola Run'.
Now.
The reputation of 'The Butterfly Effect' had already collapsed, and if its subsequent box office completely failed to live up to its high starting point in the first week, then Hollywood would completely regard 'Run Lola Run' as an accidental success, and the halo it brought to Simon would also become ineffective after 'The Butterfly Effect'.
Next.
Although the contracts for 'Final Destination' and 'Pulp Fiction' could not be revoked, in the process of Simon promoting other subsequent projects for Danerys Entertainment, Hollywood film companies would obviously no longer consider the halo factor of 'Run Lola Run'.
Even Simon's disadvantage of being less than twenty years old would be amplified again.
Simon, no longer bothering with the box office of other films, tossed the report aside and casually looked at the large screen opposite him.
The screen was playing the classic Hollywood black-and-white film 'Casablanca'.
As a highly-ranked film on the IMDb Top 250 in the original timeline, Simon remembered watching it more than once. 'When Harry Met Sally' also had many details mentioning this film, so he bought a videotape to rewatch it.
Looking at Ingrid Bergman's sparkling eyes on the screen, Simon suddenly thought of Janette, and Neil's words before he left.
Hesitating for a moment, Simon picked up the phone, leaned back on the sofa, and dialled a series of numbers.
After a series of usual beeps, the phone was finally answered, and a soft purr like a kitten came from the receiver, with obvious impatience.
Simon, listening to the woman's reaction, curved his lips and said softly, "Baby, it's me".
In the bedroom of the mansion in Palisades, Janette was curled up drowsily on the large bed, the phone cord on the bedside table stretched long, extending all the way into the covers.
Hearing Simon's voice, Janette finally perked up a bit, fumbling around to grab a pillow next to her and hugging it, as if she were holding someone, but her words were sharp: "Who's your baby? You should call me Jenny".
Simon readily agreed: "Alright, Jenny".
Janette, however, immediately became displeased again, criticizing: "So spineless".
Simon smiled and said, "I just wanted to call and say goodnight".
Janette twisted in the covers, hugging the pillow in her arms tighter, and asked proactively, "What are you doing?"
"Watching a movie," Simon glanced at the big screen and said, "'Casablanca.".
"Because of 'When Harry Met Sally'?" Janette asked, and without waiting for Simon's answer, she said, "I've seen it before. But I don't really like the story; everyone is so cautious, not at all straightforward".
Simon unconsciously grabbed a cushion from beside him, but only placed it on his lap, saying, "Then you definitely didn't understand it".
"Hm?"
"Actually, 'Casablanca' is absolutely one of the most subtle love stories in Hollywood history, and the ending is incredibly perfect".
"Uh huh?"
Simon's lips curved into a smile, and he said, "You see, the story should actually be like this. In the chaotic small town of Casablanca, Captain Renault falls madly in love with Rick, the bar owner. To attract Rick's attention, he deliberately disguises himself as a playboy, constantly changing one woman after another. The arrival of Rick's ex-girlfriend, Ilsa, makes Captain Renault feel a very strong sense of crisis.
However, Renault is very clever; he acts as if nothing is wrong on the surface, but secretly he pushes things forward, not only successfully driving Ilsa away but also using this incident to make Rick understand his feelings. Finally, the two leave Casablanca together, and from then on, they hold hands for life, wandering the world".
On the other end of the phone, Janette listened to Simon's narration, recalling the movie plot in her memory, her beautiful eyes blinking and blinking, then suddenly letting out a small shriek: "Ah, you little scoundrel, Westeros, you little scoundrel, I'm never watching 'Casablanca' again".
As she accused him, Janette suddenly then suddenly burst into laughter, rolling around on the big bed for a while, then suddenly realizing something, the woman's joy abruptly ceased, and she quickly grabbed the discarded phone back: "Hey, you little scoundrel, are you still there?"
Simon said, "I'm here".
Janette hesitated for a moment, then asked timidly, "You, you haven't been too pent up lately and started getting interested in men, have you?"
Simon felt exasperated immediately said, "No".
Janette was clearly still a little worried: "Really?"
"Of course it's true," Simon nodded again, not wanting to continue this topic, and changed the subject: "However, without you around, things here have been a bit messy lately. How about you come over and help me tidy up sometime?"
Janette refused without hesitation: "No way, you find a cleaner yourself".
"You know," Simon felt the topic had been sidetracked and decisively continued, "I don't like strangers in my house".
"But," Janette scratched the pillow in her arms, shifted her position on the bed, and said, "I also hire cleaners for the villa here, you know?"
Simon hadn't paid attention to these things before, so he could only say, "Well, if I don't see it, I'll pretend I don't know".
"Heh heh, then let Kate go and help you tidy up".
Simon said helplessly, "Are you really such a good friend?"
"Otherwise, you'll have to deal with it yourself," Janette pouted, then added, "Not allowing strange peers in your territory, it seems you really are like a lion".
Simon decided he'd just take some time to tidy up himself this weekend. Hearing Janette's words, he remembered something else and said, "I always hear you talk about lions and such, and I recently came up with an idea about a lion".
As he spoke, Simon got up, rummaged around, found a stack of drawings, placed them on his lap, and casually flipped through them, saying, "This is an animated film called 'The Lion King,' a 'Prince's Revenge' story template. How about I make it for you as a birthday present? Oh, by the way, when's your birthday?"
Janette's voice was soft, and she whispered, "I don't celebrate birthdays; it makes me sad to think about my age".
Simon said gently, "Of course you should celebrate. Your eighteenth birthday, every year is your eighteenth birthday. Come on, tell me when your eighteenth birthday is?"
Janette's tone softened a bit more, and she said softly, "March 13th, it already passed secretly this year, oh. Um, if the story isn't good, I don't want it".
"You can take a look first," Simon noted the date in his mind and continued, "How about tomorrow? Tomorrow night I'm going to a party at Madonna's house. You can be my date, and we can discuss the story together when we get back".
"No way, I'm not your girlfriend now," Janette resisted slightly, then asked, "What are you going to Madonna's house for?"
"I want to invite Madonna and Sean Penn to star in 'Pulp Fiction,' as the opening 'Honey Bunny' and 'Pumpkin'".
"Heh heh, inviting those two," Janette sneered and pouted, saying, "I just happen to remember that 'Shanghai Surprise' they starred in together last year. The reviews said the only good thing about that movie was that an audience member could have an entire cinema to themselves".
Hearing Janette say that, Simon couldn't help but laugh.
'Shanghai Surprise' was a film starring Madonna and Sean Penn last year, with a production cost of $17 million, but a North American box office of only $2.31 million.
Before extending invitations to Madonna and Sean Penn, Simon had also specifically found a videotape of 'Shanghai Surprise' to watch, and it truly could only be described as abysmal. Madonna even won her first Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress earlier this year because of it.
However, Simon ultimately decided to give it a try.
Simon always believed that there were never completely hopeless actors in this world; the key was always the role. Otherwise, Madonna wouldn't have later won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for 'Evita'.
Due to the little incident on ABC's 'Good Morning America' last month, after Simon finished the script for 'Pulp Fiction', the first people he thought of for the opening roles of "Honey Bunny" and "Pumpkin" were Madonna and her husband.
Madonna's bold and avant-garde style, combined with Sean Penn's fiery personality, made them perfect for playing a pair of lovers who were also robbers.
Most importantly, Madonna's film salary wouldn't be too high, and Sean Penn wasn't a Grand Slam actor at the moment. If it was just a cameo, this idea had a very high feasibility.
Thinking to himself, Simon pressed on, "So, are you going tomorrow or not?"
Janette refused again: "No. We've broken up now, and we're even preparing for a lawsuit. If I'm taken out by you so soon, I'd lose face".
"Alright," Simon could only say, "Then that's it, goodnight".
"Mmm-hmm, goodnight."