Zucker the Sports Enthusiast

A $12.45 million opening weekend?

"Alright, I understand. Send the data over to me later. Yeah, that's all." Zucker hung up the phone.

At this moment, Zucker was half-reclined on his bed in his villa. Hearing that Wrong Turn had performed well at the box office, he couldn't help but feel in high spirits.

Lying beside him, equally naked, Jessica Chastain asked, "Did the opening weekend box office results for Wrong Turn come in?"

"That's right."

Zucker nodded and said, "A three-day cumulative total of $12.45 million. It's ranked third for the weekend, trailing only The Bad Heart from Summit Entertainment and The Exorcist Expert from Touchstone Pictures."

Hearing this, Jessica couldn't help but exclaim, "It actually made that much!"

"Heh, of course it did."

Zucker immediately began to look smug.

The opening weekend performance of Wrong Turn had indeed exceeded Zucker's expectations.

Before the film's release, Victor, Zucker, and the others had estimated the three-day opening box office would land between $6 million and $7 million.

However, because audiences had grown tired of supernatural and exorcism-themed horror films, the sudden appearance of a high-quality slasher flick felt fresh. Furthermore, most of the other films released this weekend were garbage, so audiences naturally gravitated toward Wrong Turn. Thanks to this, theaters adjusted their schedules and increased the number of screenings for the film.

Otherwise, how could it have reaped over ten million at the box office in its opening weekend with only 800-plus screens?

"According to what you're saying, it seems the film's ratings are pretty good?" Jessica asked.

Zucker nodded. "Exactly. The film currently has a 7.5 rating on IMDb, an 81% audience score, and an 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes."

"That's a really great start. Even if the ratings drop after a while, they won't fall below 7." Jessica's beautiful brows relaxed.

"Of course they won't. You should see who wrote the script!"

For a moment, Zucker was incredibly full of himself.

Regardless of the final outcome, thanks to the box office performance of Wrong Turn, Zucker could now add the title of "genius screenwriter" to his name.

In the original timeline, aside from the first installment of the Wrong Turn series which had a rating as high as 6.5, none of the subsequent sequels managed to break a 6.0, and each one was rated lower than the last.

But then again, who cares?

As long as the movie makes money, the series will keep being made!

After all, Wrong Turn is a low-budget franchise. Even if the maximum budget for a single future installment doesn't exceed $5 million, why shouldn't they keep making them?

"Oh, right, Jessica. The film Juno is wrapping up soon. What are your plans for the future?" Zucker asked.

Plans?

Jessica's current choices were essentially two-fold!

Either continue working as an actress;

Or go back to school.

Jessica Chastain pondered, "I haven't decided yet."

Hearing this, Zucker said, "I see. Well, Juno hasn't been released yet, so you have time to think about it. However, I still suggest you pursue acting. You should find a performing arts school and further your craft; that definitely wouldn't hurt."

"Alright, I'll consider it." Jessica nodded.

It must be said that because of the film Juno, Jessica Chastain's start was much higher than it had been for her in the original timeline.

In the original timeline, she only chose to attend the Juilliard School to study acting after graduating from college in 1998, following a friend's suggestion. It wasn't until 2004 that she landed a small, speaking role, beginning her path in film and television.

It took until 2011 for her to finally become famous with the film The Tree of Life.

That year, although she was still radiant and beautiful, she was already 34 years old.

At 34, it's no big deal for men in Hollywood, and the vast majority are in their prime.

However, 34 is not very friendly for women.

Playing a young female lead makes them seem a bit too old;

Playing a mother-type role makes them seem too young;

Therefore, even after becoming famous, Jessica Chastain found herself in a very awkward position in Hollywood.

So, in the years that followed, she frantically accepted offers and filmed movies like crazy. At her peak, she appeared in as many as eight films in the single year of 2015.

Her nickname, "The Hardest Working Woman in Hollywood," stems from this.

It's called being hardworking, but the reality is cruel.

She had no better options!

She only had a few years of prime time!

Since you've chosen to share a bed with me in this life, whether it's out of love or an exchange of interests, I must make you famous early, Zucker thought as he looked at Jessica.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a name popped into Zucker's mind.

—Elliot Page!

"Damn! My reckless maneuvering seems to have ruined Elliot Page ahead of schedule."

Zucker couldn't help but think this way.

It was simply because both Hard Candy and Juno were the films that made Elliot Page famous. Now that Zucker had filmed and released them ahead of schedule, wouldn't that ruin Elliot Page?

For a moment, Zucker pursed his lips.

Of course, Zucker soon let it go.

Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him!

Besides, he didn't even know her, so if he snatched them, he snatched them.

Can you call it snatching when it comes to a transmigrator?

Heh heh~!

At that moment, having let it go, Zucker turned his gaze back to the naked Jessica.

"Honey, since you're awake, let's do some exercise."

Please call me exercise expert Zucker.

A few days later.

Thanks to decent word-of-mouth, Wrong Turn achieved solid box office numbers even on weekdays.

Monday, grossed $2.15 million;

Tuesday, grossed $2.03 million;

Wednesday, grossed $1.78 million;

Thursday, grossed $1.42 million;

The following three-day weekend brought in another $6 million.

In its first ten days of release, Wrong Turn had a cumulative box office of $25.83 million!

Of course, because the film was a horror movie, its inherent disadvantage was still unavoidable: the box office would drop rapidly. The film's final box office landing would be between $30 million and $32 million. But even so, Zucker's Wald Pictures was making a killing!

The costs were just so low!

Meanwhile.

In the office of Richard Kidman at the overseas distribution department of Time Warner.

Richard Kidman looked at his young assistant and couldn't help but smile: "Reed, you've seen the ten-day box office for Wrong Turn, right?"

"Yes, boss. Just as you predicted, Wald Pictures is a film company with unlimited potential," Reed sighed.

He couldn't help but sigh; his boss was simply too formidable.

A few months ago, they had acted decisively, paying $2 million—several hundred thousand dollars above market price—to secure the overseas rights for Hard Candy, taking a step ahead to establish contact with Wald Pictures.

Richard Kidman continued: "That is why we cannot just look at the present; we must have a long-term vision. Well, that's enough, you don't need to sigh anymore. Contact Wald Pictures in a little while and strive to secure the overseas rights for Wrong Turn."

"Understood, I'll get right on it."

Big companies are indeed big companies; their tactics are still as refreshing as a spring breeze!

Then, they inadvertently deepen the connection between the two companies, and as time passes, the small company becomes more entangled with the big one, eventually being acquired by them.

It's impossible to guard against!

Of course, Zucker didn't care at all; after all, who told him he was cheating!