As for the outstanding performance of "Buried", there was no need for further elaboration. In its fifteenth week of release, with a screening scale surpassing a thousand theaters for the first time, the film garnered $2.5M in weekend box office, successfully reclaiming a spot in the top ten weekend box office rankings in North America. This achievement was praiseworthy for any work, let alone an unnoticed independent film.
"Buried" continued its run in 1,200 theaters for another week before Focus Features gradually began to scale back its screening efforts.
From this detail, one could see that "Buried", with its inherent limitations such as a lack of a sensational cast lineup, a confined script structure, and a plot focused solely on a single character, ultimately couldn't replicate the box office miracles of "The Blair Witch Project" or "Paranormal Activity".
But did anyone care?
Focus Features meticulously reduced the number of theaters while ensuring a sustained long-term screening for "Buried". This extended the film's run all the way to the first week of April, totaling a 24-week screening period, putting it on par with commercial films.
At this moment, one could sense the profound impact of the film's reputation, and its enduring appeal had garnered unanimous approval from the audience. Comparatively, "Paranormal Activity 2" only ran for thirteen weeks, while "Saw 3D" was quickly pulled from theaters after just five weeks.
In terms of box office performance, "Paranormal Activity 2" earned a remarkable $84M in the North American market, particularly satisfying for Paramount, considering it was made with less than $3M. However, the meager $45M North American box office take of "Saw 3D" hardly stirred excitement, leaving much to be desired given its $20M production cost. Lionsgate subsequently announced the series' end.
In comparison, "Buried", through effective theater control, compensated for its lack of explosive force and maximized the film's staying power.
Ultimately, "Buried" surpassed the $50M milestone in North American box office, achieving an excellent $52M! This box office figure even exceeded that of "Saw 3D"! Whether for the relatively unknown cast or for Focus Features, this was a significant triumph!
Simultaneously, the IMDb scores and cinema ratings for "Buried" were finally released.
The cinema rating ultimately held steady, a remarkable achievement for a horror film. It had reached the zenith of reputation in its genre, with any praise deemed appropriate and even comparable to some blockbuster popcorn flicks. It could be imagined that beyond the $52M North American box office earnings, "Buried" would still hold more box office potential in the home video and online rental markets.
On IMDb, after receiving votes from over 43,000 users, the score for "Buried" dropped to 7.9 points, just a hair's breadth away from the eight-point threshold. Regrettably, it couldn't make it into the list of the top 250 films as a very good movie, missing the miracle of emulating "The Shining" and "The Exorcist".
However, compared to the 6.4 points of "The Blair Witch Project" and the 6.3 points of "Paranormal Activity", "Buried" had set a new high in audience reputation. This was the highest score since "The Sixth Sense", which had received 8.1 points. That film was the only horror film in the past ten years to achieve an IMDb score higher than eight points.
From media reviews to Rotten Tomatoes, from IMDb to cinema scores, "Buried" undeniably emerged as one of the most outstanding horror films of the new century. This inevitably led people to speculate: If Focus Features hadn't held a limited release for the film but followed the conventional path of wide release in over two thousand theaters, would "Buried" have had the chance to break the $100M mark in North America? To truly replicate the miracle of "Paranormal Activity".
However, the $52M North American box office was still worth celebrating. Focus Features had garnered profits of over $15M, a rare and abundant harvest for a company that perennially stood at the forefront of independent cinema.
Moreover, Focus Features' ultimate goal in extending the film's screening period wasn't the box office, but the award season. Such a box office achievement was already a tremendous surprise.
Furthermore, thanks to Focus Features' efforts, "Buried" found buyers for its overseas distribution rights one by one. This Spanish-invested English-language work was brought to audiences all around the world, making its appearance in Europe, South America, Asia, and various other regions. The film achieved uplifting box office results!
The overseas box office yielded an impressive $65M, causing a stir. This achievement even surpassed the North American box office figures, clearly demonstrating the fervent pursuit of the overseas market.
Among them, Spain undoubtedly demonstrated immense enthusiasm, leading with box office earnings of $11M, making it the largest non-North American market.
If the Spanish market was boosted by Rodrigo Cortés and the entire Spanish production team, then Japan becoming the second-largest overseas market seemed somewhat unbelievable.
Though Japan traditionally supported horror films, "Buried" earned $9M in Japan, puzzling experts. Japan's support for its domestic films was beyond doubt. Additionally, they preferred Hollywood popcorn blockbusters rather than "Buried", a "low-budget" independent production.
The only explanation, could it be… the handsome effect of Renly Hall? Though somewhat absurd, it wasn't entirely implausible.
Regardless, in the end, the cumulative box office for the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, and Australia all surpassed $5M, astounding with their outstanding performance!
For a film with a mere $3M investment, this was truly an unimaginable journey.
Leveraging the strong overseas box office, "Buried" impressively crossed the $100M global box office threshold, achieving a staggering $117M. In a situation where almost no one paid attention, where promotional resources were nearly nonexistent, and lacking any promotional momentum, "Buried" successfully accomplished a delicate feat of the underdog. Even Focus Features had some puzzled looks, filled with question marks:
How was this achieved, exactly?
"Buried" not only allowed Focus Features to make a modest profit but also propelled director Rodrigo into Hollywood's gaze. It's imaginable that there would be more opportunities extended to him, even invitations for commercial blockbusters. Even if Rodrigo planned to independently prepare a new work, seeking investment would become much easier. Without a doubt, Rodrigo's path to Hollywood had been paved beneath his feet.
However, the true achievement of "Buried" was successfully propelling Renly into the public eye.
From the unexpected rise of "The Pacific" to the topic effect of "Fast 5", and finally the sudden emergence of "Buried", Renly's outstanding performance unquestionably captured the attention of the entire Hollywood.
Hollywood never lacked fresh blood, but it consistently yearned for a newcomer capable of igniting the entire market.
After Toronto, the topic of Gen Y was once again mentioned, and this time, it ignited discussions in numerous mainstream American media outlets. Compared to the baby boomer generation and the gradually stable generation that came after, Gen Y seemed to bear a more distinct and rapid impact in the age of the internet. However, those who could truly establish themselves were few and far between.
From Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Orlando Bloom, Josh Hartnett, Ashton Kutcher, Shia LaBeouf, to Henry Cavill...
Almost every year brought forth a new batch of rising stars. Regrettably, they either faded quickly, submerged in Hollywood's torrent; or due to their appearance, found their opportunities restricted, unable to explore diverse roles; or their acting skills failed to satisfy, relegating them to temporary typecast roles. These Gen Y actors never managed to make a significant impact, let alone assume pivotal roles in the generational shift.
This year, actors like James Franco, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Jesse Eisenberg, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, all delivered excellent performances, showing promising potential. But, how long would their achievements last? Could they ascend further? All of this remained uncertain.
Now, Renly Hall took the stage.
As an actor who had entered the public eye as an Emmy Award winner, Renly's acting skills were beyond doubt. Currently, "The Pacific" and "Buried" showcased two different acting styles, hinting at his capability to digest a wider array of roles. Simultaneously, Renly had also taken on "Fast 5", dipping his feet into commercial films, adding anticipation to his future commercial value...
This instantly stirred up excitement among all media outlets. Could it be that the true centerpiece of Gen Y had finally appeared?
In the latest issue of People magazine, ten Gen Y actors with superstar potential were selected, and Renly was among them. A concise comment read, "Could he be the next Tom Hanks?"
Among numerous Hollywood superstars, actors who managed both box office success and awards were few, and Tom Hanks undeniably occupied that position. Even Meryl Streep had to bow before his influence. This was Tom Hanks' unrivaled significance in Hollywood. Barely a year ago, Shia LaBeouf had been described by the media as the next Tom Hanks; now, it was Renly's turn.
So, how long would this time's spotlight last? With great anticipation, what kind of answer would Renly deliver?
Compared to the bustling and resounding atmosphere in North America, Renly, who had finished the limited release and arrived in Rio de Janeiro for filming, was deeply engrossed in the shooting process, too busy to spare a moment to follow the news trends in the United States.
The production of an action film allowed no room for negligence, especially with someone like Vin Diesel watching closely from the side.