The love for the movie, the adoration for the captain, and the admiration for director Laila flooded the internet. While there were certainly some manipulated online comments, praise for the movie remained widespread and genuine. This was because the film was indeed outstanding and incredibly entertaining.
Even some film critics shared in the praise:
"This is a groundbreaking pirate movie that has altered the traditional image of pirates in people's minds. I think we can now declare the revival of pirate movies because Laila Moran has saved this genre!"
"After watching the film and recalling those claims that 'pirate movies are dead' from the past, I suddenly felt ashamed. Condemning an entire genre to death based on a few failures is a regrettable stain on Hollywood."
Despite various criticisms of the current state of the film industry from film critics, the media was abuzz with excitement. They didn't care if a single film could save the industry or where it was headed; they were focusing on the hot topic.
"The genius director continues to shine, the new film receives continuous acclaim," "She has revived a film genre, and film critics give Laila Moran a thumbs up," "Will the curse of the $300 Million directors be broken?"
The release of "Pirates of the Caribbean" turned into a massive celebration, with both the media and fans participating. Beyond Laila, the standout of the discussions was undoubtedly Roy Seasonstar, who played the unique pirate captain.
Even after just one viewing, excited fans could recite classic lines from the film. These lines seemed etched into their minds and continued to resonate for a long time.
- "Of course, you have to get lost; that's the only way to reach a place no one else can find."
- "Ladies and gentlemen, remember this day forever because you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"
- "We can go wherever we want; that's the essence of a ship, you know? The true meaning of the Black Pearl is freedom!"
Many people claimed they had never seen a film character like this captain. He appeared to possess characteristics usually reserved for villains but still managed to be incredibly likable.
Moreover, many people were smitten with the captain's appearance.
In the film, Roy's makeup was quite heavy for effect, including a dark tan, heavy smoky eye makeup, and comically exaggerated gold teeth. Yet, even in that look, his charisma was not marred but rather gave him a unique sensuality.
Roy's performance in the film also won the acclaim of fans who had been following him. They believed that Laila's guidance had significantly improved his acting skills, and they wholeheartedly welcomed his sudden burst of charisma, hoping to see him portray more diverse roles in the future.
The praise was almost unanimous, and it resulted in a staggering premiere box office of $25.88 million on the second day.
This was the first time that Laila had achieved such a high box office on the first day since she began her directing career. Her previous highest box office had probably been just over $10 million, so it had now more than doubled.
This impressive performance was a testament to the scale of the summer blockbuster season and the film's popularity. Regardless of how you looked at it, the film's success was undeniable!
While some films might achieve high first-day box office numbers and then experience a significant drop in subsequent days, considering Laila's track record, it was highly unlikely that this would be the case.
It was a milestone box office, worth commemorating for both Laila and her production company. Its appearance not only indicated the film's popularity but also confirmed Laila's ability to direct major blockbuster films.
She was no longer just a small director making low-budget and R-rated films. She had grown into a leading director capable of handling big-budget special effects productions and hundreds-million-dollar blockbusters.
The exceptional box office and reviews drew even more people to the theaters, eager to see if a movie that had garnered praise from friends, colleagues, and acquaintances was really as good as they'd heard. And when they left the theaters, they, too, turned into new fans, unable to contain their excitement and becoming enthusiastic advocates for "Pirates of the Caribbean."
However, amid the wave of praise, a dissenting voice emerged and criticized the movie harshly:
"After watching the film, I realized that our genius director has a significant misunderstanding of movies. Starting from 'Kill Bill,' it's evident that Moran focuses too much on the beauty of the visuals to the point of obsession. She overemphasizes the aesthetic appeal while neglecting the substance that should support the film."
"While exquisite visuals provide viewing pleasure, they are easily forgotten and do not create a profound impact on the soul. When the initial excitement fades, these kinds of movies are easily relegated to the back of the mind."
Laila saw Cooper's review when she received a newspaper with his critique, right after she'd received the box office results from the previous day. She just smiled and brushed it off. After all, his criticism was always the same: calling her low-budget films poorly made and her high-budget films devoid of substance. She didn't need to make every film an art film; she was playing with commercial blockbusters. Was there a need to whine and complain?
As usual, she treated his review as a joke and then happily read reviews from actual film critics. She wasn't averse to criticism as long as it was constructive and would help her improve in the future. Who is perfect anyway? Without identifying the areas where she had gone wrong, was there any point in waiting for the same mistakes in the future?
- "This was a fascinating pirate journey. I believe many people, like me, will dream of sailing the high seas all night."
- "Beautiful landscapes and sumptuous Baroque-style costumes gave me a glimpse of a medieval painting, and I was deeply captivated."
- "She has created a new image of pirates. Captain Hook has transcended the typical pirate status. From now on, when we mention pirates, we will think of Captain Jack."
Most film critics still gave very favorable reviews. Despite the "pirate movies are dead" sentiment, they were fair in their evaluations.
Is it really that good?
Many people who saw the newspapers and reviews couldn't help but become curious. One or two people praising the film could be dismissed, but when the internet, the media, and those who had seen the film in person all agreed, it became hard for anyone to resist seeing it for themselves.
So, when the box office numbers for the second day were revealed, they astonished everyone.