With the massive North American release of "National Treasure," the critical reception of the film was starkly polarized just a day after its release. This polarization wasn't like the type where fans adore the movie and detractors loathe it to death. Rather, the professional reviews and audience feedback were completely at odds.
After Friday, "National Treasure" saw a declining trend in professional reviews. Rotten Tomatoes' freshness rating plummeted below fifty percent, with critics nearly ridiculing the entertainment film.
Their main criticisms focused on two aspects: firstly, the plot and decoding elements were too juvenile; secondly, Matthew Horner and Dwayne Johnson's on-screen personas were seen as poorly matched to their characters.
They even sarcastically commented on the protagonist not keeping the treasure to himself at the end.
Conversely, "National Treasure" was quite well-received by audiences, with CinemaScore giving it an average grade of "A" from first-day viewers, and a temporary score of 7.5 on IMDB. Its simple plot and enjoyable viewing experience were particularly appreciated by family audiences.
Most parents who brought their children felt it was an excellent family film.
Moreover, these viewers believed Matthew Horner's performance was commendable, portraying the lead character as kind-hearted and strategic, showcasing his talent as an actor.
As for the simplistic decryption and the protagonist not keeping the treasure—was there really an issue with that in a family film?
During an interview with ABC's entertainment channel, when asked about the disparity between professional and audience reviews, one fan responded, "What movie could withstand such detailed nitpicking by critics? This is an entertainment film—sufficiently exciting and smooth-flowing. If every detail were to be perfectly logical, would it still be a film? I never noticed any glaring plot holes or inconsistencies."
Another fan mentioned, "Thanksgiving is coming up; isn't this the season for light-hearted films?"
Many professional critics believe it is their duty and capability to guide the film industry's development, preventing it from becoming overly commercialized and purely for entertainment.
This issue is simply a matter of perspective.
Even in a mature market like North America, the entanglement of reviews and films presents a tangled, chaotic picture.
Certainly, compared to emerging film markets, North America's industry adheres more strictly to established norms, such as Matthew Horner never publicly criticizing critics, a practice rarely breached.
Those who do breach these norms can expect certain outcomes for their future film releases.
Nevertheless, the decent audience reception somewhat mitigated the negative critical reviews. "National Treasure" earned $18.5 million on its opening day in North America, easily surpassing the earnings of "Polar Express" and "The Incredibles" from the past two weeks, and taking the top spot in daily box office earnings.
In the following two days, the film's daily earnings remained stable at $16.6 million and $13.1 million, respectively, accumulating $48.2 million over the first weekend in North America and securing the top spot on the box office charts.
Simultaneously, "National Treasure" also opened in over forty international markets including the UK, France, Germany, and Latin America, with an opening week international box office of $52 million.
Unless something unexpected happens, the film is on track to reach $200 million in North America and $400 million globally.
After the first weekend's box office results were published, Matthew Horner discussed the film and film selection with Helen Herman, recognizing that "National Treasure," while mediocre even by his own standards, was faring better than his previous film "The Scorpion King."
Interestingly, this type of film was very popular with audiences, indicating its box office success.
Helen Herman's view was straightforward: it's better to choose average projects than to risk innovative ones.
Having spent several years in Hollywood, Matthew Horner understood that for Hollywood studios and stars looking to climb the ladder, the most formulaic movies are often considered the best.
Not just commercial entertainment films but also award-season movies adhere to established Hollywood patterns. Films like "A Beautiful Mind" and "The Devil Wears Prada" were tailored for the Oscars by production companies using these patterns.
Hollywood studios prioritize scripts that follow these formulas, and an innovative or anti-formula script is likely to be ignored 99% of the time.
Stars and agents often judge scripts based on the first few pages and the ending. If a script doesn't fit the typical Hollywood three-act structure, rising stars like him are likely to pass.
With the vast number of movies produced globally each year across various genres, only a few make a lasting mark. For most films, simply being entertaining enough for audiences to pay for is considered a success.
Take "National Treasure," for instance. As a treasure-hunting adventure film, does it offer innovation? No. This genre has been repeatedly explored, with audiences well-acquainted with it since the "Indiana Jones" trilogy in the 198
0s.
Is the plot ingeniously designed? Even with Matthew Horner as the lead, it can only be described as standard, following traditional tropes with no jaw-dropping twists at the end, and overall just satisfactory.
Such an utterly "ordinary" film still managed to make North American and international audiences willing to pay, with a global opening week box office easily surpassing $100 million, demonstrating that Hollywood's commercial entertainment model is far from outdated.
It's well-known that creating a successful commercial entertainment film doesn't require constant innovation. If it meets the standard expectations, the film is likely to achieve commercial success.
"Entertainment Weekly" analyzed the so-called secrets to the success of "National Treasure" in its new issue.
"Firstly, having stars like Matthew Horner as a draw is undeniably appealing to fans, and his charm in the film is as captivating as ever."
"Secondly, the pacing of the film is well-managed, alternating tension and release to keep the audience engaged until the end."
"Thirdly, while not flawless, the plot has no major faults that break immersion, and elements like the Declaration of Independence and the Knights Templar treasure are well-known enough to spark interest."
"Fourthly, the story is straightforward and simple. The film lacks complex subplots and intricate storylines, making it easy for both adults and children to follow."
Such analyses were plentiful in the media, illustrating that "National Treasure" is a film with many strengths and few weaknesses.
Like most commercially successful Hollywood films, "National Treasure" lacks revolutionary innovation but also avoids significant mistakes. It follows a tried-and-true formula but is executed well enough to make audiences willing to pay.
Ultimately, moviegoers heading to theaters before Thanksgiving are just looking for some fun.
Regardless of critical backlash, "National Treasure" has achieved commercial success, and Matthew Horner, as the lead, has further enhanced his marketability and the aura of success surrounding him—an allure that is incredibly attractive to Hollywood producers who believe that those who are successful will continue to be successful.
The following week, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching and "National Treasure" epitomizing the typical Disney family-friendly film, the box office trend remained exceptionally stable. Boosted by the holiday, it garnered an additional $45.5 million from Thursday to Sunday.
Including the earnings from the preceding three workdays, "National Treasure" smoothly surpassed the $100 million mark in North America, reaching $110.3 million.
Due to its family-friendly style and lack of sensitive content, the film appeared in even more international markets this week, expanding to over eighty countries and regions. As films that perform well in North America typically do similarly overseas, "National Treasure" took in an additional $53 million internationally this week.
After two weeks of release, this seemingly ordinary film had accumulated a global box office of $200 million.
As the definitive male lead, Matthew Horner weathered criticism from professional critics but continued his rapid ascent.
As a star who primarily follows a commercial path, his involvement in widely distributed films significantly aids his career.
Following the success of his recent films, not only did Hollywood producers place him on their "green list" for priority collaboration, but several high-profile luxury brands also approached him for endorsement deals.
Choosing brand endorsements is no simpler than selecting film roles. Brands must choose suitable stars, and stars must choose suitable brands.
Especially in Hollywood, where style directly relates to cachet and substantial commercial income.
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