UPDATED: This is quite the shocker. I didn’t expect “Bros,” billed as an all gay comedy, to make more than 8 or $9 million at the box-office this weekend, but right now it’s set to make a little bit under $5 million.
Total receipts for Thursday and Friday came to just $1.84 million. With another $2.5 million coming on Saturday and Sunday, “Bros” stands to even make less than $5 million for its entire opening weekend.
“Bros” has a budget of around $20-25 million, with, it seems, much more put into publicity and marketing. Despite the great reviews, this means that the public had no interest in seeing not only a gay rom com, but one with graphic sex scenes.
EARLIER: I’ve already weighed in twice on “Bros.” At TIFF and again earlier this week. I wasn’t a fan of the rom-com tropes. It was basically the same blueprint as “Trainwreck,” but executed via a queer lens.
That’s all fine and dandy, but when the lead character is as annoying as Billy Eichner is here, then I just can’t fathom recommending this film. There will be plenty who like it, at least based on its 95% Rotten Tomatoes score (66 reviews) and 78 on Metacritic.
I hate to say it, but a Best Original Screenplay nod isn’t out of the question. The reviews are strong enough and, who are we kidding here, how many actual strongly-reviewed original scripts have popped up this year?
“Bros” is currently tracking at a $7-$12 million opening weekend, which is quite a vague estimate. The truth is that nobody really knows how many Americans will flock to see an R-rated gay-themed romcom. If the film goes double digits this weekend then you can consider it a semi-success as marketing has been fairly stagnant for the film.