The core bodybuilding community is failing to support the critically acclaimed steroid documentary “Bigger Stronger Faster*” at the box office. Bodybuilders have the most to gain by the commercial success of a movie that presents the audience with factual information challenging uninformed beliefs about the alleged dangers of anabolic steroids; such a brilliant documentary has the potential to change attitudes regarding steroids in mainstream America. But if the bodybuilding community fails to support a movie that was, as producer Alex Buono says, “made for them” then it may represent the loss of an incredible opportunity to influence public opinion regarding anabolic steroids.
I have written about my concerns over the first two weeks performance of Bigger Stronger Faster.
The first weekend, it was ranked 45th in total box office receipts of $31.576 while showing in 6 theaters in Los Angeles and New York City, earning an average of $5,262 per theater.
The second weekend, it was ranked 34th in total box office receipts of $50,966 while showing in 19 theaters earning an average of $2,682 per theater. I am disappointed to see the average per theater dropped so much.
The total box office gross for Bigger Stronger Faster over the first two weekends was $96,418. Approximately 14,014 people have seen the steroid movie in the past two weeks.
The third weekend box office receipts show further weakening in performance with $42,770 in 26 theaters for an average of $1,645 per theater and a 17-day box office gross of approximately $163,000.
I have seen this masterful steroid documentary not once, but twice, and I’m not only disappointed but shocked that the movie has not been a smashing success among the core demographics of bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts. I thought this was a given; my only question was to what degree the success among the core would crossover into the mainstream. Now, I’m left to speculate why we are not turning out to support it and spread the word about it.
To the many hundreds of thousands of monthly MESO-Rx readers: where are you? There is still time to support this pro-truth steroid documentary.
To all my colleagues in the bodybuilding and fitness industry: I know you will all be in Houston en masse on July 4-5th for the 2008 IFBB Houston Pro show. The distributor of Bigger Stronger Faster has taken my advice and moved up the opening date in Houston for the movie to coincide with the Houston Pro Show and John Sherman Classic amateur bodybuilding show just for you!
You gotta support this film! Spread the word!
6/20/2008
Culver City, CA: Culver Plaza 6
Monterey, CA: Osio Plaza 6
San Francisco, CA: Opera Plaza Cinemas
Santa Monica, CA: Monica 4 Plex
Miami Beach, FL: South Beach 18
Northampton, MA: Pleasant Street
Chapel Hill, NC: Varsity Cinema Twin
Santa Fe, NM: De Vargas Center
Poughkeepsie, NY: Galleria Mall 16
Portland, OR: Fox Tower 10
Nashville, TN: Green Hills 16
San Antonio, TX: Santikos Bijou @ Crossroads 6
Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre
6/27/2008
Little Rock, AR: Market Street Cinema
Santa Cruz, CA: Nickelodeon Theatres
Frontenac, MO: Plaza Frontenac Cinema
Columbus, OH: Drexel Grandview
Dayton, OH: New Neon Movies
Eugene, OR: Bijou Art Cinema
Knoxville, TN: Downtown West Cinema 8
Salt Lake City, UT: Broadway Centre Cinemas
7/4/2008
Sacramento, CA: Crest Theatre
North Falmouth, MA: Nickelodeon Cinema 5
Charlotte, NC: Manor Theatre
Bend, OR: Pilot Butte 6 Theatres
Richmond, VA: Westhampton Cinema 2
7/11/2008
New Haven, CT: Criterion Cinemas 7
Kansas City, MO: Tivoli @ Manor Square
Houston, TX: Angelika Film Center
7/16/2008
Columbia, MO: Ragtag Cinema
Springfield, MO: Moxie Cinema
7/17/2008
Juneau, AK: Gold Town Nickelodeon
7/18/2008
Fort Collins, CO: Lyric Cinema Cafe 2
Bellingham, WA: Pickford Cinema
7/24/2008
Wilmington, NC: Cucalorus Film Foundation
7/25/2008
Tempe, AZ: Valley Art 1 Theatre
Omaha, NE: Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater
Tulsa, OK: Circle Theatre
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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