I wonder if you could find out why the movie “Impossible” hasn’t come to the Imperial Valley? It’s the story of the family that goes on vacation in a tropical area and the area is hit with a tsunami. I’ve been waiting for it to come here for some time and apparently it was shown in select theaters only. Will it ever come here? — Just Wondering, Imperial
Rather than just tell you, “No, it probably will not play here,” we wanted to tell you why.
It just so happens that the owner of the theaters in Imperial also owns numerous theaters and drive-ins around the state. He is well-versed in negotiating for movies from the movie companies and distributors.
Bobby Gran, in charge of operations for Cal-Gran Theatres LLC, which owns The Movies in Imperial and the Motor-Vu Twin Drive-In Theatres, said “Impossible” is a unique situation, even by the usual “limited release” movie standards.
It was rolled out in limited release to some 400 theaters in the United States more than six weeks ago, and has only increased to 782 theaters as of this past weekend.
He said none of his theaters in California have been able to secure it, and that fact that Cinemark at the mall, which has a large presence, hasn’t either says something.
The film has grossed a little over $13 million in the U.S. over that time; not much really.
In the usual situation, Gran said, a movie in smaller release would start to open incrementally wider, using the profits from the smaller release to print more copies of the film.
He said “Impossible” has been content with next to no growth, and he thinks that is because it isn’t doing well in the U.S.
There may be another reason, though. Earlier this month a Los Angeles Times movie writer reported on “The Impossible” as a new kind of hit.
Made by well-known and well-regarded Spanish filmmaker, Juan Antonio Bayona, “The Impossible” has been a runaway hit in Europe, grossing more than $80 million worldwide by early January.
The story is about a Spanish family impacted by the 2004 tsunami. And while the event captivated the world at the time, the movie has too — everywhere but here.
High-profile British actors Naomi Watts (who is nominated for an Oscar for the movie) and Ewan McGregor still haven’t been enough to bring in American audiences.
But, according to the Times article, that isn’t really a concern because of the global success. Which goes in line with what Gran was saying, in that the movie company seems unconcerned with doing any more than what they have done already.
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