Here's a new edition of "Directors at the Box Office", which seeks to explore the directors' trajectory at the box office and analyze their hits and bombs. I already talked about a few, and as I promised, it's Martin Campbell's turn.
Campbell began his career as a director of softcore sex comedies and action television series in the 1970s. Slowly, he could gain the confidence to try higher budgets, but it was just a matter of time. How did he go from there?
From a box office perspective, how reliable was he to deliver a box office hit?
That's the point of this post. To analyze his career.
It should be noted that as he started his career in the 1970s, the domestic grosses here will be adjusted by inflation. The table with his highest grossing films, however, will be left in its unadjusted form, as the worldwide grosses are more difficult to adjust.
The Sex Thief (1973)
"He stole their jewels. All they reported was the robbery!"
His directorial debut. It stars David Warbeck, Diane Keen and Christopher Biggins, and follows an inspector and an insurance investigator who both have a major stake in revealing the identity of an audacious jewel thief.
There are no box office numbers available, but it wasn't well received by critics.
Three for All (1975)
"A musical "carry on"!"
His second film. It stars Adrienne Posta, Robert Lindsay, Paul Nicholas, Cheryl Hall, Richard Beckinsale, Graham Bonnet and John Le Mesurier, and follows a pop band and their girlfriends in Spain.
No more information after that. But it's not well received either.
Eskimo Nell (1975)
"Inspired by the bawdiest ballad ever written…"
His third film. The film stars Roy Kinnear and Christopher Timothy. After a seedy executive runs off with their funds, three filmmakers have to produce their picture in multiple versions to keep their backers happy.
Once again, very little information.
Intimate Games (1976)
"Together for the first time."
His fourth film. It stars George Baker, Anna Bergman and Ian Hendry, and follows a psychology teacher who assigns his university class a project about personal fantasies.
You know how it all goes.
Criminal Law (1988)
"A killer is back on the streets. The only one who can stop him is the lawyer who set him free."
His fifth film. It stars Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon. Ben, a successful attorney, gets his client Martin Thiel, acquitted of multiple murder charges. He then gets involved in a cat-and-mouse game, after Thiel asks him to defend him again.
This was his first project with a wide theatrical release. But it wasn't impressive; it was a critical and commercial dud.
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Budget: $5,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $9,974,446. ($26.5 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $9,974,446.
Defenseless (1991)
"Stalked by a madman. Framed by a killer. Terrified by the truth."
His sixth film. The film stars Barbara Hershey, Sam Shepard, Mary Beth Hurt and J. T. Walsh. The story follows a defense attorney who, after becoming romantically involved with her client, is drawn into a murder investigation when his ex-wife is found dead. As her personal and professional lives collide, she uncovers a web of lies and betrayal, forcing her to confront unsettling truths about both the case and her lover.
The film received mixed reviews, but it was a modest success at the box office.
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Budget: $1,500,000.
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Domestic gross: $6,413,375. ($14.8 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $6,413,375.
No Escape (1994)
"No guards. No walls."
His seventh film. Based on the novel The Penal Colony by Richard Herley, it stars Ray Liotta, Lance Henriksen, Stuart Wilson, Kevin Dillon, Michael Lerner and Ernie Hudson. In a dystopian future, a former Reconnaissance Marine serves life imprisonment on an island inhabited by savage and cannibalistic prisoners.
The film received mixed reviews, and it was another box office failure for Campbell. The man needed something to prove he deserved a spot in cinema. Well, someone's got a licence for…
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Budget: $20,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $15,339,030. ($32.5 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $22,439,030.
GoldenEye (1995)
"No limits. No fears. No substitutes."
His eighth film. The seventeenth film in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, it stars Pierce Brosnan in his first film as James Bond, alongside Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, and Joe Don Baker. In the film, Bond fights to prevent a rogue ex-MI6 agent from using a satellite weapon against London to cause a global financial meltdown.
Following the release of Licence to Kill in July 1989, plans were already underway for a third film starring Timothy Dalton. In August 1990, producer Albert R. Broccoli had parted company with screenwriter Richard Maibaum, who had worked on the scripts of all but three Bond films so far, and director John Glen, responsible for the previous five installments of the series. That same year, Broccoli met with potential directors, which included John Landis, Ted Kotcheff, Roger Spottiswoode, and John Byrum.
As writers were getting hired, the story featured James Bond on a mission in East Asia; Bond must investigate why an unknown entity caused a chemical plant in Scotland to inexplicably explode, as well as a threat ordering the British and Chinese to relinquish their authority over Hong Kong. Bond would be aided by an ex-CIA freelance thief named Connie Webb and a senior spy named Denholm Crisp, with the trail leading towards a corrupt technology magnate called Sir Henry Lee Ching. It also would have featured the Chinese Ministry of State Security.
Dalton said that the script was ready and "we were talking directors" before the project entered development hell caused by legal problems between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, parent company of the series' distributor United Artists, and Broccoli's Danjaq, owners of the Bond film rights. In 1990, MGM/UA was to be sold for $1.5 billion to Qintex, an Australian-American financial services company that had begun making television broadcast and entertainment purchases. When Qintex could not provide a $50 million letter of credit, the deal fell apart. Giancarlo Parretti, CEO of a company called Pathé Entertainment (unrelated to the French studio Pathé) quickly moved in to buy MGM/UA for $1.2 billion and merged the companies to create MGM-Pathé Communications. Parretti intended to sell off the distribution rights of the studio's catalogue so he could collect advance payments to finance the buyout. This included international broadcasting rights to the 007 library at cut-rate prices, leading Danjaq to sue, alleging the licensing violated the Bond distribution agreements the company made with United Artists in 1962, while denying Danjaq a share of the profits. Countersuits were filed. When asked what he would do following resolution of the lawsuits, Dalton told Broccoli that it was unlikely that he would continue in the role.
Parretti's behavior led to the bankruptcy of MGM-Pathé, and additional lawsuits eventually resulted in a foreclosure by financial backer Crédit Lyonnais in 1992. The Bond rights lawsuits were settled in December 1992, and the renamed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, now run by a Crédit Lyonnais subsidiary, began to explore further development of Bond 17 with Danjaq in 1993. Dalton was still Broccoli's choice to play Bond, but the star's original seven-year contract with Danjaq expired in 1993. Dalton has stated that the delay of his third film effectively ended the contract in 1990.
In 1993, MGM confirmed plans for the 17th film. With Broccoli's health deteriorating (he died seven months after the release of GoldenEye), his daughter Barbara Broccoli described him as taking "a bit of a back seat" in the film's production. Barbara and Michael G. Wilson took the lead roles in production while Albert Broccoli oversaw the production of GoldenEye as a consulting producer, credited as "presenter". Wilson wanted to frame the film in the post-Cold War era and the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, when there were concerns of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Broccoli contacted Dalton to ask again if he would come back and now found him open to the idea.
Dalton expressed excitement over taking the best elements of his previous two films and combining them as a basis for one final film. Broccoli stressed that, after the long gap without a film, Dalton could not come back and just do a single film but needed to return for multiple films. With the amount of delays, Dalton decided to quit the role. John Woo was approached as the director, and turned down the opportunity, but said he was honoured by the offer. Michael Caton-Jones and Peter Medak were also considered. The producers then chose Campbell as the director.
For Bond, Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant, and Liam Neeson passed on the role. Neeson said that he passed on the role as his then fiancée Natasha Richardson wouldn't marry him if he accepted the role. Broccoli and Campbell met with Ralph Fiennes about taking the part, but it didn't go anywhere. Paul McGann auditioned the role and was the studio's second choice.
But their first choice was Pierce Brosnan. And it wasn't the first time. Brosnan won the role back in the 80s for The Living Daylights, right as his show Remington Steele was cancelled by NBC. The announcement that he would be chosen to play James Bond caused a surge in interest in the series, which led to NBC exercising (less than three days prior to expiry) a 60-day option in Brosnan's contract to make a further season of the series. NBC's action caused drastic repercussions, as a result of which Broccoli withdrew the offer given to Brosnan, citing that he did not want the character associated with a contemporary television series. The edict from Broccoli was that "Remington Steele would not be James Bond."
The film had strong debuts across the world, breaking records for the franchise. It closed with $352 million worldwide, becoming the biggest film in the franchise. It received high praise from critics, who lauded it as one of the best films in the franchise. While it wasn't his first film, this finally launched Campbell's career as a blockbuster filmmaker. MGM had already greenlit a sequel, Tomorrow Never Dies, and while they wanted Campbell back, he declined to focus on a new film.
And because it's relevant, we might have to discuss the GoldenEye video game. It was released almost two years after the release of the film but shortly before the release of Tomorrow Never Dies. It faced low expectations from the gaming media during development. However, it received critical acclaim and sold over eight million copies, making it the third-best-selling Nintendo 64 game. It pioneered features such as atmospheric single-player missions, stealth elements, and multiplayer console deathmatch. The game is considered to be one of the most influential and greatest video games ever made, with many of its elements, such as the Klobb gun, leaving an enduring impression in video game culture.
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Budget: $60,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $106,429,941. ($219.8 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $352,194,034.
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
"When freedom is a memory and justice is outlawed, the just must become outlaws."
His ninth film. Based on the fictional character Zorro by Johnston McCulley, it stars Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Stuart Wilson. The film features the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega, escaping from prison to find his long-lost daughter and avenge the death of his wife at the hands of the corrupt governor Rafael Montero. He is aided by his successor, who is pursuing his own vendetta against the governor's right-hand man while falling in love with de la Vega's daughter.
In 1992, TriStar and Amblin partnered to adapt Zorro, with Steven Spielberg eyed to direct. Later, Mikael Salomon was attached as director, and Sean Connery was cast as Don Diego de la Vega, while Salomon stated that the rest of the major cast would be Hispanic or Latino. The first chosen for the role of Zorro in his young version was Andy García, a fashionable Latin actor at the time. The role of Zorro was offered to Tom Cruise, but he declined as he felt it wasn't a good idea. Colombian singer Shakira was also initially considered to play Elena but turned it down due to her limited acting experience (despite having co-starred in the Colombian TV series El Oasis) and her own poor English skills at the time.
By 1995, Solomon and Connery left the project. After the success of Desperado, Robert Rodriguez signed as director, and casting Antonio Banderas as Zorro. Amidst delays, Rodriguez pulled out of the film over difficulties coming to terms with TriStar on the budget. The studio projected a range of $35 million, while Rodriguez wanted $45 million. They both attempted to compromise when Rodriguez lowered it to $42 million, but the studio refused and set $41 million as their highest mark. After turning down Tomorrow Never Dies, Campbell signed as director.
Despite problems with the delays, the film was a success at the box office, earning $250 million worldwide. It also received positive reviews, and the role has become one of Banderas' most iconic characters. Campbell was showing he was a reliable filmmaker.
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Budget: $95,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $94,095,523. ($182 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $250,288,523.
Vertical Limit (2000)
"Hold your breath."
His tenth film. It stars Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney, and Scott Glenn, and follows a climber who must rescue his sister on the peak of K2, the second highest mountain in the world.
While the film earned mixed reviews, it was another major success at the box office, earning $215 million worldwide.
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Budget: $75,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $69,243,859. ($126.7 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $215,663,859.
Beyond Borders (2003)
"In a place she didn't belong, among people she never knew, she found a way to make a difference."
His 11th film. It stars Angelina Jolie, Clive Owen, Teri Polo and Kate Ashfield, and follows a married woman who comes across a renegade doctor and decides to aid him on his relief mission in war-torn Africa. The two set out on a journey of danger, adventures and love.
The film was a financial failure and was panned by critics, who felt using human suffering as a backdrop for a romance came across as sanctimonious and exploitative.
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Budget: $35,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $4,430,101. ($7.5 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $11,705,002.
The Legend of Zorro (2005)
"Adventure begins with a Z."
His 12th film. The sequel to The Mask of Zorro, it stars Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell, and Nick Chinlund. When he sets off on a lethal escapade, Zorro realizes that he is stuck between the promise he made to his wife and his responsibility towards the residents of California.
The film disappointed at the box office, and plans for a third film were scrapped. It also received negative reviews. An hilarious Rotten Tomatoes consensus: "Zorro can survive a lot of things, but it looks like he can't survive marriage." Campbell needed a hit soon, and luckily, he would return to a familiar territory.
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Budget: $65,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $46,464,023. ($75 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $142,400,065.
Casino Royale (2006)
"Everyone has a past. Every legend has a beginning."
His 13th film. The 21st film in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, it stars Daniel Craig in his first film as James Bond, alongside Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, and Jeffrey Wright. In the film, Bond is on a mission to bankrupt terrorism financier Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro.
This wasn't the first film to adapt the novel Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. It was previously adapted as a live episode in 1954, as well as a non-canon comedy film in 1967, but none were produced by Eon. Eon gained the rights to Casino Royale in 1999 after Sony Pictures Entertainment exchanged them for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's rights to Spider-Man. In 2004, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade began writing a screenplay for Pierce Brosnan as Bond, aiming to bring back the flavour of Ian Fleming's original Bond novels. An early draft featured Bond backpacking in Madagascar and playing chess with Lord Lucan.
As development continued, Quentin Tarantino expressed interest in directing the film, but Eon turned him down. He claims to have worked behind the scenes with the Fleming family, and believed this was the reason why filmmakers finally went ahead with Casino Royale. Tarantino also said he would have set it in the 1960s and would only have made it with Pierce Brosnan as Bond. In February 2004, Brosnan announced that he was done as Bond, and so plans were changed to set it as a reboot.
In February 2005, Campbell confirmed that he would direct the film, making him one of the few directors to helm two different Bond actors. Asked why he returned, he said he only agreed to direct as he had no other projects in development. At 63, he was the oldest person to direct a Bond film. Campbell felt Purvis and Wade's draft needed a rewrite, and suggested hiring Paul Haggis whose main contribution was to rewrite the climax of the film. Haggis explained, "the draft that was there was very faithful to the book and there was a confession, so in the original draft, the character confessed and killed herself. She then sent Bond to chase after the villains; Bond chased the villains into the house. I don't know why but I thought that Vesper had to be in the sinking house and Bond has to want to kill her and then try and save her." Haggis also said they wanted "to do for Bond what Batman Begins did for Batman." Broccoli and Wilson thought that "Die Another Day had become too fantastical", feeling the next film should be more realistic. Later that same year, Sony led a consortium that purchased MGM, allowing Sony to gain distribution rights starting with the film. Broccoli also felt that frivolity didn't feel appropriate after the 9/11 attacks.
When it came to find the new James Bond, producer Michael G. Wilson claimed over 200 names were being considered. Goran Višnjić auditioned for the role the same day as Daniel Craig, but was reportedly unable to master an English accent. Karl Urban was considered, but was unable to make the screen test due to filming commitments. According to Campbell, Henry Cavill was the only other actor in serious contention for the role, but at 22 years old, he was considered too young. Cavill would later say that he was turned down by Campbell as he considered him out of shape for the part. Sam Worthington and Dougray Scott were also considered. Sam Heughan and Matthew Rhys also auditioned. Other stars attached were David Tennant, Alex O'Loughlin, Julian McMahon, Ewan McGregor, Rupert Friend, and Antony Starr.
Wilson and Broccoli subsequently eyed Daniel Craig. Craig rejected the idea of starring, as he felt the series had descended into formula; only when he read the script did he become interested. Craig read all of Fleming's novels to prepare for the part, and cited Mossad and British Secret Service agents who served as advisers on the set of Munich as inspiring because, "Bond has just come out of the service and he's a killer. […] You can see it in their eyes, you know immediately: oh, hello, he's a killer. There's a look. These guys walk into a room and very subtly they check the perimeters for an exit. That's the sort of thing I wanted."
Craig's casting drew mixed reactions. Controversy followed the decision, with some critics and fans expressing doubt the producers had made the right choice. Throughout the entire production period, Internet campaigns such as "danielcraigisnotbond.com" expressed their dissatisfaction and threatened to boycott the film in protest. Craig, unlike previous actors, was not considered by the protesters to fit the tall, dark, handsome and charismatic image of Bond to which viewers had been accustomed. The Daily Mirror ran a front-page news story critical of Craig, with the headline, "The Name's Bland – James Bland". Craig was also asked to dye his hair brown for the role but he refused calling it "out of the question"; he instead suggested to cut his hair short for more a "brutal appearance".
When the film was released, it broke so many records. It had the biggest debut in the UK's history, eventually becoming the tenth highest grossing film ever in the country. In North America, the film debuted with $40 million, finishing second behind Happy Feet. It eventually closed with $167 million domestically and $616 million worldwide, becoming the highest grossing Bond film. It also received critical acclaim, widely considered as one of the franchise's best films, as well as one of the best action films of the century. This was Campbell's final film in the franchise.
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Budget: $150,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $167,445,960. ($261.8 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $616,577,552.
Edge of Darkness (2010)
"Few escape justice. None escape vengeance."
His 14th film. Based on the 1985 BBC series, it stars Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, and Bojana Novakovic, and follows a detective investigating the murder of his activist daughter, while uncovering political conspiracies and cover-ups in the process.
This marked Gibson's first leading role since Signs, and also right after he had an insane amount of controversies to his name. But the audience clearly weren't interested in him, given that the film was a box office flop. It also received mixed reviews.
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Budget: $80,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $43,313,890. ($62.6 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $81,126,522.
Green Lantern (2011)
"In brightest day. In darkest night."
His 15th film. Based on the DC Comics character, the film stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, and Tim Robbins. The film tells the story of Hal Jordan, a test pilot who is selected to become the first human member of an intergalactic police force called the Green Lantern Corps; he is given a ring that grants him superpowers and must confront Parallax, a being who threatens to upset the balance of power in the universe, while a new threat rises back on Earth.
Development on a Green Lantern film started back in the 90s. Kevin Smith was asked to write a script, but he felt he was not suitable for the task. Quentin Tarantino was also considered at one point. WB also considered the property as an action comedy; by 2004, Robert Smigel had completed a script which was set to star Jack Black in the lead role, but the studio dropped the comedy idea following poor fan reaction from the Internet. David S. Goyer was offered the chance to write and direct either a Green Lantern or Flash film after Warner Bros. was impressed with his screenplay for Batman Begins, but he opted to direct the latter.
Corey Reynolds, a comic book fan of the John Stewart character, pitched to Warner an idea for a trilogy, with him starring as John Stewart and performing screenwriting duties. Reynolds intended to introduce Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern Corps, and Justice League in possible sequels. He finished the script for Green Lantern: Birth of a Hero in June 2007, receiving positive feedback from Warner Bros. with a potential 2010 release date. However, the studio abandoned Reynolds' concept, and in October the same year, Greg Berlanti signed to direct the film and cowrite it with Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim. A draft of the trio's 2008 script, leaked on the Internet, revealed a story that included the hero's origin and included the characters Carol Ferris, Kilowog, Sinestro, and Guy Gardner in a cameo appearance, and appeared "to set up Hector Hammond as Hal Jordan's … first major nemesis."
In 2009, Berlanti left the project and was replaced by Campbell. Speaking about the experience in 2016, Berlanti confirmed that he was fired as both director and writer, stating that he had nothing to do with the finished product. Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds, Justin Timberlake, and Jared Leto were the producers' top choices for the starring role, before Reynolds was confirmed in 2010. WB and DC spent $200 million on the film, along with $100 million in marketing, planning to kickstart a DC Universe.
And those plans died on opening day.
The film debuted with just $53 million on its first weekend, which lagged behind other superhero movies that year. Subsequently, the film collapsed 66.1% on its second weekend, and 63.6% on its third. It finished with just $116 million domestically and $219 million worldwide, becoming one of the biggest bombs ever. It also received awful reviews, particularly for its acting, story and CGI. Plans for that so-planned DC Universe and sequel were scrapped.
In subsequent years, the film has become a punchline in comic book circles. Reynolds said that doing the film itself had been frustrating, "You really need a visionary behind a movie like that, but it was the classic studio story: 'We have a poster, but we don't have a script or know what we want; let's start shooting!'" Reynolds later said in 2021 that he watched the film for the first time in a decade, and decided that it wasn't actually as bad as he remembered.
There were also reports that Reynolds and Campbell clashed on set. Campbell has stated in interviews that his first and only choice for the lead was Bradley Cooper. However, the studio was not willing to make an offer to him and ultimately cast Reynolds behind Campbell's back. This led to an uncomfortable experience on set for Reynolds whose performance was constantly critiqued by Campbell who made him do many takes. Reynolds has stated in an interview with Variety that the film's failure was a huge relief as he had such an unpleasant experience and "dreaded doing it again." Campbell reflected that he should not have directed the film after all and admitted responsibility for the film "not working out". Comparing to how he saw all James Bond films before directing Casino Royale, Campbell acknowledged that superhero movies were never his "cup of tea".
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Budget: $200,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $116,601,172. ($163.4 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $219,535,492.
The Foreigner (2017)
"Never push a good man too far."
His 16th film. Based on the novel The Chinaman by Stephen Leather, it stars Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Michael McElhatton, Liu Tao, Charlie Murphy, Orla Brady, and Katie Leung. The film follows a London-based Chinese Nùng restauranteur and ex-soldier who seeks vengeance for the death of his daughter.
While the film had an underwhelming performance domestically, it was a hit overseas ($81 million in China), allowing it to earn $145 million worldwide. It also received a good response. It was a much needed hit for Campbell after two misfires.
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Budget: $35,000,000.
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Domestic gross: $34,393,507. ($44.2 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $145,418,070.
The Protégé (2021)
"Made for vengeance."
His 17th film. It stars Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Malahide, David Rintoul, Ori Pfeffer, Ray Fearon, Caroline Loncq, and Robert Patrick. The film is about Anna, who was rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody, and is now the world's most skilled contract killer. However, when Moody is brutally killed, she vows revenge for the man who taught her everything she knows.
The film was a critical and commercial failure.
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Budget: N/A.
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Domestic gross: $7,446,823. ($8.6 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $8,737,253.
Memory (2022)
"His mind is fading. His conscience is clear."
His 18th film. The film stars Liam Neeson, Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci, Taj Atwal, Ray Fearon, and Harold Torres, and follows a hitman with early dementia who must go on the run after declining a contract on a young girl.
Another critical and commercial dud. Quite forgettable, right?
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Budget: N/A.
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Domestic gross: $7,329,043. ($7.8 million adjusted)
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Worldwide gross: $13,240,559.
Other Projects
He has also worked on TV. He directed the 1985 miniseries Edge of Darkness, which he later adapted as a film. He has directed for other series, including one episode of Homicide: Life on the Street.
The Future
He has two films ready.
The first is Dirty Angels, which stars Eva Green, Ruby Rose, Maria Bakalova, Rona-Lee Shimon, Jonica T. Gibbs, Emily Bruni and Christopher Backus. During the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a group of female soldiers providing medical relief is sent back in to rescue a group of kidnapped boys and girls caught between ISIS and the Taliban.
The other is Cleaner, which stars Daisy Ridley, Clive Owen, and Taz Skylar. When activists take over an energy company’s annual gala held at the Shard in London, some more radical members of their group try to take the guests as hostages.
FILMS (FROM HIGHEST GROSSING TO LEAST GROSSING)
| No. | Movie | Year | Studio | Domestic Total | Overseas Total | Worldwide Total | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casino Royale | 2006 | Sony | $167,445,960 | $449,131,592 | $616,577,552 | $150M |
| 2 | GoldenEye | 1995 | MGM | $106,429,941 | $245,764,093 | $352,194,034 | $60M |
| 3 | The Mask of Zorro | 1998 | Sony | $94,095,523 | $156,193,000 | $250,288,523 | $95M |
| 4 | Green Lantern | 2011 | Warner Bros. | $116,601,172 | $102,934,320 | $219,535,492 | $200M |
| 5 | Vertical Limit | 2000 | Sony | $69,243,859 | $146,420,000 | $215,663,859 | $75M |
| 6 | The Foreigner | 2017 | STX | $34,393,507 | $111,024,563 | $145,418,070 | $35M |
| 7 | The Legend of Zorro | 2005 | Sony | $46,464,023 | $95,936,042 | $142,400,065 | $65M |
| 8 | Edge of Darkness | 2010 | Warner Bros. | $43,313,890 | $37,812,632 | $81,126,522 | $80M |
| 9 | No Escape | 1994 | TriStar | $15,339,030 | $7,100,000 | $22,439,030 | $20M |
| 10 | Memory | 2022 | Open Road | $7,329,043 | $5,911,516 | $13,240,559 | N/A |
| 11 | Beyond Borders | 2003 | Paramount | $4,430,101 | $7,274,901 | $11,705,002 | $35M |
| 12 | Criminal Law | 1988 | Hemdale | $9,974,446 | $0 | $9,974,446 | $5M |
| 13 | The Protégé | 2021 | Lionsgate | $7,446,823 | $1,290,430 | $8,737,253 | N/A |
| 14 | Defenseless | 1991 | New Line Cinema | $6,413,375 | $0 | $6,413,375 | $1.5M |
He made 18 films, but only 14 have reported box office numbers. Across those 14 films, he made $2,095,713,782 worldwide. That's $149,693,841 per film.
The Verdict
When Campbell was on top of his game, he could deliver quality action. Not all his films were home run, but he knew how to deliver action in those aspects, even if the rest of the film could pale in other aspects. Even the failure of Green Lantern is not on him, given the troubles it faced before, during and after its production. Just check his AMA, where he says that the worst fight was with the WB executives and that a sequel would only happen "over my dead body." Although his recent films have been quite forgettable.
In hindsight, it's crazy that Eon considered him for GoldenEye. His career up to that point was just box office duds and panned movies. Then he comes and delivers one of the best Bond films ever, launching his career (even though this wasn't his first movie). Even more surprising is when he agreed to come back for Casino Royale, launching another Bond. And then he delivers another fantastic installment in the franchise. You don't hit 2 home runs by accident, that requires so much skill and talent.
And for the curious, he has said that if Eon asks him to direct the next Bond film, he would absolutely accept it. If so, he would be the first director to helm three different Bond actors. And it looks like it could happen; The Telegraph reported that Eon is considering Campbell as a choice to direct the film, while also considering Edward Berger, Kelly Marcel, David Michôd, Bart Layton, and Yann Demange. Of course, nothing is set in stone.
So now the big question… GoldenEye or Casino Royale?
Hope you liked this edition. You can find this and more in the wiki for this section.
The next director will be J.J. Abrams. Is he as bad as people think he is? On this post, I'll have to give lengthy sections to the TV shows he created, just like I did for David Lynch in his post.
I asked you to choose who else should be in the run and the comment with the most upvotes would be chosen. Well, we'll later talk about… Michael Cimino. Perhaps the worst case of a blank check in film history. There were many cases, but none killed a big studio and a Hollywood era like him.
This is the schedule for the following four:
| Week | Director | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| October 14-20 | J.J. Abrams | We're so done with the mystery box, pal. |
| October 21-27 | Kenneth Branagh | How dost thou likest thine apples? |
| October 28-November 3 | Peter Weir | 3 films in a 26-year span is crazy. |
| November 4-10 | Michael Cimino | It's time for Heaven's Gate, the worst blank check ever. |
Who should be next after Cimino? That's up to you.
by SanderSo47