"Crash" Producer's Magic Turns "Illusionist" Into Gold
Thanks to Bob Yari's crafty marketing, the self-released indie pic has transformed from a middling Sundance selection to a profit-turning surprise success.
The industry analysts over at The Hollywood Reporter examine the "Illusionist" miracle - or, how after distribution deals fell through after Sundance, the Edward Norton-Paul Giamatti period piece managed to turn a 51-theater opening weekend into a platform expansion that has earned over $23 million to date.

Ed Norton and Jessica Biel make $23 million worth of magic in "The Illusionist"
THR gives a detailed account of Yari's various strategies to distribute the Neil Burger through his own Yari Film Group once an offer from Universal Pictures fell apart, including trailer-swapping with Focus Features' "Scoop," launching a large-scale promotional campaign with marketing materials, and, significantly, making sure to release the pic (albeit on a very limited scale) months before Buena Vista's rival 20th century magician flick, "The Prestige," hit theaters (the Christian Bale-Hugh Jackman flick is slated for October 20).
Click here for the full article from The Hollywood Reporter.
The industry analysts over at The Hollywood Reporter examine the "Illusionist" miracle - or, how after distribution deals fell through after Sundance, the Edward Norton-Paul Giamatti period piece managed to turn a 51-theater opening weekend into a platform expansion that has earned over $23 million to date.

Ed Norton and Jessica Biel make $23 million worth of magic in "The Illusionist"
THR gives a detailed account of Yari's various strategies to distribute the Neil Burger through his own Yari Film Group once an offer from Universal Pictures fell apart, including trailer-swapping with Focus Features' "Scoop," launching a large-scale promotional campaign with marketing materials, and, significantly, making sure to release the pic (albeit on a very limited scale) months before Buena Vista's rival 20th century magician flick, "The Prestige," hit theaters (the Christian Bale-Hugh Jackman flick is slated for October 20).
Click here for the full article from The Hollywood Reporter.
Related Items
| Celeb: | Edward Norton |
| Neil Burger | |
| Hugh Jackman | |
| Jessica Biel | |
| Paul Giamatti | |
| Bob Yari | |
| Christian Bale | |
| Movie: | Scoop |
| The Prestige | |
| The Illusionist | |
| Crash |
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on Sep 18 2006 09:12 PM It's already made $23 million? Wow, and I was just wondering to myself the other day about when it was coming out... (Reply to this) |
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on Sep 19 2006 05:57 AM [b]Best of the year...[/b] The Illusionist deserves everything it gets. Great movie. (Reply to this) |
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on Sep 19 2006 07:48 AM It's a so, so film. But the crowd I saw it with was quite pleased. I was eager to see it, and had a pleasant enough viewing. I was surprised by how conventional it seemed. I still think it needed a script that was more raw and willing to take risks with its characters. Nevertheless, except for the handling of a few scenes that I felt were a bit uninspired, I can't complain too much. Giamatti did an excellent job, and probably deserves a supporting actor nom. (Reply to this) |
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on Sep 19 2006 11:08 AM I thought it was very good, one of the years best films so far. (Reply to this) |
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on Sep 19 2006 08:47 PM id give it a 7. 5 out of 10, Norton's probably one of my top 3 favourite actors, but his british accent was a bit off to say the least, jessica biel was great in it however. Same with Giamatti. (Reply to this) |
![]() on Sep 19 2006 11:04 PM Sucked balls. (Reply to this) |
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