The film “The Apprentice,” which chronicles Donald Trump’s early career, has had a tough start at the box office. Despite some positive critical feedback, it only managed to earn about $1.6 million during its opening weekend across 1,740 theaters. This placed it at a disappointing tenth position in the weekend box office rankings.
The Apprentice’s Performance at the Box Office
Before its release, “The Apprentice” had been projected to make around $3 million in its opening weekend. However, with an average of just $908 per theater, it performed the worst among all new releases and was the lowest-grossing film in the top ten. The production of “The Apprentice” took over six years and had a budget of $16 million. The film’s struggles began even before its release; Briarcliff acquired the U.S. rights at the last minute and had only five weeks to promote it. This led to a Kickstarter campaign to help fund its marketing efforts.
In a twist, the film also faced legal challenges. Trump issued a cease-and-desist order to the production team, warning them not to pursue a distribution deal.
Critical Reception
Despite its lackluster box office performance, “The Apprentice” has received favorable reviews from critics. It holds a score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an impressive audience rating of 86%. Tom Ortenberg, the chief of Briarcliff and the man behind the Oscar-winning film “Spotlight,” believes that “The Apprentice” could gain traction over time, suggesting that its opening weekend doesn’t determine its overall success.
Trump’s Response
Following the film’s disappointing opening, Trump took to Truth Social to express his discontent, calling it a “FAKE and CLASSLESS movie” about him. He accused the filmmakers of strategically releasing it right before the elections to undermine his campaign. Trump labeled the film a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job,” and described it as a “pile of garbage” and “scum.”
Director’s Defense
In response to Trump’s harsh criticism, director Ali Abbasi defended his film in a recent interview. He pointed out that despite the opening weekend figures, the combined weekly ratings for “The Apprentice” were actually greater than the attendance at Trump’s rallies that week. Abbasi added humorously that he wished he could hire Trump for his marketing team, acknowledging the former president’s influence.
While “The Apprentice” faced significant challenges and controversy right from the start, its critical reception suggests that it might still find its audience. As the film continues to screen in theaters, it remains to be seen how it will perform in the weeks ahead. For now, it stands as a reminder of how complicated the intersection of politics and art can be.
