GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Steve Jobs Movie Slumps at Box Office

iFlop.

113 Comments

Steve Jobs may have been the man behind the world's biggest technology company, but the new film based on his life has proved less popular with the public. Danny Boyle's much-hyped Steve Jobs has opened to disappointing box office returns, and may no longer be the Oscar favourite that many predicted.

No Caption Provided

The film has only made $7.3 million in its opening weekend, Variety reports, well below the $19 million that had been predicted. Unlike some films that play badly in the US but ultimately go on to become box office successes overseas, the appeal of the dialogue-heavy film to an international market may be limited.

With a production budget of $30, and a similar figure spent on marketing, it is estimated that producers Universal will need to make at least $120 million to break even.

The advance word on the film made it a likely Oscar contender, with many citing Boyle, star Michael Fassbender, and writer Aaron Sorkin, as shoe-ins for nominations next year. However, the lack of box office success makes this less likely.

Nevertheless, Universal tried to sound an optimistic tone about the film's ongoing fortunes. Nick Carpou, the studio's domestic distribution chief, told Variety: "We are going to continue to support the film in the markets where it is showing strength and we’re going to continue to do it aggressively and proactively.

"The critics are there for it and the buzz in these markets is strong."

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 113 comments about this story
113 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Daveof89
Daveof89

1583

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Production budget of $30. No wonder nobody wants to see it... My dinner had a production budget of $30.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Glitchhawk
Glitchhawk

688

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I saw this movie and it was actually really good.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5abc14ca5e8cc
deactivated-5abc14ca5e8cc

881

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 79

User Lists: 0

At least Ashton Kutcher isn't in it. That makes this one better than the first by default.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for sirchick
sirchick

135

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By sirchick

It's not like Steve Jobs had the life of James Bond, why the hell would we go to the Cinema to see this, you would have to literally have no hobbies at all to find something like this film interesting.,... At most it would make for a documentary on normal TV. Stop trying to profit on his death.

2 • 
Avatar image for jeffreybernabe
jeffreybernabe

239

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

lol, just watch "PIrates of Silicon Valley"

2 • 
Avatar image for Flyin3lvl
Flyin3lvl

3173

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

this game mac exclusive

2 • 
Avatar image for CronoJKL
CronoJKL

29

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

Edited By CronoJKL

What's the movie called? Steve Job's Movie? Because I don't think that'd be a good title.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nomadie
nomadie

177

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Just stick to Games... It's bad enough already but when you put $30 over $30 million you can tell some people shouldn't do reviews in general.

3 • 
Avatar image for karenwen
karenwen

197

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By karenwen

"With a production budget of $30, and a similar figure spent on marketing"

Dan Auty outdid his previous errors in articles with this one for sure.

3 • 
Avatar image for grungeman91
grungeman91

617

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

After Ashton Kutcher's awful biopic about Jobs, I think people got scared away by Danny Boyle's version.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for VakarianGirl
VakarianGirl

479

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Seriously though - who the hell wants to go watch a biopic? Especially ANOTHER biopic about Steve frickin Jobs......jeeeesh.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for musthaveit
musthaveit

27

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

30 mill spent on production, 30 mill spent on marketing.

30+30=60

120 mill needed to break even?

3 • 
Avatar image for jecomans
jecomans

817

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@musthaveit: Yes. Cinemas and distributors like to keep a bit of the take from the box office.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Erebus
Erebus

1332

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

@musthaveit: Nono, read carefully. The movie cost $30 to make and another $30 spent on marketing.

$30 + $30 = $120,000,000

Math is fun.

2 • 
Avatar image for ltjohnnyrico
LTJohnnyRico

6075

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

@Erebus: $30 + $30 = $60 ... Not sure what kinda movie you can make for that !!

2 • 
Avatar image for CronoJKL
CronoJKL

29

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@ltjohnnyrico: There are millions of websites devoted to the types of movies you can make for $60.

2 • 
Avatar image for ltjohnnyrico
LTJohnnyRico

6075

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

@CronoJKL: I wouldnt have any idea what youre talking about ;)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for aiat_gamer
aiat_gamer

915

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

The amount of stupid in the comment section is gut wrenching. Most are under the assumption that movies based on a real characters can only be about praising them. Like somehow we cant have great movies based on so called "bad" people. Funny thing is that none of the people piling on the movie even know the movie is not a biopic at all, it does not even go into how Jobs and the new Apple came to be what they are now...

Ah well, I guess most of you are the ones who go and wait in line to the see the new Transformers movie , or have pre-ordered the new Star Wars movie without even knowing if it is going to be any good, we do live in a dumb world after all.

2 • 
Avatar image for TheLX
TheLX

40

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Eh, it's not like I ever cared

3 • 
Avatar image for illage2
illage2

713

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 2

Am I surprised? No. This flopped like the other Steve Jobs movie.

3 • 
Avatar image for tomservo51
tomservo51

698

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 26

User Lists: 0

Edited By tomservo51

I'm shocked. wait...no, I'm not.

4 • 
Avatar image for TheZeroPercent
TheZeroPercent

2585

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 43

User Lists: 2

--wanna see the best movies?
--take metacritic's metascore seriously
--you will notice the movies with the biggest inbox takes
--are usually some of the worst movies ever made(and vice-versa)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for chaosbrigade
chaosbrigade

891

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

I seriously can't give less shit about this movie or Steve Jobs.

5 • 
Avatar image for DrunkenPunk800
DrunkenPunk800

1824

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Yeah, because there was a different Jobs film only two years or so ago.

4 • 
Avatar image for illage2
illage2

713

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 2

@deadpen: I see the Facebook movie didn't make your list.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DrunkenPunk800
DrunkenPunk800

1824

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@deadpen: Pirates of Silicon Valley was awesome! That's the only one I need.

6 • 
Avatar image for Zloth2
Zloth2

1780

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

All the people that would enjoy it are still playing Witcher 3?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for illage2
illage2

713

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 2

@Zloth2: That's incorrect. Only Apple fans would watch this movie and Apple fans don't know how to play games.

2 • 
Avatar image for xXxKTTxXx
xXxKTTxXx

321

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

"With a production budget of $30..."
"The film has only made $7.3 million in its opening weekend..."

lol what are you talking about I'd say it did pretty well!!!! =P


*Checks the editor's name*
ohhhh that explains it xD I'm adding this to "Deadbolt", "Ragenrok" and many another stupid typos by Dan Auty. Never thought I'd say this but..... can we get Eddie back for movie news??? This is getting laughable I swear.....

2 • 
Avatar image for sapienecks
sapienecks

55

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

As predicted.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for vegasgamerdawg
VegasGamerDawg

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This guy is a liar, thief, con-artist, destroyer of the earth and and a-hole. What is it people like about him? He had shiny commercials and turned a whole bunch of people into sheep. What a great guy.

5 • 
Avatar image for ltjohnnyrico
LTJohnnyRico

6075

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

@vegasgamerdawg: You don't have to like the guy to like a film, I saw a great film on Adolf Hitler .. Was really interesting .. I do not and Will not ever like him !!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for aiat_gamer
aiat_gamer

915

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@vegasgamerdawg: So you are saying you can not have a good movie based on a "bad" character?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for coop36
coop36

2151

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

@vegasgamerdawg: Exactly. He was a driven businessman that could get things done but treated most people like garbage. Could compare him to Walt Disney in a way, but I actually admire what Walt accomplished.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for sargentpsgamer
sargentpsgamer

1191

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

They've already had like 3 major releases for Jobs, and a whole bunch of TV movies about it. The guy isn't friggin Bill Gates, and the hipsters don't care.

Thank goodness this one bombed, now we won't get a 4th one.... hopefully.

3 • 
Avatar image for Thanatos2k
Thanatos2k

17660

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

People are sick of Jobs worship. He was a terrible human being, not someone to idolize. He was also too stupid to treat the illness that caused his death. Hardly a genius.

10 •