Bros’ Billy Eichner reacts to ‘disappointing’ box office opening
“Straight people, especially in certain parts of the country, just didn’t show up for Bros” Billy Eichner says.
Bros, the first R-rated gay rom-com ever made by a major studio, has had a rather lacklustre first week at the box office in the US and co-writer and star Billy Eichner has shared his thoughts on the straight people that “just didn’t show up”.
In a Twitter thread posted Sunday (2 October), the 44-year-old actor shared his response to the “disappointing” box office turnout but, nevertheless, noted he is “VERY proud” of the movie and encourages anyone who isn’t “a homophobic weirdo” to go see the film.
Eichner shared online that he “snuck in and sat in the back of a sold-out theater playing Bros in LA.”
“The audience howled with laughter start to finish, burst into applause at the end, and some were wiping away tears as they walked out,” he continued. “It was truly magical.”
The film’s box office on opening weekend hit a rather disheartening $4.8 million gross from 3,350 locations, Variety reported; with a $22 million production budget, it’s looking like the film will struggle to break even let alone make a profit considering its debut numbers.
The film placed at number four this weekend, ahead of the film was Smile, Don’t Worry Darling, and The Woman King.
“We’re incredibly proud of the film, and I really believe there is going to be great word of mouth,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s president of domestic distribution, told The New York Times.
Eichner also revealed that certain cinema chains had attempted to ban the trailer for Bros because of the gay content but Universal stepped in and convinced them
“That’s just the world we live in, unfortunately,” Eichner added. “Even with glowing reviews, great Rotten Tomatoes scores, an A CinemaScore, etc., straight people, especially in certain parts of the country, just didn’t show up for Bros. And that’s disappointing but it is what it is.”
Bros follows the romantic relationship of Bobby (Eichner) and Aaron (Luke Macfarlane) as they navigate how to go forward with their relationship when interruptions keep knocking them off course.
The gay rom-com currently sits with a 91 percent Rotten Tomatoes critic score following its impressive reviews out of the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film has been banned from release in the Middle East due to its explicit LGBTQ+ content and Eichner calls for people to go see his film in cinemas, writing it is a“special and uniquely powerful to see this particular story on a big screen, esp for queer folks who don’t get this opportunity often.”
Speaking to Attitude back in May, Eichner shared his thoughts on the fact it’s taken so long to get a studio-produced gay rom-com: “I’m surprised but I’m not surprised because Hollywood has often been such a hypocritical and LGBTQ phobic place. But I’m happy that we’re here now.
“And it is a really big sign of progress that the same studio releasing Jurassic World and the Fast and the Furious movies and all these huge global franchises are releasing this very R-rated gay rom-com with as much enthusiasm and passion as they released those movies. That’s a really big step.”
Bros is out in the US now and in UK cinemas on 28 October.