In fairness to Shia, it was only shown in one cinema.
It’s an occupational hazard in the movie industry that the vast majority of actors and actresses will appear in a turkey or two throughout their career, or at least star in something that fails to appeal to a mass audience.
Having been in blockbusters such as the Transformers series and Man Standing in Lift, Shia LaBeouf knows a thing or two about mass audiences and, as such, may be a little disappointed at the turnout for his new movie, Man Down, in the UK at the weekend.
Clip via Movieclip Trailers
According to ComScore, Man Down grossed just £7 in the UK over the weekend, the equivalent of a single ticket, leaving it in the shade compared to offerings such as Ghost in the Shell (£2,300,753) and Free Fire (£480,644).
In Man Down’s defence, it was only shown in one cinema in Lancashire and was hardly going to be raking it in as a result, but we seem to remember a movie known as The Passion of St. Tibulus that was only shown in one cinema and attracted people from Gdansk to go and see it.
The reviews for the post-apocalyptic war drama, which also stars Gary Oldman and Kate Mara, would suggest that the crowds might have been right to stay away; 15% on Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t exactly scream Oscar winner in-waiting.