Long tail. It's going to make money forever. Unlike traditional movies, where there isn't a ton of repeat views, many of the same people are going to go re-watch it every week. Like religious devotions to the free market. That $15 million will prove to be the wisest investment ever.
I haven't seen the movie, so I can't say whether it's good or not. The book is terrific and is known as the 2nd most influential book in history, behind the Bible. What I can see is that they didn't advertise the movie like you see other movies advertised. The hype was generated entirely through the actors and director making a few appearances on talk shows. It opened on less than 300 screens nationwide, when most other movies open on at least twice that many. I'm thinking Minstrel is right. It's going to make a ton of money on DVD and end up quite profitable.
I guess I'll have to read this. Reading criticism of it (from Krugman), I had to laugh: I can't count how many times I read and re-read LOTR as a bookish 11- through 14-year old. I read Asimov, Orwell, Churchill and a host of others, but never got around to Ayn Rand. My emotionally stunted, socially crippled age was high school, not adulthood.
I remember reading Atlas Shrugged when I was around 14. Really, really bad move. Man was I a selfish prick for about the following six months or so, and I was embarrassingly smug about it. I do think Rand is worth reading. Some really interesting ideas. But it's a lot like the Bible and religions in general. It can very easily take the worst tendencies and vulnerabilities of a kid and multiply them. I'm kind of hoping my own sons take up both Ayn Rand and scripture when they are 18 or 19 and can see them in a broader context. I definitely think books like The Lord of the Flies and The Chocolate War should come first. That's my hope, anyway. Things don't always work out as planned....
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/4935704-421/gold-from-ayns-vault.html I'm not a fan of seeing movies of books I've read because I have a view in my mind of the settings, characters, etc. and movies always seem to disappoint. The wife wants to see it, however, so we'll probably go this weekend.
