Actor Jeff Bridges has criticized the rush to deem movies box office failures based solely on their opening weekend performance. In a recent interview, he referenced his own experience with the 1980 film 'Heaven’s Gate' and the recent underperformance of 'Tron: Ares' as examples of how perceptions can change over time. Bridges emphasized that films can 'grow on you' with repeated viewings.
Bridges' Perspective on Box Office Metrics
Jeff Bridges shared his views in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, responding to the increasing focus on opening weekend grosses in determining a film's success. He called it 'interesting' how quickly movies are labeled flops, using 'Tron: Ares' as a contemporary example. The sci-fi sequel, with an $180 million budget, opened to $33.5 million domestically on October 10, 2025, falling short of projections between $45 million and $50 million. Globally, it has since earned $123.4 million.
Drawing from Personal Experience
Bridges drew parallels to his 1980 Western 'Heaven’s Gate,' directed by Michael Cimino, which was initially a critical and commercial disaster. The film grossed just $3.5 million against a $44 million budget after a limited release and subsequent wide debut with a shortened 149-minute runtime from its original 291 minutes. Despite early backlash that led to its quick withdrawal from theaters, 'Heaven’s Gate' is now regarded as a masterpiece, highlighting how time can shift opinions.
'Things can grow on you,' Bridges noted, adding that even personal reactions to films can evolve. 'Even as an individual, often, I have not liked a movie,' he said. 'And then a couple weeks or months later, I’ll see it again. I’ll say, ‘What was I thinking?’ As the Dude would say, ‘That’s just like your opinion, man.''
This commentary comes amid broader industry discussions on box office expectations, where initial numbers often overshadow long-term performance or cultural impact.