Italian
Why Warner Bros. is scaling back the release of Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror No. 2’
A grand celebration at AFI Fest
The longest-running film festival in Los Angeles, AFI Fest, is set to close its 38th edition on Sunday evening with the world premiere of Clint Eastwood’s Juror No. 2 at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. This event is set to be momentous, featuring stars like Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Zoey Deutch walking the red carpet, celebrating Eastwood’s 40th directorial endeavor. At 94 years old, this courtroom drama could potentially be Eastwood’s swan song.
A puzzling release strategy by Warner Bros.
Four days after the glamour of AFI Fest, Warner Bros. will be releasing Juror No. 2 in a surprisingly limited run. The studio plans to show the film in fewer than 50 theaters, with no immediate plans for a wider release. This limited distribution strategy raises eyebrows considering the filmmaker’s illustrious history, especially given his significant contributions to cinema over the past half-century.
Limited locations and theater counts
Although final location counts are not yet confirmed, one week out from its premiere, Juror No. 2 is currently scheduled to screen at only a handful of theaters: four locations across New York City, five in Los Angeles, and one in Chicago. In Canada, the film is set to open in a single theater in Toronto and 160 nationwide venues under the country’s leading exhibitor chain, Cineplex. Comparing this to other releases of the season like Anora and The Brutalist, which are set to unspool across thousands of screens, Eastwood’s latest seems to be receiving a notably muted rollout.
Warner Bros.’ unusual tactics
Interestingly, it appears Warner Bros. might not even report the box office grosses for Juror No. 2, a move unusual for a major studio. Earlier this year, a notable example saw Disney employ a similar strategy with Young Woman and the Sea, featuring Daisy Ridley. Despite its initial high testing, the film’s odd half-measure release strategy left many puzzled.
Unveiling these unconventional plans highlights Warner Bros.’ recalibration towards streaming-first strategies, and it seems Juror No. 2 initially followed that same path. Initially conceived as a streaming release, the film was reconsidered for theaters after positive internal screenings, albeit within the mid-$30 million budget range.
The Oscar race and internal perceptions
Despite the limited release serving as an awards-qualifying run, insiders suggest that Warner Bros. doesn’t perceive Juror No. 2 as a major Oscar contender. The film isn’t even featured on the studio’s “For Your Consideration (FYC) 2024” webpage. This isn’t entirely unexpected, given Eastwood’s sporadic success at the Oscars since American Sniper bagged six Academy Award nominations in 2015. Since then, his achievements have been limited to nominations for Sully (sound editing, 2017) and Kathy Bates in Richard Jewell (supporting actress, 2020).
The commercial appeal paradox
Strangely, the subdued release of Juror No. 2 underestimates Eastwood’s enduring commercial appeal. Films like American Sniper dominated the box office, becoming the highest-grossing domestic release of 2014, and subsequent releases like Sully and The Mule each grossed over $100 million in North America.
However, the landscape of original adult dramas has evolved, especially post-pandemic, as studios now perceive these projects as riskier than they did five years ago. Warner Bros., a studio synonymous with Eastwood for over 50 years, appears to be reassessing its relationship with him following the underperformance of his 2021 Western drama, Cry Macho.
Rebuilding trust amid shifting strategies
Released amid lingering pandemic uncertainties and paired with a simultaneous streaming debut, Cry Macho grossed only $16.5 million globally against a $33 million production budget, causing some internal friction at Warner Bros. leadership. Yet, by April 2023, the studio greenlit Juror No. 2 under new leadership, seemingly mending fences with Eastwood.
An industry icon’s legacy in transition
As it stands, the decision to release Juror No. 2 in theaters at all appears partly a tribute to Eastwood’s immense contributions. Over decades, he has delivered substantial box office revenue and critical acclaim with iconic films like Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby. Despite the sentimental value of this limited release, questions linger about whether it truly captures the magnitude of Eastwood’s monumental career.
In today’s cinematic climate, this strategy represents the best of what Warner Bros. is willing to offer under the current circumstances. For film enthusiasts and Eastwood fans alike, these moments mark a reflective period on the changing dynamics within Hollywood and the legacies built therein.
Feel free to share this story on social media or follow us for more in-depth insights into the ever-evolving world of cinema!
