Hollywood Director 1992

Including the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and TV stations such as ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX, all successively published articles praising the film.

They called 'The Firm' the best drama of the year and the best legal film in the last decade, worthy of everyone's viewing.

Meanwhile, after the film's release, almost all the stars under CAA stood up to help promote it. Tom Hanks, Schwarzenegger, Spielberg, George Clooney, Madonna, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey Jr., Meryl Streep, Judy Foster, etc., were all top-tier celebrities.

Even Nicolas Cage, Keanu Reeves, Michelle Pfeiffer, and others had to publicly praise 'The Firm' a few times due to their contracts.

Variety magazine called the film 'universally acclaimed' after its release.

In its second week, 'The Firm' grossed $43.07 million, topping the weekly box office charts again. Its cumulative North American box office reached $75.81 million, and media predicted the film would gross over $160 million.

However, the media underestimated CAA's power.

To help 'The Firm' achieve higher box office numbers, CAA lobbied film companies such as Disney Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and Universal Pictures, successfully delaying the release of several major films, including 'Sniper' starring Harry Fordson, 'The Little Mermaid' produced by Warner Bros., and 'Hocus Pocus' produced by Disney.

At the same time, Paramount Pictures, the distributor of 'The Firm,' increased the film's publicity efforts. Not only were news media filled with numerous film promotion reports, but movie posters of the film were plastered all over the streets of America.

Paramount Pictures also learned from Link's marketing methods, creating many hot news topics after the release of 'The Firm.'

For example, that the male and female lead actors, Tom Cruise and Jeanne Tripplehorn, fell in love during filming, sparking a romance, and that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were experiencing a marital crisis.

Subsequently, Tom Cruise and others came out to clarify, saying that it was all a misunderstanding.

Also, a certain company came forward to accuse the film crew, claiming that the black market company involved in the film was similar to their company, affecting their company's reputation, and demanding a public apology from Tom Cruise.

Then, a lawyer came forward to say that the company was also suspected of economic crimes and filed a lawsuit in the local court.

The judicial department subsequently confirmed this.

And so on.

There were related film reports in the media every day, making it a lively affair.

In its third week, 'The Firm' grossed $30.46 million in North America, with a cumulative box office of $106 million. It was also the fastest film to break the $100 million mark this year after 'Jurassic Park,' even faster than 'The Blair Witch Project' by two days.

Variety predicted that the film's box office was expected to reach $200 million.

"Yeah!!"

Robert Downey Jr. waved his fist excitedly after hearing that 'The Firm' had surpassed $100 million at the box office.

"Not bad! Not bad!"

Richard Gere also smiled and nodded as he looked at the newspaper.

In recent years, only seven or eight films in North America each year have grossed over $100 million.

The Firm's box office exceeding $100 million meant it could enter the top ten in the annual box office charts.

Every year, more than two hundred films are released in North America, including many blockbusters, making it extremely difficult for a film to enter the top ten in box office.

From this point of view, the bet with Link had already been half-won.

"The Firm's box office has exceeded $100 million, should we have a party to celebrate?"

Dustin Hoffman asked.

"I agree!"

Kiefer Sutherland laughed.

Richard Gere waved his hand and said with a smile, "Don't be too happy too soon. Although 'The Firm's' box office has exceeded $100 million, we can't guarantee that we'll win against Link's new film yet. It's not too late to celebrate after we win."

"Haha, we will definitely win. Link's first three films were big hits mainly due to publicity and hype. Now that he's no longer using hype to promote his film, let alone breaking $100 million, his film may even have difficulty breaking even."

Robert Downey Jr. said.

"Yes, we can celebrate in advance, and then have a big celebration after we win the bet."

Dustin Hoffman said.

His proposal was supported by several people, and they called a group of friends to have a party in the villa to celebrate in advance the success of 'The Firm,' and also to celebrate in advance their victory over Link in the bet, making a lot of money from Link.

"Link, I heard that your bet with Tom Cruise is real? Losing means giving the other party $100 million?"

Quentin Tarantino called and asked.

"Yes."

After the news of the bet spread, many acquaintances called to inquire. The media said that the betting parties were him and Tom Cruise, and others also thought it was true. Rumors said that both parties took out $100 million each, or even $200 million to bet.

Link had to explain it again.

"You're betting against a group of people from CAA alone? Are you crazy?"

"It was their proposal, it's quite interesting, and I didn't object."

"Interesting? 'The Firm' currently has a box office of over $100 million, and it's estimated to have a box office of $200 million. Can your new film sell over $100 million? By the way, how is your new film doing?"

Last time during the screening, Quentin was busy with the production of 'Pulp Fiction' at the studio and didn't have time to come and watch the film.

"Not bad, it surpasses 99% of horror films in film history."

"Heh heh, I don't believe it. Although I haven't seen your new film, I think it's similar to your first three films. Your first three films were only able to be big hits because of hype. How can this film be a big hit without hype?"

"My films are big hits entirely because of quality. This film has even higher quality, so a box office of $100 million is no problem."

"A $100 million box office won't beat 'The Firm.' There are currently many rumors in the industry saying that you are about to go bankrupt and return to being the poor guy you used to be. Link, don't you think it's better to focus on making movies and picking up girls? Why did you get into gambling? If you go bankrupt, I will use you as an example in the future to warn my son not to gamble. Anyone who gets into gambling will become miserable, including the former genius director Link."

Quentin kept babbling on the phone, as if Link was destined to lose the bet and was destined to go bankrupt.

"Stop! Stop fantasizing. You don't even have a girlfriend, what are you talking about son? Even if you have a son, my experience will be the most inspiring story he's ever read, not a negative example."

Link interrupted Quentin's nagging and asked him how the production of 'Pulp Fiction' was going, and when it would be completed, so it could be released sooner.

After hanging up the phone, Link received calls from other people, complaining that he shouldn't have made the bet, encouraging him to persevere, learn from his mistakes, and that it didn't matter if he lost this time, he could earn it back by making a few more good movies.

Even Harvey Weinstein called, asking him with a chuckle if he wanted to film 'The Butterfly Effect' in advance. This film could make money and recoup the losses from the bet.

Link told him to rest assured, that a mere $70 million was nothing to him, and it didn't matter if he lost.

Harvey smacked his lips a few times, and complimented him sourly on how rich he was.

Michelle Pfeiffer also called, saying that Richard Gere, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, and others were having a party in the villa, celebrating the success of 'The Firm,' and also celebrating their upcoming victory in the bet.

Michelle Pfeiffer asked him if he would lose?

Link said it was possible, but it didn't matter, tens of millions were nothing to him.

After hanging up the phone, Link also began to feel a little anxious. He hadn't been before, but after being told by so many people that he would lose, he was unconsciously affected by the outside information.

According to the current situation, 'The Firm' is estimated to have a box office of $160 million.

And 'Final Destination' has a North American box office of about $100 million, with a box office subsidy of 2.3 times, about $230 million.

If CAA manipulates the box office of 'The Firm,' raising the box office data to over $200 million, 'Final Destination' may also lose.

In addition, after the release of 'Final Destination,' CAA controls the publicity channels, preventing the media from reporting on 'Final Destination' related news, which may lead to the box office compensation not being realized in the short term, and may also lead to a loss.