Bachelorette Hits It Big on iTunes
Friday, August 17, 2012 at 1:31PM 
Beau here again to congratulate writer/director Leslye Headland and crew... again. We'll know who wins this weekend's box office wars soon enough but Bachelorette which is still two weeks away from theaters has already struck gold. It recently became the first pre-theatrical release to hit number one on the iTunes Rental Store. It's fallen to #6 as of this writing but this is a remarkable achievement, not least of which is the fact that the rental price is a costly $10 (but, compared to a night out or a ticket price? hardly). Honestly, it couldn’t have happened to a better film.
Since my review of the film, I’ve watched the film again (twice!) and while some inconsistencies and editing snafus have arisen, I stand by my initial opinion that it is the best film to have been released in 2012 thus far. Its willingness to challenge is the key.
A film that tackles drug addiction, suicide attempts, abortion and vanity with such flagrant disregard for conventional standards is enough to make me stand up and cheer. And it doesn’t just skirt by these issues, like a tourist bus on safari pointing out the animals and then speeding away quickly. Bachelorette stops the bus, drags you off, and puts you in such close contact with these animals that your initial reservations about likeability (what a stupid fucking concept) dissolve, and you’re left with a surprisingly incisive look at a small niche that resembles a greater whole. Even my dad last night remarked, ‘I know all three of these women.’
For a 58-year-old dude in rural California to say that? Struck a chord. So congrats to Leslye and company. I can’t wait to see your success continue!
Have you ever paid for a rental of an unreleased film? Do you think these alternate distribution methods are the future?
Bachelorette, box office, release dates
Reader Comments (14)
I've rented pre-releases on itunes before, and they've usually been movies that when released in theaters have a very limited showing (i.e. All Good Things, Melancholia, Bachelorette--funny that they've all featured Kirsten Dunst). I like this because at least I dont have to wait a gazillion years to see it after it's been released in NY and LA, but I much rather prefer that they be released nationwide so i can actually see it in the theater.
Apparently, it made over $500K already, which is insanely impressive...maybe it will be a sleeper hit once it makes it to theaters.
Not that every film needs an Oscar (or is going for one), but how does this affect Oscar rules?
The law of the land is theatrical release first at least one week in both NY and LA. After they can do as they please.
John -- yes, from my understanding it's not eligible for Oscar consideration due to the availability on home video formats before its theatrical airing.
Ooh, this is related to his post and to the Goz post a while back. I've been degrading myself from the written word to just looking shit up on tumblr, and then I saw this picture and I already decided that I love this movie. http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8pxulGMsg1qfpy93o1_500.jpg
@ Nathaniel: so does that mean that Melancholia was not eligible for Oscar consideration last year, beacuse it was on itunes before its theatrical run
^ yeah I remember watching it on on-demand ... that kind of sucks, though I doubt it really changed its oscar chances
BVR -- i don't remember this? It was my understanding that Melancholia was released simultaneously on multiple formats? at any rate it didn't matter cuz Oscar never cares about von Trier or Dunst.
The movie was screened in Houston on Jan 26 at Sundance Cinemas. Does that count for Oscar consideration purposes? http://tiny.cc/j9v8iw
Melancholia was eligible because it had a short one week run in LA before it went VOD.
BB -- no. A film has to play a full one week regular theatrical engagement in Los Angeles to be eligible for Oscar consideration.
Actually Melancholia has a full one week theatrical release in L.A. on April before the VOD premiere in May, also the film was in the list of screeners by AMPAS members. The film was in consideration for the Oscars
Oh, didn't know that. thanks, guys