Chapter 66: Box Office Hits

[The fun of "Angels and Demons" lies in its combination of thriller/mystery and detective stories. It provides a text game that interprets codes, presenting itself as a confirmation of pre-existing rational expectations and cultural interpretations, and a way of identifying and deciphering codes.]

[…Reasoning/detective stories often present a contest of wits between a dark and evil mind and a bright and rational mind. This contest not only exists in the narrative but is also directly presented in the character modeling: Patrick, the Pope's chamberlain, who is dressed in black priest clothes and fanatically defends his self-proclaimed truth under a certain paranoid belief, always casting a dark shadow in the dark interior of the Vatican or in the flickering firelight, and Robert Langdon, a semiotician dressed in a suit and tie, who is knowledgeable and rushes around in the Vatican and Rome to save lives.]

[…The film uses “symbols” as a dual code at the story level and the meaning level. It is a story full of symbols about the decoding of symbols. The first symbol of the film is the title Angel/Devil—a binary opposition full of religious connotations. It can be said that the text sets up suspense around the interpretation of the angel/devil code, laying out multiple time delays for the decoding of the TA code and the appearance of the answer.]

[…In short, as a prequel to one of the best-selling novels at present, The Da Vinci Code, this movie is qualified! ]

——George Smith of The New York Times This is a very representative film review of "Angels & Demons" in the next day's newspaper.

Most critics praised the film.

This is certainly due to the publicity provided by Wendy and Disney, but it is also related to Milo's performance.

A few months ago, he was one of the hottest news figures in the United States.

To put it in later words, he was the hottest super internet celebrity in the past few months.

Traffic is something that can be monetized.

Although with the silence of religious leaders in the media.

Nowadays, not many people are discussing whether Milo has received the gospel of the Lord.

The lower-class Americans, whose memories are like those of fish, have also lost that kind of enthusiasm.

But when the movie is released, there are still many people willing to go to the cinema.

Let's take a look at what this movie, which is said to be the prequel to the novel "The Avinci Code", is about.

This is reflected in the box office, with "Angels and Demons" having an amazing first weekend box office in North America.

It premiered in 3,000 cinemas and grossed 62 million in the first week.

This result is very impressive, and as time went by, the box office in the second week actually reached 67 million! Most movie fans praised the movie after watching it in the cinema.

Through word of mouth from these fans, many people went to the cinema.

Therefore, the second week's box office was higher than the first week.

This is a bit different from the box office trends of popular internet movies, which proves that the movie is indeed well made.

As a result, the total box office in North America was over 130 million, which basically covered the cost.

If this momentum continues, and thanks to the hot-selling "The Da Vinci Code" overseas, the overseas distribution rights of "Angels and Demons" will have been sold out early.

You will definitely make some money while recovering your investment.

Especially Disney, which was responsible for the distribution. They didn't spend much money but only put in the effort, but still got such a huge bargain.

After such box office data came out, Disney's attitude towards Milo completely changed.

Previously, Disney only saw him as the son of a tycoon who had to return a favor.

But now, the huge sales of "Angels and Demons" have made them see the benefits!

In particular, "Angels and Demons" has long been clearly stated to be a prequel to "The Da Vinci Code".

Isn't this a profitable IP series? Angels & Demons sold so well. Wouldn't The Da Vinci Code, which has a novel and a template, be even more popular? Although Disney still believes that the movie was shot by Wally.

But the ownership of the script belongs to Milo, and "The Da Vinci Code" also belongs to Milo.

Paladin Films and Wally, too, belong to Milo.

So after working with Milo on "Angels and Demons".

Disney, which still wants to continue working with Milo on "The Da Vinci Code", has increased its attention to him by several orders of magnitude.

So, in mid-January, Disney held a medium-sized celebration party at the InterContinental Hotel in Beverly Hills for the outstanding performance of "Angels & Demons".

1996.

January 14th.

The City of Angels is brightly lit at night, although it does not have the row upon row of skyscrapers like New York.

The lights on Beverly Hills still proclaim the prosperity of this city.

A medium-sized cocktail party is being held in the banquet hall of the InterContinental Hotel.

Disney is celebrating the huge success of its new movie, so although the event was medium-sized, there were still many big and small stars coming to support it.

As always, pairs of people left and reappeared from time to time.

The latest Hermès evening gown is in danger of falling apart.

What a pity.

"You are so stunning, Mrs. Cruise."

As Milo adjusted his clothes, he looked at the half-dressed woman with a satisfied look.

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"Don't call me Mrs. Cruise anymore! You can call me Nicole, you can call me Miss Kidman, why do you have to call me Mrs. Cruise! Milo, your bad taste is really frustrating!"

Nicole Kidman's voice has an indescribable allure.

Nicole put down the dressing mirror in her hand and casually put the straps of her evening dress back on.

Although the previous makeup has been wiped off, the beautiful face without makeup looks different.

Nicole Kidman, 26, is at the most beautiful time of her life.

And that enchanting figure that exudes the aura of a mature woman, it would definitely not be an exaggeration to describe her as a sexy stunner.

Nicole Kidman heard his nonsense and couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Hurry up. We've been gone for more than half an hour. I don't mind. But you're the absolute hero of the night. Everyone is here for you. If you disappear for too long, they'll get suspicious."

"You really don't mind? Tom is coming tonight."

Milo: "If he finds out that you and I disappeared at the same time, I wonder if he will think too much."

Nicole Kidman rolled her eyes at him again and quickly put on her makeup.

The story began half a month ago when the two met at the premiere of "Angels & Demons".

At that time, Milo was shocked by her beauty and decided to wield the hoe.

As long as you work hard with the hoe, you won't be afraid of not being able to dig down the corner.

What's more, Nicole Kidman is by no means an innocent little girl.

This Australian woman has a very clear purpose in everything she does.

Milo even suspected that the chance encounter between the two that night was an opportunity she deliberately created.

What's more, her relationship with Tom Cruise has already started to break down.

Tonight is a banquet invited by Disney, and Tom Cruise brought her to attend.

Milo caught her in when no one was paying attention.

So the scene just now happened.

(End of this chapter)