The screenwriter behind “Bros,” Hollywood‘s first LGBTQ romantic comedy, is blaming “homophobic weirdos” for the film’s dismal opening weekend box office performance.
Billy Eichner, who co-starred in the film as well as co-wrote it with director Nicholas Stoller, lashed out as the movie pulled in a mere $4.8 million, leaving it in fourth place behind “Smile” ($22 million), “Don’t Worry Darling,” ($7.3 million) and “The Woman King” ($7 million). The disappointing ticket take couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the movie’s quality, he insisted.
“Last night I snuck in and sat in the back of a sold out theater playing BROS in LA,” he tweeted. “The audience howled with laughter start to finish, burst into applause at the end, and some were wiping away tears as they walked out. It was truly magical. Really. I am VERY proud of this movie.”
“Rolling Stone already has BROS on the list of the best comedies of the 21st century,” he said.
Then he posited his theory that his movie is struggling because heterosexual people don’t want to see it.
“Even with glowing reviews, great Rotten Tomatoes scores, an A CinemaScore etc, straight people, especially in certain parts of the country, just didn’t show up for Bros,” he wrote. “And that’s disappointing but it is what it is.”
Bros Review: A Degenerate Lust Story Mixed With Child Grooming https://t.co/z55AejTyX5
— The Bar Room Podcast 🇺🇲 🇲🇨 (@SocietyMovies) October 2, 2022
“Everyone who ISN’T a homophobic weirdo should go see BROS tonight” as “it *is* special and uniquely powerful to see this particular story on a big screen, esp for queer folks who don’t get this opportunity often,” he instructed.
Rolling Stone already has BROS on the list of the best comedies of the 21st century. What’s also true is that at one point a theater chain called Universal and said they were pulling the trailer because of the gay content. (Uni convinced them not to). America, fuck yeah, etc etc.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 2, 2022
Everyone who ISN’T a homophobic weirdo should go see BROS tonight! You will have a blast! And it *is* special and uniquely powerful to see this particular story on a big screen, esp for queer folks who don’t get this opportunity often. I love this movie so much. GO BROS!!! ❤️🌈
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 2, 2022
“I don’t think this kind of sales pitch is gonna work,” commentator David Reaboi noted.
I don’t think this kind of sales pitch is gonna work. https://t.co/q2Rg6vwxco
— David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense (@davereaboi) October 3, 2022
“’Support me or you’re a homophobe’ doesn’t have the marketing power it once used to thanks to overuse. That’s good to see. May this movie die a thousand deaths…,” Derek Hunter of Townhall responded.
"Support me or you're a homophobe" doesn't have the marketing power it once used to thanks to overuse. That's good to see. May this movie die a thousand deaths… https://t.co/a29vGsVU2t
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) October 3, 2022
Fitness guru Max Lugavere: “Bros completely tanked at the box office and you’re a homophobe if you didn’t go see it. Kay.”
Bros completely tanked at the box office and you’re a homophobe if you didn’t go see it. Kay https://t.co/R3A3WVatnG
— Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) October 3, 2022
Author Rod Dreher: “You are a BIGOT if you don’t go see my failed movie.”
“You are a BIGOT if you don’t go see my failed movie.” https://t.co/I91nutjmG5
— Rod Dreher (@roddreher) October 3, 2022