How a single box office bomb effectively ended a major Hollywood acting career
In short: The 2004 crime comedy The Whole Ten Yards was intended to capitalize on the success of its predecessor. Instead, it became a notorious commercial and critical failure. For star Matthew Perry, the film's disastrous reception served as a definitive turning point that abruptly halted his trajectory in the film industry.
Directed by Howard Deutch, The Whole Ten Yards reunited the cast of the 2000 hit The Whole Nine Yards, including Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry. The plot follows a retired hitman, Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski, and his former neighbor, the dentist Nicholas 'Oz' Oseransky, as they navigate a convoluted scheme involving the Hungarian mob, hidden fortunes, and personal vendettas. Despite the return of the original creative team and characters, the sequel failed to capture the spark of the first film.
The production faced significant hurdles, including delays from its initial October 2003 release date to April 2004 due to extensive reshoots. When it finally arrived in theaters, the results were dismal. The film grossed only $26.2 million worldwide against a $40 million budget, making it a significant box office bomb. Critics were equally harsh, with the film holding a mere 4% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 24 out of 100 on Metacritic. Audiences polled by CinemaScore were similarly unimpressed, awarding it an average grade of 'C'.
For Matthew Perry, the fallout was personal and professional. In his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he reflected on the film's failure as the precise moment Hollywood ceased offering him movie roles. The experience forced a pivot in his career, leading him to pursue more dramatic work. The contrast between the two films is stark: while the first installment was a commercial success, the sequel is remembered primarily as a cautionary tale of diminishing returns in franchise filmmaking.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Whole Ten Yards
- Also: Wikidata — The Whole Ten Yards · CC0
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