"Borat" -- Bomb or Da Bomb?

BoratWith its relentless PR campaign and endless stream of positive reviews, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" finally opens in theaters today. Despite the good buzz, the film's box office take will be on the watch list.

The movie was originally slated to open on about 2,000 screens, but was scaled back to 837 -- low tracking numbers being the cause. In comparison, "Santa Clause 3" and "Flushed Away" are opening wide on 3,707 and 3,458 screens, respectively. Put the two together and "Borat" has virtually no chance of opening in the top slot.

How far will it fall?

Two of the leading box office tracking websites, The-Numbers.com and BoxOfficeMojo.com, are predicting less-than-stellar receipts; The-Numbers.com has "Borat" opening in sixth place with just $5 million. BoxOfficeMojo.com predicts a slightly more positive opening; fourth place and $10.5 million. The budget for the film was just $17 million.

The news isn't all bad for Kazakhstan's least favorite son. Fandango.com surveyed thousands of moviegoers planning to see "Borat" and found that 96% are planning to see it this weekend. The site also reports that through yesterday at 3PM PT, 72% of ticket sales on the site were for "Borat."



Tags: borat, sasha baron cohen, SashaBaronCohen

Reader Comments

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16. #6 Leonard - just because people don't find Sacha's brand of humor amusing doesn't make them feeble- minded. If you like him so much, nothing is stopping you and your friends from seeing this movie repeatedly over the weekend, making up some of the loss for all the people who WON'T be seeing it. Poster #7 is correct -- a Jew making fun of Jews -- why isn't that at least as culpable as Mel Gibson's remarks?

Posted at 6:34PM on Nov 3rd 2006 by jennifer

17. Things that don't exist in the real world:
The so-called country of Kazakhstan and Intelligent discourse on TMZ.
God help me, but I love it here!

Posted at 6:39PM on Nov 3rd 2006 by No, you S.T.F.U!!!!

18.
If you don't get Borat then you probably don't get life.

Posted at 7:57PM on Nov 4th 2006 by Martin

19. jennifer post #16: As a Jew myself, I am not in the least bit offended by any of Cohen's antics, both past and present. What I was referring to is the fact that mainstream America are simply are too stupid to actually get it!

Posted at 8:34PM on Nov 3rd 2006 by Leonard

20. I'm glad to see that Hollywood is finally making a movie that gets the word out on the Jews! This is the first one since "The Passion of the Christ."

Posted at 7:57PM on Nov 3rd 2006 by The Jewish Problem

21. Hey post #19 "The Jewish Problem", you evidently are such a complete moron that you have absolutely no idea in the the validity of the comments contained in your post. Evidently, you have not seen this movie ["Borat"] or you would not have made such an Anti-Semitic remark. Dude, try to become more informed (providing that your are even literate), Sacha Cohen just happens to be a Jew you stupid f**k! I guess that they don't tell you that, as an apparent "skinhead" nitwit, and memeber of the American Nazi Party, or whatever. Let's all hope that the JDL decides to pay you a little visit in order to help you along with your education in this regard...

Posted at 8:34PM on Nov 3rd 2006 by Leonard

22. I predict a surprise smash - $20 million and a strong second to Santa.

Posted at 12:59AM on Nov 4th 2006 by ChrisInKC

23. #17. OMG Yes there is a Kazakhstan!!!

Posted at 1:07AM on Nov 4th 2006 by Diane

24. I can't wait to see the movie, the clips I've seen of him are very funny. I like the one skit when he says " My country complained about Anti-Semitism, so, we had to add some more." The Jews need to lighten up, it's comedy you tight asses. Anyway, I think it will be a very successful movie and there will be a sequel for sure.

Posted at 4:02AM on Nov 4th 2006 by Tito

25. In regards to the Ohio election coverage by Jon Stewart, and his Daily Show, the Midwest Midtacular, that Borat participated in: A major "wild card" in the Ohio election, notes Congresswoman Sherri Davis, is a downstate proposal backed by Ohio native Sara Jessica Parker that has controversially divided the rural county of Athens, a traditional Republican stronghold.

This issue bubbled to the forefront when, on a recent trip to Nelsonville, Ohio, to receive the key to the city of her hometown, Sarah Jessica Parker used a local yoga mat and returned home to New York City with a bad case of jock itch.

'Down south, in Athens County, issue ads have been blanketing the airwaves airing in support of a controversial county-wide proposal by actress Sarah Jessica Parker for stricter regulation of yoga mat cleanliness, which is Proposition 32 on the local ballot," says Davis. 'And this could have a major influence on voter turnout in that county and tip it into the Democratic column for the first time in decades.-"

'Now, Athens County generally votes Republican," says Congresswoman Davis, 'but as the seat of Ohio University, the county does have a very strong liberal Democratic minority. And so it is a possibility that Sarah Jessica Parker's highly publicized Yoga Mat Cleanliness Act (YMCA) could bring out the liberal Democrats in force, and tip that key county into the Democratic column for the first time in years."

Elsewhere in the nation, election-year controversy has been stirred by issue ads airing expressing the views of celebrities Michael J. Fox (stem cells) and even Boy George (seatbelt safety).

Posted at 9:41AM on Nov 4th 2006 by Joel Seigel

26. I tried to see Borat last night, but all showings at the Mann in Hollywood were sold out. - unlike Santa Clause.



Posted at 12:35PM on Nov 4th 2006 by Peggy Archer

27. The so-called country of Kazakhstan and Intelligent discourse on TMZ.

Um, Kazakhstan does exist.

Posted at 12:39PM on Nov 4th 2006 by Peggy Archer

28. I think you guys owe Borat an apology. He blew away both "Santa Clause 3" and "Flushed Away" last night. He took in almost twice what the others did, despite being shown on a fraction of the screens.

Posted at 1:43PM on Nov 4th 2006 by Timmmmaaayyyy

29. #24 Diane
Are you sure about that? My exgirlfrieds dad worked for the CIA back when Regan was President and he said that there's no such a place....

#29 Peggy Archer
Hey, one out of two ain't bad....


Posted at 2:33PM on Nov 4th 2006 by Visit Kazakhstan, have relations with farm Animal!

30. #31, Sorry your ex-girlfriends dad is TOTALLY WRONG. Look up Kazakhstan at least on Wikipedia.
It's also spelled Kazakstan. It's a Eurasian country.

Posted at 2:50PM on Nov 4th 2006 by Diane

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