Anti-Military 'Green Zone' Bombs at Box Office

March 15th, 2010 12:43 PM

It seems that Hollywood never learns its lesson. The anti-military "Green Zone" has now become but the latest of such movies to bomb bigtime at the box office. This report from a Los Angeles Times blog chronicles how "Green Zones" has joined a list of similar financial disasters such as "In the Valley of Elah," "Rendition," and "Redacted":

"Green Zone" is the last drama set to be released by a major studio related to the Iraq war, and Hollywood is undoubtedly grateful for it after the picture, directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Matt Damon, opened to just $14.5 million domestically and $9.7 million overseas.

It's the latest in a string of flops that include "Body of Lies," "The Kingdom" and "Stop-Loss." Even "The Hurt Locker," while not a major disappointment given its low budget, is the lowest- grossing best picture Oscar winner in recent history.

Apparently the producers saw this disaster approaching and tried to pass the flick off as a "Bourne" wannabee but apparently even that didn't work to save it:

Recognizing that worrisome history, Universal Pictures focused its marketing on Damon and Greengrass' popular collaboration on "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum," but was apparently unable to sell the movie based on its action elements.

Great move, Hollywood! Movie after movie produced with an anti-military or anti-American theme yet you still didn't learn your lesson about pushing a leftist agenda upon a public that wanted to be entertained, not lectured to. Well, count that as another hundred million flushed down the tubes:

Universal and its financing partner, Relativity Media, spent about $100 million to produce "Green Zone" and tens of millions more to market the picture, meaning it will be a major money loser.

Emphasis on "loser."