Spike Lee comments boosts 'Django Unchained' to $14 million

When Spike Lee openly criticized the movie 'Django Unchained', directed by Quentin Tarantino, he probably didn't want you to go and see it.

Since he spoke out about how he was not impressed with the depiction of slavery in the movie, people have flocked to see it. The film is projected to gross $14 million on its first day, making it a top opening for a Christmas Day movie according to THR.

What the director didn't perhaps count on was a fierce debate about his comments, which blanketed virtually every film and news site. It was a hot topic, and lots of people weighed in on it. Controversy often sells at the box office, and this big debate has certainly fuelled intrigue about the movie.

Producers of the film must be delighted that Spike Lee has so transparently opposed it, giving it a big push in newspapers big and small, and opinion blogs. They should probably hire him to bash other films in their production line to boost box office receipts after this victory.

'Django Unchained' stars Jamie Foxx, Samuel L Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kerry Washington. It has received 5 Golden Globe nominations, and also features a controversial 110 n-words.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Jamie Foxx spoke about the use of n-words in the movie:

"As a kid growing up in the South, I got called the n-word all the time. When I was a kid, it was ‘n’ this and ‘n’ that.’ That’s the way it was. That’s the way it is. We say that word in the movie and people say, ‘Well, I had a problem with that word.' I want to shout, ‘You should have a problem with that word. You’re supposed to let it affect you. That’s why it’s in the movie.'"

'Django Unchained' is a rated R movie, and tells the story of a slave-turned-bounty hunter who sets out on a mission to rescue his wife from a plantation owner. The film features lots of classic over-the-top dialogue and some of Hollywood's finest actors. Have you seen it?

Iain Alexander

Founder - Film Industry Network

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