Pride & Prejudice has seen a mᴀssive resurgence with this weekend’s re-release. Inspired by Jane Austen’s classic book, the movie was directed by Joe Wright and originally released in 2005. It was led by Keira Knightley (Lizzy Bennet), Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Darcy), Judi Dench (Lady Catherine), Donald Sutherland (Mr. Bennet), and other major stars. After its debut, the film earned four Oscar nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and even managed to win Most Promising Newcomer for Joe Wright at the BAFTAs. It also earned a successful run at the box office, earning over $120 million with a $28 million budget.
According to a report by The Numbers, the 20th anniversary celebration was mᴀssively successful, as the movie earned $2.7 million this weekend. That nearly matches the $2.8 million total that it opened with in 2005. While inflation still indicates a significant difference, as the $2.8 million total would be approximately $4.5 million today, it is still a significant accomplishment for a 20-year-old movie.
What Pride & Prejudice’s Box Office Accomplishment Means
This Movie Still Has A Strong Legacy
If the initial box office success was not enough to prove that audiences adored Wright’s Pride & Prejudice movie, then this re-release should be perfect evidence. The movie debuted at the #8 spot in this weekend’s box office, which is a brilliant accomplishment for a film that was released in 2005. That comes despite facing stiff compeтιтion from A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, and King of Kings. It even managed to earn more than Snow White, which is in its fifth week at the box office and did not even manage to break the $2 million threshold this weekend.
Prior to this movie, Pride and Prejudice was originally adapted into a one-season 1995 show.
The box office success is likely driven by fond memories of the film and the lack of a compelling romance in theaters at the moment. Wright’s Pride still receives incredible reviews, as ScreenRant‘s Rachel Labonte recently referred to it as “a perfect movie“ with “gorgeous, dreamy visuals“. The acting, cinematography, and setting all work together to bring Austen’s classic story to life, and it has not lost its charm in the 20 years since its initial release. That successful translation of Austen’s work has likely been the driving force behind its current box office accomplishment.
Our Take On Pride & Prejudice’s Success
The Film Remains A Classic Hit
Pride & Prejudice was successful when it first released, but finding success in the modern cinematic landscape is far more difficult. With audiences having the option to stream movies, rather than paying more to see films in theaters, many releases have been ignored by viewers during their theatrical runs. This movie is still available on Netflix, which only makes its successful re-release even more impressive. Audiences came to see this movie as an event, and that alone is proof that Wright and the cast certainly did right by Austen’s beloved book.
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Source: The Numbers
