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Actor Tom Cruise is known for his utmost dedication to the cinematic experience. In 2022, he ‘saved cinema’ by releasing the air-force action filmTop Gun: Maverick, which earned more than a billion at the box office and is credited with bringing back audiences to theaters. He has supported good cinema since the beginning of his career.
Even before he revived the exhibition industry after the pandemic withTop Gun: Maverick, Cruise reportedly helped out budding filmmakers he saw potential in. His endorsement for 1998’sLock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrelsreportedly saved the producers from retiring before they even started and launched the careers of Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie.
Tom Cruise Helped Start A Bidding War For Jason Statham’s Feature Debut
Guy Ritchie is known for his crime comedy films such asSnatch, The Gentlemen, Revolver,and more. The filmmaker has a signature style of comedy that made him one of the frontrunners of a British new wave along with filmmakers like Matthew Vaughn and Edgar Wright. He also helped launch actors likeJason Stathamand Vinnie Jones.
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However, the filmmaker’s debut feature filmLock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrelsreportedly got into trouble when nobody was ready to release it. Vaugh, who co-produced the film, was reportedly considering an early retirement even before his career started as they feared they would face intense losses due to the lack of interest.
As a Hail Mary, Vaughn said toBBC Radio 4,the makers approachedTom Cruiseto attend the screening of the film to which he agreed. His attendance reportedly helped the makers secure a release and it ended up becoming a launch pad for Ritchie, Statham, and Vaughn.
It was hysterical. You had all these mid-level executives sitting there, and Cruise walked in. He saw them all sit up and pay attention, all getting on their phones, and suddenly all these senior executives joined the screening. At the end, Tom got up in front of everyone and said ‘This is the best movie I’ve seen in years, you guys would be fools not to buy it.’
The film was reportedly released by Summit Entertainment internationally and by Gramercy Pictures in the United States. It ended up grossing over $28 million at the box office, against a $1.35 million budget (viaThe Numbers).
Matthew Vaughn’sKick-AssPresentation At Comic Con Also Led To A Bidding War
FilmmakerMatthew Vaughnhas been behind many of the best crime and action comedies of the past few years. Making his feature film directorial debut with the Daniel Craig starrerLayer Cake, he went on to make the fantasy adventure filmStardustbefore taking on theKick-Assadaptation.
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Starring Nicolas Cage, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Chloë Grace Moretz along with an ensemble cast, the film was reportedly developed simultaneously with the comic created by Mark Millar. Similar toLock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Vaughn reportedly could not get any distributors until he made a presentation at that year’s Comic-Con (via BBC Radio 4).
We came on after Avatar. So, Avatar had a big presentation and then we came out. And the place went crazy. Bam! Bidding war, the next day. I mean, it blew the roof off.
The film ended up earning over $96 million against a $30 million budget and even received a sequel, which Vaughn did not direct (viaBox Office Mojo).
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrelsis available to rent on Apple TV.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
