There was a time that any film associated with writer/director/producer Judd Apatow meant instant box office success. The first two films directed by Apatow were big comedy hits: In 2005 The 40 Year Old Virgin made $109.4 million at the U.S. box office. In 2007, Knocked Up improved on that, taking home $148.8 million. Films written by Apatow, like 2008’s You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Pineapple Express and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, performed well at the box office with $100 million, $87.3 million, and $63.2 million takes respectively. Though Apatow’s last directorial effort — the dramedy Funny People, which starred Apatow favorite Seth Rogen — underperformed, it still cleared $50 million at the domestic box office. Even films that only starred Apatow’s usual stable of actors with no Apatow involvement performed well as long as they closely adhered to the Apatow-style comedy — raunchiness with a large bromance/family angle.
Compare that to 2011: four actors closely associated with Apatow — Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, and Jonah Hill — appeared in over a half dozen movies in 2011. All of the “Apatow-style” comedies or dramedies starring them underperformed — with only Bad Teacher (which starred Segel) breaking the $100 million mark at the domestic box office (albeit barely). All of the other films didn’t even make $40 million at the U.S. box office:
Paul $37.4 million (starring Rogen’s voice)
50/50 $35 million (starring and produced by Rogen)
Our Idiot Brother $24.8 million (starring Rudd)
The Sitter $24.1 million (starring and executive produced by Hill, still in theaters)
All box office figures for this article from Box Office Mojo, of course.
Coming in even further down the list is Your Highness ($21.6 million), which starred James Franco (who began his career on Apatow’s television show Freaks & Geeks, appeared in Knocked Up, and starred in Pineapple Express). When a movie featuring a half-naked Natalie Portman can’t even make $25 million at the box office you know you’re doing something wrong. Almost beating all of them — just barely — and underperforming also was The Change-Up ($37 million), starring Apatow’s wife and frequent star Leslie Mann. With the exception of 50/50 all of the above films got mostly negative reviews.
Be thankful that this was made on a small budget, Seth!
Apatow didn’t write or direct any films this year, but he produced one (Bridesmaids) that became the second highest grossing comedy of the year ($169.1 million). It didn’t feature any of Apatow’s regulars in starring roles. Even Zookeeper, which featured Apatow’s voice, performed better ($80.4 million) than most of his disciples’ films. Of course, Zookeeper cost a lot more to produce than a film like 50/50, but the point is made: Rogen, Rudd, Segal, and Hill comedies don’t make people run out to the theater like they did from 2005 to 2010. Ultimately four men that Vanity Fair labeled “Comedy’s New Legends” in April 2009 haven’t had legendary success at the box office in 2011 comedies.
In fact, those four actors did much better in films that weren’t Apatow-style comedies. Rogen’s highest grossing movies of the year were Kung Fu Panda 2 (which featured his voice) and his poorly executed Green Hornet. Segel won audiences over with The Muppets (which he starred in and co-wrote), which is still selling tickets, and of course is still enjoying the success of his television show How I Met Your Mother. And perhaps the biggest revelation is Jonah Hill, who has already been nominated for a number of awards for his supporting role in Moneyball. All of those films made more than $70 million at the box office. Rudd, unfortunately, only appeared in Our Idiot Brother, so the same can’t be said for him. Personally I can say that I enjoyed The Muppets and Moneyball far more than any of those comedies this year (click to check out my reviews!)
Seems like not many people are interested, Jonah.
Does this mean that audiences still want to see Rogen, Rudd, Segel, and Hill, but just not in Apatow-style comedies? 2012 not only brings us Apatow’s fourth directorial effort — This is Forty, starring Rudd, Mann, and Segel reprising their roles from Knocked Up — but also the Apatow-produced Wanderlust (starring Rudd) and The Five-Year Engagement (starring Segel). All four actors have a number of comedies coming out, too. At one time it seemed like the Apatow crew would be as reliable at the box office as his friend Adam Sandler has been, but 2011 cast that in doubt. Could it be that these four actors only attract massive box office success when they’re appearing in a comedy together, like in their biggest hit, Knocked Up?
We’ll find out what is in store for Judd Apatow and his crew in 2012, but we might have found out that 2011 is more of a transitional year for the gang. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on 2011 in comedy in the comments below!
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