The film “The Apprentice,” a dramatization of former President Donald Trump’s early business career, had a lackluster debut, grossing just over $1.5 million during its opening weekend. The film premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival but faced difficulties securing a distributor, coupled with legal threats from Trump’s team, according to multiple reports.
Starring Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as his mentor Roy Cohn, “The Apprentice” managed to earn approximately $1.6 million from Friday to Sunday, placing it around 10th at the box office. Its opening in 1,740 theaters was notably smaller compared to most major films, which typically launch in over 3,500 theaters.
The film also features Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, Trump’s first wife, and is directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi. The screenplay was penned by Gabriel Sherman, known for his biography of Fox News founder Roger Ailes.
After most Hollywood studios opted not to distribute the film, Briarcliff Entertainment stepped in. Industry estimates had initially predicted a debut gross of between $1 million and $3 million.
In contrast, “Terrifier 3” led the box office with an impressive $18.2 million from 1,988 theaters, followed by “The Wild Robot,” which grossed $13.45 million, and “Joker: Folie à Deux” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Understanding the Controversy
“The Apprentice” chronicles Trump’s ascent as a real estate mogul, promising to explore the darker aspects of the American empire. The film was first announced in 2018 but only premiered at Cannes this year, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation. Notably, the film depicts controversial scenes, including Trump undergoing liposuction surgery and alleged sexual assault of his ex-wife, Ivana Trump.
In a 1989 divorce deposition, Ivana claimed that Trump had raped her; however, she later clarified that she felt “violated” but did not want her words to be interpreted literally. Trump’s team has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that he never raped Ivana. Following its Cannes premiere, Trump’s legal team threatened litigation, condemning the film as “pure fiction” that sensationalizes long-debunked lies. Reports indicate that the film’s distribution faced challenges as studios, including Sony and Netflix, were concerned it might alienate audiences on both sides of the political spectrum.
Critical Reception
As of Sunday afternoon, “The Apprentice” holds an average critic rating of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences rating it slightly higher at 85%.
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