By Kenneth Atisele
Final weekend numbers show the FIFA-financed movie, nited Passions, opening to a miserable $918 at the U.S. box office.
The Writer/director, Frederic Auburtin’s film was poor in its limited debut in 10 theaters.
Initial numbers reported by The Hollywood Reporter showed the film earning $607 on Friday and Saturday June 7/8, updated numbers show the figure to be $634. United Passions earned another $284 on Sunday, according to those with access to figures.
United Passions also debuted on VOD, but rental and sales figures were not immediately available.
The timing of United Passions‘ debut in the U.S. couldn’t have been more ironic, coming just days after FIFA president, Sepp Blatter was finally forced to resign in the wake of the indictment of 14 soccer officials on corruption charges.
Tim Roth plays Blatter in the historical drama while Sam Neill portrays Blatter’s predecessor, Joao Havelange. Only Gerard Depardieu, who plays FIFA founder, Jules Rimet and helped put the film together, showed up for the film’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.
The movie’s budget is estimated at between $25 million to $32 million, with FIFA said to have put up about three-quarters of the money. The movie turns out to be the best and at same time the worst soccer movie ever made.
