THB #223: Don't Overstate It, Darling

The Don’t Worry Darling opening is not a disaster, by any measure.

But the trade analysis of this film’s apparent $20 million - $22 million opening is about what you would expect had it been a $40 million opening.

Is it the soft bigotry of lowered expectations? Or is it just trolling for Oscar ads for a movie that shouldn't really be campaigned for anything but cinematography for the twice-nominated, not-yet-winning Matthew Libatique?

Hard to say. Deadline’s Anthony D'Alessandro seems to have made the film a personal cause, writing a dozen paragraphs of praise and rationalization. But he was not alone. The others followed suit, if a little less passionately.

It’s a HIT!!!!! (and don’t you dare say otherwise)

$20 million has been, for decades, the standard for a decent genre opening. Back when films were built over time, $20 million could be a starter for a hit that would do 3x or 4x opening.

In 2004, a movie opened to $21.4 million, grossed $59.5m domestically, did $43.9 million internat…