After pulling in $18 million and landing in the top spot on its Christmas Day release—the largest Christmas Day opening in 14 years and second-biggest ever for that holiday —The Color Purple is struggling to stay afloat. After that blockbuster opening, the film reportedly struggled to garner $5 million in ticket sales in its second weekend, coming in 16th place for the week, with $59.3 million in sales, and little hope of recouping its $100 million price tag.
The record-breaking opening was likely buoyed by the strength of sistergroup viewings; Greeks, The Links, church women’s ministries and Black girl bookclubs flocked to see the remake of the Broadway musical in droves in December. The support of the film was on-point, thanks largely in part to Black women. Of course, the stellar cast, including Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Colman Domingo, with Oprah Winfrey on board as a producer, didn’t hurt.
But did the Black Girl Magic wear off? Depends on who you ask. And we asked. We heard everything from the Taraji-Oprah supposed beef, to folks being tired of Black trauma, to no one wanted a musical. Check out what some people had to say.
Traci Lynn Manigault – “Once the word got out that it was a musical many were no longer interested in going to see it.”
Kesha Washington – “People didn’t watch any of the promo so they didn’t know that it was an adaptation of the stage play. The first batch of these people complained so much. This made people not want to see it. A similar thing happened with “Book of Clarance”. Great movie. People who hadn’t seen it said the movie was mocking God. So people didn’t go see it.”
Janice Jackson – “While I loved it, I don’t feel it was better than the original movie. Also, so many have seen the movie AND the play so there is no newness to it. Also, so many other non remake movies to see.”
JoAnn Hardnett “While I enjoy musicals, I think it has a lot to do with Taraji coming out and saying they didn’t want to pay her according to her worth. Once that came out, it went downhill after that. People love Taraji and can relate to jobs not wanting to pay you what you are worth.”
Lina Samuel – “I loved it, but I heard a lot of people hating that it was a musical and wish they knew before they went. Those who found out beforehand didn’t go from what I’ve heard. People didn’t understand that it was a remake/movie adaptation of the Broadway musical. I loved it and I love musicals, but even for me, it really was a lot of singing.”
Lareeta P Robinson – “Too much promotion from Oprah. She was everywhere.”
Lynn Marie Davis – “Because if it’s not an action movie. Also we (some) don’t support our people like we suppose to. Period the end.”
Tracy Nicole Stokes – “Our culture these days relies on social media reviews and takes that as truth.”
LaDawna Miller – “I loved the musical, however there was one musical selection that was in the original that should have stayed in the remake, especially with all of the tremendous singers. The song “God is trying to tell you something”. That entire scene walking from the juke joint and the band coming into that church and the reconciliation with the father… that should have stayed and expanded. The singers in this musical production are unparalleled Tamela, Fantasia, Danielle, Taraji and even Ciara come on we would have been shouting in the theater. But, I do believe that Taraji and her complaints about various aspects of the movie should have been expressed later. She has hurt herself for future acting gigs. Because no one will take a chance on her with all of her complaints. I am not saying she was right or wrong but her timing was not good.”
Celia Anderson – “So many people were talking about it and reviewing it—you didn’t really have to see it to know what it was about. Too many spoilers.”
Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts – “Timing. Christmas is not a good time for the audience it was trying to reach. Results would have been totally different, I think, with a spring release. I know they were trying to qualify for awards season but they could have waited a year.”
Landis Lain – “The story is so traumatic. I did go see it to support, but whew. Child rape, incest, substance abuse, domestic assault. It is a lot.”
Gracette Gi-Gi Spencer – “It was great!! People kept saying it was a musical which deterred people from seeing it. And most have gotten used to streaming at home. If you have a large family the cost is massive now to attend a movie.”
Victoria Gray – “Should have focused on staggering organizations to do “red carpet” events instead of the sneak previews and opening day on Christmas. They had so many sneak previews by the time Christmas came it was a wrap.”
Stephanie Bullock Ferguson – “People take social media as the gospel. People made negative comments about it being a musical & it went viral. Also, sadly, many in our community are not fans of Broadway so a Broadway adaptation did not have the appeal to a large base.”
Thedrial Morris Jackson – “If we don’t support our own, why do we expect others to? We should support all things Black. I thought it was good entertainment and A rated actors all on point. I saw it twice. We must continue to support our very own at the least.”
Juanita Davis – “Because OUR folks was out bashing it and instead of having a mind of your own you listen and decide not to see it for yourself. We are the ONLY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DO THIS!”
Eddgra Fallin – “I didn’t read the book before seeing the move and I was depressed for days after seeing the first Color Purple. The physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and degradation of Black Women was too much. Going to see it again would be a trigger for me.”
Michelle Lynn Sumrall – “I am troubled by the issues swirling around TCP. I have loved all things Alice Walker and TCP from the original book release. We should all read more; that is one thing that would have made this musical resonate. It was not a sad musical for me; rather, one of empowerment for the women in the story, and of redemption for the men (which, by the way, was lacking in the first adaptation). I am also of the mind that we must support all things (well, almost all) Black, or our chances or opportunities in the future will be limited. Lastly, people tend to blame Oprah for issues that occur that she, herself, doesn’t have anything to do with and may not be aware of. I take from Taraji’s expressions that there are industry and studio woes, neither of which are solely or dominantly Oprah.”
Juan Gaddis – “As beloved as Oprah is to some people, there are a lot of folk who don’t like or support her. She was front and center in the press junkets which I think worked against the team — I personally got tired of seeing her and wondered why she didn’t sit down somewhere. If you remember, her last Christmas release — Beloved — flopped miserably.”
Anthalone S Kirt – “Leave classics alone. Stop trying to remake them.”
Adrienne Denise Pinchback – “It is limited to a select audience. The women who remember the movie. Take that select group and cut it in half for those who don’t enjoy musicals. It’s also not a “date” movie. Anyone under 40 probably won’t see it at all, add on to that they aren’t going to see a musical. It should have released straight to streaming platforms.”
Tammy Joyner – “I think the decision not to promote it as a musical backfired as most people thought it was going to be an adaptation of the book and not the Broadway musical.”
Dee B Odom – “I think some people are just negative and in todays climate that’s what travels. People don’t realize that if they don’t want to participate or see something…. They can do it without saying it. Couple that with the fact that people don’t read/comprehend/listen. So they went thinking it was a remake of a movie not the Broadway production.”
Kenneth Royce Barrett – “For reasons I don’t understand, it seems that biopics about Black folks inflicting trauma on one another and themselves (especially celebrities) are more popular with us than fictionalized stories about everyday people touching on the same subjects.”
Stacey McCrary – “It’s disappointing that ‘we’ did not embrace this movie. It was wonderful and I cried at TCP for the first time. It’s expected when ‘others’ don’t embrace the triumph of Black women. It’s extremely disappointing when we don’t do it for ourselves. If ‘we’ don’t embrace our ‘musicals’, who will?”
