‘Birth of a Nation’ Bombs at the Box Office

In January, filmmaker Nate Parker was predicted to take Hollywood by storm. His film, “The Birth of a Nation,” was a big success at the Sundance Film Festival, earning early awards talk. It was acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures for a hefty $17.5 million.

The film, focusing on rebellion leader Nat Turner, seemed like the perfect story to capitalize on growing racial tensions and concerns our country is facing now. Turner led a failed slave uprising in Virginia in 1831 that resulted in the deaths of between 50 to 60 white people, the highest number of casualties inflicted by a slave rebellion in the South. His story is the perfect fodder for an “Oscar bait” movie.

“There were incredibly high hopes placed on this movie.”

But then Parker’s personal history began overtaking the growing hype of his own movie. It was revealed in August that he had been accused of rape while in college. He was acquitted of the charges, but he switched universities and the alleged victim was given a settlement payment by the school. What didn’t help Parker’s case was the fact that the victim had committed suicide in 2012 due to depression, most likely stemming from the incident.

“The Birth of a Nation” quickly went from a heralded awards contender to controversial pariah, as protests over Parker’s past spread. In recent months, Parker has launched an apology tour with the hope of helping to salvage support for his film. But it didn’t work.

Opening in 2,100 theaters this weekend, “Nation” only managed to earn an estimated $7.1 million gross over the weekend. Predictions were hopeful that it would break $9.5 million, but it failed to do that.

“There were incredibly high hopes placed on this movie,” ComScore box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian told MarketWatch.

The movie holds a 79 percent fresh rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but its whimpering box office performance and stained reputation will likely keep it from fulfilling the Oscar potential many predicted at the start of the year.

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It seemed that nothing Parker did helped.

Not only did he face questions about past allegations head-on, but his cast did as well, all seeming to show a wall of support for the movie — which earned two standing ovations at last month’s Toronto Film Festival. “I think it [‘Birth of a Nation’] has healing qualities for our country. I think there’s a conversation that needs to be had,” Parker told Yahoo Movies.

In an interesting move, actress Gabrielle Union, who portrays a key character in “Nation,” wrote an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times in which she revealed she was a survivor of sexual assault and wrestled with her own feelings toward Parker’s questionable history.

After telling the story of her own rape, Union said the news of Parker put her “in a state of stomach-churning confusion.” She continued, “As important and groundbreaking as this film is, I cannot take these allegations lightly.”

Despite her admitted reservations about Parker’s innocence, Union revealed later that she was supporting the film. “I took the role because it dealt with sexual assault and sexual violence. It’s such a sensitive and deep and painful subject matter, that the movie’s going to be too painful for some people to support. And we respect that, and we understand wholeheartedly,” she told Yahoo Movies. She also emphasized that “the movement is bigger than Nate Parker.”

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Audiences didn’t seem to agree. The bad press and Parker’s defensive interviews likely spoiled any chance of the glowing promotion usually expected for a film festival darling dealing with issues of race. There were even altered movie posters put up around Los Angeles — replacing the film’s title with the word “rapist.”

On Thursday night, when “Birth of a Nation” was previewing at the Hollywood Arclight Theatre, a female activist group held a silent candlelight vigil honoring victims of rape and sexual assault.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences may be looking to laud a more diverse lineup of films — but “Birth of a Nation” will likely not be among them.