‘Fault in Our Stars’ breaks pre-sales romantic drama box office record
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“The Fault in Our Stars” has become the biggest pre-selling romantic drama in Fandango’s history, as the adaptation of John Green’s best-selling novel prepares to break millions of moviegoers’ hearts this weekend.
The online ticketer did not say how many moviegoers have reserved a spot in theaters, but the film is out-pacing “The Vow,” “Safe Haven” and “Dear John” at the same point in their lead-ups to release. “The Vow,” a 2012 romance with Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams was the previous record-holder and opened to $41.2 million.
There is one important caveat: This group of romantic titles does not include the “Twilight” films, which Fandango characterizes as fantasy romances.
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Critics may use harsher descriptors.
“The Fault in Our Stars” features rising stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort and is projected to debut to more than $30 million this weekend. This “Love Story” for Millennials centers on two teenagers who meet and fall in love in a support group for cancer patients.
In a non-scientific survey, Fandango polled more than 1,000 ticket-buyers and found that 81% read the novel, 95% have been looking forward to a big-screen love story and 80% are planning to see the film with a group of friends.
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Woodley, who starred in last spring’s “Divergent,” was cited as a motivating factor for buying a ticket by 64% of audience members.