'The Omen' Does Big Business On Day Of The Beast
Fans of obscure box office records will be delighted to learn that yesterday's demonically timed opening of The Omen shattered the 6-6-06 release record held by 1906's Dream of a Rarebit Fiend, as well as Ali's far less coveted all-time Tuesday mark, with a cutely misreported $12,633,666 gross. Reports Box Office Mojo:
"I was so concerned about it being a Tuesday, but obviously our marketing got the message across," said Bruce Snyder, Fox's president of distribution. "I would have never guessed even $6 million. This was a rather unique circumstance, I think that we created a furor, and I do not expect to see another $12 million today [Wednesday]."
When asked about the Tuesday gross ending in "666," Snyder joked, "I didn't notice that. It's a sign from above." Then, he copped to the fact that it wasn't Satan manipulating the numbers. "We were having a little fun," he said.
Snyder later apologized to anyone who misinterpreted the studio's somewhat cynical use of Satanic imagery, even promising to set aside some of The Omen's record-breaking Tuesday gross to compensate any fans who mistook Fox's "Drink Your Newborn Baby's Blood For Two Tickets" giveaway for anything other than a lighthearted promotional gimmick.