Reagan Movie Has Solid Opening

Over the Labor Day weekend, Dennis Quaid’s new film Reagan made quite a splash at the box office, exceeding expectations with an impressive $9 million opening. Originally projected to pull in $5 million, the film nearly doubled those numbers, finishing third behind heavy hitters Deadpool & Wolverine and Alien.

But the success story doesn’t stop there—the film also scored an A CinemaScore and a whopping 98% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, despite receiving a much lower 18% from critics. This 80-point gap is now the largest disparity between critics and audiences in Hollywood history, surpassing the previous record held by The Boondock Saints.

Released by Showbiz Direct on 2,750 screens, Reagan managed to hold its own in a competitive market over the holiday weekend. Kevin Mitchell, president of Showbiz Direct, expressed optimism about the film’s continued success, especially in regions like the South and Midwest. With $7.4 million earned from Friday through Sunday, and projections bringing the cumulative total to $9.2 million by Labor Day Monday, the film’s strong debut is a promising start.

Reagan takes audiences on a journey through the life of the 40th President of the United States, from his humble beginnings to his time in Hollywood, and ultimately to his role on the world stage during the Cold War. Directed by Sean McNamara, the film features Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan, alongside an impressive cast that includes Jon Voight, Penelope Ann Miller, Mena Suvari, Kevin Dillon, and David Henrie.

The film’s success is particularly noteworthy given the challenges it faced during production. Originally slated for a 2023 release, Reagan encountered delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an actors’ strike, which pushed back filming by seven months.

Despite these hurdles, the film has resonated with audiences, perhaps due in part to its timely themes and Quaid’s portrayal of Reagan as a leader who valued dialogue and maintained relationships across political divides.

Quaid, who has faced his own controversies during the film’s production, revealed that there were attempts to “cancel” him and that social media giant Facebook had initially censored promotion of the film, citing concerns that it could “sway an election.” Facebook later attributed this to a mistake in its automated systems.

While Reagan is not an overtly political film, Quaid highlighted its relevance today, noting Reagan’s ability to foster dialogue with political adversaries, such as his relationship with Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. This theme of finding common ground, despite differing opinions, is one that Quaid believes is desperately needed in today’s divisive political climate.

At the film’s red carpet premiere, Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing echoed this sentiment, describing Reagan as a unifying figure who won 49 states in his reelection—a feat that underscores his broad appeal. Boreing also commented on the modern-day challenges of censorship, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, and urged for optimism in the face of these obstacles.