No; the answer to the question at the top of this page is no. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has grossed over $1 billion in box office numbers, so a boycott from a men's rights activists group most likely did not cost Disney and Lucasfilm $4.2 million. That doesn't mean the activists website Return Of Kings won't stop from making these claims, though.
You can check out more buzzing news coverage from Music Times right here!
According to a Twitter poll conducted by the men's rights website, the fact that a woman starred in a leading role in the film cost the movie millions of dollars. The alleged loss as reported by the website is due to its own reporting on the film (via AV Club).
Did online reporting of the social justice nature of the new Star Wars movie affect your decision to see the film?
— Return Of Kings (@ReturnOfKings) December 23, 2015
This time it's a $4.2 million loss. Next time it will be $10 million. Within 5 years, movie studios will beg for our endorsements. — Return Of Kings (@ReturnOfKings) December 31, 2015
Meanwhile, Forbes clearly disagrees with the Twitter poll, and even badmouths the validity of using the social media platform for such a survey. The American business magazine and publication goes on to dissect just how big of a hit $4.2 million means to the film - spoiler: not a lot.
"Domestically, $4.2 million amounts to less than one percent of total box office (.006) and half that internationally (.003) which isn't even enough to make Disney chuckle in derision, let alone care," the article states. "It's an odd thing to brag about, though not half so odd as boycotting a movie simply because it features women and people of color in prominent roles."
So, it sounds like even if the activists' website is correct, it doesn't matter. So, good job, but also sorry...?
This isn't the first time that this website and men's rights activists have had a problem with a major blockbuster film having female leads. Director George Miller's critically acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road received the same treatment when it hit theaters in the early summer of 2015.
