Jeff Bridges Cautions Against Judging Films by Opening Weekend Grosses

In a recent interview, veteran actor Jeff Bridges cautioned against the growing trend of judging a film's quality based solely on its opening weekend box office performance. Reflecting on his own experience with the 1980 film "Heaven's Gate," which was initially panned but has since gained critical acclaim, Bridges explained that movies often "grow on you" and that his own initial reactions can change dramatically over time.

"It's interesting, though, how movies are received at opening weekend," Bridges said. "I remember 'Heaven's Gate' was considered, you know, very disappointing or a flop, but nowadays it's considered kind of a masterpiece." He went on to note that even as an individual, his opinion of a film can flip in a matter of weeks or months, saying, "Even as an individual, often, I have not liked a movie. And then a couple weeks or months later, I'll see it again. I'll say, 'What was I thinking?'"

Bridges' comments come as the $180 million budgeted sci-fi sequel "Tron: Ares" underperformed on its domestic debut, grossing $33.5 million against projections of $45-50 million. However, the actor cautioned against writing off the film's prospects, emphasizing that a movie's initial reception does not necessarily reflect its long-term impact or quality.