The day of My Bodyguard premiere came on July 11th. Inside the small, yet bustling, Music Box Theatre in Chicago, a palpable sense of anticipation hung heavy. It wasn't the typical Hollywood premiere, with its glaring spotlights and throngs of screaming fans, but rather an intimate gathering of those who had poured their hearts and souls into the film.
Nancy and her husband, Edward Jones, sat beside their daughter, Daisy Jones, their faces beaming with pride and excitement. Joining them was Alex's father, John Hayes, his eyes glistening with a mixture of paternal pride and disbelief as he prepared to witness his son's debut on the silver screen.
The atmosphere was thick with the mingled scents of popcorn and nervous sweat. The theater was modestly filled with the cast and crew. Actors Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon, and Director Tony Bill, were huddled together, exchanging final words of encouragement and bracing themselves for the audience's reaction. The absence of a grand red carpet and the usual Hollywood fanfare was palpable, a stark reminder of the film's humble budget, yet this only added to the sense of camaraderie and shared accomplishment.
Amidst the modest crowd, a distinguished figure sat patiently, a notepad in hand. It was Roger Ebert, the esteemed film critic from the Chicago Sun-Times, invited by Universal Studios. His presence added an unexpected layer of gravitas to the event, hinting that this small premiere could have larger implications.
As Alex made his way through the crowd, his father, John, approached him, his voice thick with emotion. "Son," he said, his eyes shining, "I am so incredibly proud of you, Alex."
Alex, his own heart pounding, managed a wry smile. "Thanks, Dad. Just hope I don't embarrass myself today."
John chuckled, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "You could never embarrass me, Alex."
Nancy hugged Alex tightly. "We're all so proud of you, sweetheart," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "Edward and Daisy are excited to attend the premiere."
As the lights began to dim, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned towards the screen, where the culmination of months of hard work and dreams was about to unfold. Alex took a deep breath, a mix of trepidation and exhilaration coursing through him.
The opening scene of My Bodyguard flickered to life, immediately capturing the audience's attention with its gritty yet heartfelt portrayal of adolescence. The film unfolded, drawing the audience into a world of bullying, friendship, and self-discovery as Clifford Peache's life intertwined with the menacing Melvin Moody and the enigmatic Ricky Linderman.
The audience was completely drawn in by the storyline: the initial extortion racket, Clifford learning the truth about Ricky's accidental past, the forging of their unlikely friendship, and the touching moments when Ricky started to emerge from his shell. Gasps arose during the tense confrontation in Lincoln Park, where Mike's violence culminated in the vandalism of Ricky's motorcycle.
The emotional high point came when Ricky, burdened by guilt, finally revealed the truth about accidentally shooting his brother. This revelation, delivered with raw emotion by Alex, left the audience in stunned silence.
The climax was the final showdown. The audience was on the edge of their seats as the brutal fistfight between Mike and Ricky ended with Ricky's victory. Then, Moody and Clifford engaged. The audience felt every impact as Clifford, coached by Ricky, ultimately shattered Moody's aura of invincibility by breaking his nose. The film concluded with Ricky jokingly asking Clifford to be his bodyguard, prompting widespread cheering.
Throughout the screening, the audience was utterly captivated. Alex truly shone. As the protagonist, he was present in nearly every frame, carrying the emotional weight of the story with a maturity and nuance that belied his young age, drawing the audience in and making them deeply invested in Clifford's journey.
In the dimly lit theater, Roger Ebert sat engrossed, his pen scribbling furiously. He was thoroughly impressed, recognizing it as a powerful and moving work of cinema.
The morning after the premiere, Alex found himself back in Nancy's office at CAA. The room felt charged with the usual blend of anxiety and anticipation, a stark contrast to the previous night's emotional rollercoaster.
"Alright, Alex," Nancy began, her voice steady. "The reviews are starting to trickle in, and we have the initial box office numbers. Overall, it's a positive response. Twelve critics have weighed in: eight are positive, four are mixed. That's a good start."
Swerdlick, who was also in the office, let out a relieved breath. "That's great! I was really nervous about what the critics would say."
Nancy picked up a review and began to read. "Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times calls My Bodyguard a 'small treasure, a movie about believable characters in an unusual situation.' He reserves special commendation for Alex's performance, noting his 'natural talent' and predicting he has a 'bright future' in film."
Nancy paused, glancing at Alex. "And Janet Maslin of The New York Times writes that the film has 'characters who really seem to be people,' a quality she finds rare and valuable. She highlighted your 'maturity and nuance,' Alex, saying you 'carry the emotional weight of the story' with remarkable skill."
Alex shifted in his seat, a flush of pride warming his cheeks. To have his performance acknowledged by such respected critics was surreal.
"They... they really liked it?" Swerdlick asked, his voice still laced with disbelief.
"They did, Michael," Nancy confirmed. "And that's not all." She picked up another sheet of paper. "The initial box office returns are in. For a limited release in just 100 theaters, My Bodyguard grossed $156,000."
A surprised silence filled the room. Alex did a quick mental calculation: over $1,500 per theater.
"That's... that's good, right?" Swerdlick ventured.
Nancy nodded, a genuine smile gracing her face now. "That's a very good result, Michael. Especially considering the limited release and the fact that Universal didn't invest heavily in advertising. This suggests the film is finding its audience through word-of-mouth, which is the best kind of publicity."
The weight of the past months lifted from Alex's shoulders. The positive reviews and encouraging box office numbers were a validation of his career decisions. He knew the road ahead was long, but for the first time, he allowed himself a surge of hope.
Word-of-mouth interest grew, particularly among teenagers. This was reflected in the subsequent box office performance:
On Saturday, the film grossed $175,000.
On Sunday, it brought in $181,000, bringing the opening weekend total gross to $512,000.
The film continued to perform well throughout the week, grossing an additional $311,000 over the next four weekdays, bringing the total gross to $823,000.
Universal Pictures took a look at these figures, saw the potential for a box office success, and immediately expanded the movie to 500 theaters the following weekend.