Anybody know what happened to "Idiocracy" (Mike Judge)

[Jokerman]

Netflix showed it released a couple of weeks ago and it immediately went to "very long wait" status. Now, Netflix says it won't be released until January 2007.

Amazon shows it as "The studio is currently not producing this title".

Any clues?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

1. I had heard that Fox had sort of refused to distribute/do anything with it

As it was such a scathing indictment on contemporary American society.

Or, maybe it just sucked.

Advance buzz though was that it was as good, if not better, than Office Space.

For some reason, they did a VERY limited release almost exclusively through the South -- not the usual NYC, LA, Chicago limited release.

More info here:
http://defamer.com/hollywood/idiocracy/untitled-mike-judge-comedy-released-into-undisclosed-theaters-198535.php

[ceile]

2. It's playing at a theater here.

I was wondering what it was. All I saw was the title-couldn't find any more info on it in the paper.
I guess I'll try and go see it this weekend (if it's still playing).

[AllegroRondo]

3. Wiki has a nice page on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiocracy

looks like they decided to release it in only 125 theaters nationwide.

[Jokerman]

6. Thanks. n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

4. It's playing near where I am. We saw it! LOVED IT!

"I like money." "The plants like it." "Dude, you're so fucked."


http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/theater?id=371

[Jokerman]

7. Any guess on the limited release?

Is it THAT controversial that the studio execs are afraid to give it wide release?

I see in the Wiki entry (thanks AllegroRondo) that Costco, Starbucks and others had objected to their portrayals but some people claim that it just wasn't funny.

Most people I've heard from personally loved it so I'm confused why the studio has been so stingy on the promotion and distribution.

[Kerrytravelers]

8. We thought about it and the only thing we could think of is that

they wanted this to be a word of mouth because those who would recommend it will get it, and those that wouldn't recommend it are the very idiots we're laughing at. If this were advertised widely, it would get bad publicity because idiots are generally the loudest.

Maybe? :shrug: It takes serious digs at the pure stupidity in this country and the corporate take-over. Everyone wears clothes that are covered with corporate logos. Even their middle names are corporate names. It's hysterical.

You have got to see it when you can! We plan on owning it!

[Jokerman]

10. I hadn't thought of it that way.

I guess it would be hard to build up mass market appeal for a movie when the premise is that the mass market is mostly idiots.

I hope to see the movie if they ever give me a chance.

Thanks for the insight!

[dubyaD40web]

5. Good ole Fox!

They pulled the same thing with Office Space. Limited theaters, no advertising, etc. As soon as it hit DVD, it became a cult hit.

When will they learn?

[martymar64]

9. It was shot here in Austin!

Hooray for Austin! We may be in Texas but we ain't red! A bunch of the movies done here become cult hits (Dazed & Confused, Office Space, Waking Life, Texas Chainsaw Massacre - the original)

KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD BABY!!!

[peekaloo]

11. Mike Judge lives in Austin, too.

:-)