With a composed smile, Natalie Portman walked into the interview area. As the Oscar-winning actress and the biggest star of the *Thor* cast, she naturally drew the most attention from the media. Even before she settled into her spot, countless reporters surrounded her, their flashlights blinking incessantly, and questions were thrown at her non-stop.
Seeing these frenzied reporters, Natalie felt a sense of satisfaction. Though it was too chaotic to hear what they were saying, she maintained her consistent smile.
Soon, staff arrived to restore order. The reporters calmed down, understanding that their current approach wouldn't allow for any meaningful interviews.
"Please, one at a time," Natalie gracefully instructed.
As the latest Oscar Best Actress winner, her allure was undeniable. The reporters reached an unspoken agreement to take turns asking questions.
Accompanied by her agent from William Morris, Natalie patiently answered the various questions.
"Miss Portman, why did you decide to be part of this film?"
"I'm a fan of Marvel and have always loved their superhero comics. Jane Foster is a fascinating character," Natalie replied.
Of course, she wouldn't tell the reporters that after winning the Best Actress Oscar, she wanted to earn high paychecks from blockbuster films. Despite her fame from the *Star Wars* prequels, none of her other films were major hits, so her paychecks were not substantial. Now, as a Best Actress winner, she aimed to recoup her investment.
Most questions were polite, given the setting, but some reporters were more direct.
"Natalie, do you think *Thor* will be a big success?"
A reporter from the *New York Post* squeezed to the front and loudly asked, "Will it be a box office hit?"
Such questions required no thought. Natalie answered instantly, "Of course! This is a fantastic movie, and it will be successful both in terms of box office and reviews!"
The *New York Post* reporter smiled. The first question was merely a setup, and Natalie's answer was expected. He quickly followed with another question. "This weekend, Murphy Stanton's *Chaos City* is also being released..."
Hearing that name, Natalie's smile froze for a moment. However, being an Oscar-winning actress, she quickly regained her composure. An untrained observer would miss the brief change in her expression.
"Do you believe *Thor* will outshine Murphy Stanton's *Chaos City* in terms of both box office and reviews?" The reporter emphasized.
This question captured the attention of all the reporters. Many checked their recorders and cameras to ensure they were working properly.
Everyone knew about the past conflict between Natalie Portman and Murphy Stanton, and now their films were going head-to-head.
Accompanying Natalie was a William Morris public relations agent who realized the potential trap in the question and promptly cleared his throat.
However, Natalie acted as if she didn't hear him and replied directly, "Thor will undoubtedly be this weekend's box office champion!"
The *New York Post* reporter sensed the change in Natalie and quickly asked, "So, you believe your film will surpass Murphy Stanton's?"
"Absolutely!" Natalie, having already spoken the first sentence, would not backtrack. "That's exactly what I mean!"
Seeing the reporter preparing more questions, the agent stepped forward, positioning himself between Natalie and the reporters. "Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Portman needs to join the group photo session. The interview ends here."
Natalie glanced at her agent and then walked away with him.
As they headed toward the poster area where the cast was gathered, the agent cautioned, "Natalie, about that last question..."
"Was there a problem with my answer?" Natalie, now an Oscar winner, exuded confidence. "Or do you not have faith in me?"
"Uh..." The agent opened his mouth but said nothing more. From the leading actress's perspective, Natalie's answer was fine. The real question was whether *Thor* could indeed compete with Murphy Stanton's latest film.
Unlike Natalie, the agent had little confidence.
However, he was just one person. Many others, including some Marvel executives, were very optimistic about *Thor*.
"Our test screenings for this film were extremely positive!" Stan Lee, wearing his signature sunglasses, confidently stated in the lobby of the TCL Chinese Theatre. "The film's success is guaranteed!"
Avi Arad nodded slightly. While test screening results might not be definitive, the $10+ million in presales were significantly better than when *Iron Man* debuted.
Stan Lee continued, "I believe *Thor*'s opening weekend box office should be comparable to *Iron Man*, with a final North American gross around $250 million!"
This was the consensus among Marvel executives based on presales.
Avi Arad, not as well-versed in the film industry, knew that *Thor* faced a significant threat.
"What about Murphy Stanton's *Chaos City*?" he asked.
"Presales were $3 million less than ours!" Stan Lee sounded like a market analyst. "Factoring in all aspects, *Chaos City's* opening weekend box office will be at least $30 million less than *Thor*'s!"
He chuckled. "If *Chaos City's* reviews are mixed, its opening weekend might even fall below $40 million. It might struggle to cross $150 million in North America!"
Despite the efforts made to ensure *Thor*'s test screenings were flawless, they were aware that *Chaos City* had some negative feedback.
In the highly competitive summer season, two highly anticipated films releasing simultaneously wasn't unusual. For ordinary moviegoers, it wasn't a big deal. They would simply spend their money on the film that appealed to them most.
Each viewer had different tastes and often chose films based on first impressions influenced by factors like the cast, director, genre, and brand effects like Marvel or Murphy.
As the summer season began, many moviegoers left their homes and headed to theaters, ready to choose their films.
After waiting through March and April, Daisy finally anticipated Murphy's new film's release. She went to the Santa Monica Shopping Center's Empire Cinema with a friend, ready to watch *Chaos City*.
At the ticket kiosk, Daisy entered her code and retrieved her pre-booked ticket.
Turning around, she said, "Your turn, Christine."
Christine approached the kiosk, suddenly looking nervous. "I... I might have an issue. I can't watch *Chaos City* with you."
"What?" Daisy frowned. "Why not? Something urgent?"
"No..." Christine entered her code, and a ticket for *Thor* emerged. She held it up timidly. "I just... feel like Marvel's superhero movies are more my thing."
Daisy glanced at the ticket and scoffed. "Traitor!"
Christine pulled Daisy aside, trying to explain. "You know I'm a fan of Natalie Portman."
"What's so great about her?" Daisy blurted without thinking. "She's a phony..."
"Daisy!" Christine was upset.
"Fine," Daisy waved it off. "Go watch *Thor*. I'll watch *Chaos City* alone."
Christine nodded, ready to leave. Daisy added, "If it gets too nauseating, you can come find me."
Switching theaters wasn't difficult once the movie started, especially since *Chaos City* wasn't in 3D.
In New York, after work, Edmund Princeton and his colleague Dirk headed to the nearest AMC theater.
"You're really not going to watch *Chaos City*?" Edmund asked in the lobby. "You can still get a ticket."
"I'll see it tomorrow," Dirk said, having become interested in *Chaos City* after seeing the promotions. "But tonight, *Thor* is my first choice."
Edmund couldn't argue. "Alright, see you at 9:30."
"Yeah," Dirk checked his watch. "I'll wait for you, and we can grab a drink after."
With *Thor* being 114 minutes and *Chaos City* over 150 minutes, Dirk would indeed have to wait.
As the minutes ticked by, the early screenings of both films started almost simultaneously.
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