By now you’ve heard sad news that Bros‘ opening weekend was a bit of a dud.
Despite positive reviews, Billy Eichner‘s big, gay, studio rom-com underperformed at the box office, and the writer/star says the straights are to blame. But the internet is full of armchair experts, and everyone seems to have their own theory as to why Bros failed to bring people (straight, or otherwise) to the theater.
One of the prevailing thoughts is that Bros just wasn’t marketed well. Some feel that the promotion and press neglected to showcase how gut-bustingly funny the movie was, and instead leaned too hard into how “important,” “historic,” and “groundbreaking” the movie was.
Related: Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane on the ‘Bros’ scene they were most nervous about
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It’s that latter point that’s turned Eichner’s comedy into a meme—albeit not in the way he would’ve wanted. It started this morning when Twitter use @weekend3warrior posted the following prompt to their thousands of followers:
Name a queer film more groundbreaking than Bros
— not m*rt*n (@weekend3warrior) October 3, 2022
It’s the kind of tweet that some are reading (and responding to) as if it were completely sincere. But, for a certain subsection of the internet, the prompt is a dog whistle to chime in with the funniest responses possible. The replies? Well, they’re a doozy. And largely NSFW.
— Scott Free (@misterscottfree) October 3, 2022
Ah, yes—the classics! Any of these look familiar?
Won multiple oscars https://t.co/dhCSP1fHYR pic.twitter.com/GkOeUmOzOa
— ?????? (@Neptune_Leo22) October 3, 2022
https://t.co/25esdCdXrj pic.twitter.com/co87oLXGRr
— is it gay if it's for survival (@redactedbrotato) October 3, 2022
But not every response was an adult film. The trolls were out in full force to sing the praises of “groundbreaking” memes, sketches, and other features. At least, we think they’re trolling?
— Alp Ozcelik (@alplicable) October 3, 2022
The babadook?
— ! علي ¡ (@IraqiCowboy) October 3, 2022
pic.twitter.com/3puAvv39H3 https://t.co/MN9QmVO4YC
— Másha Potato (@mashapotatohead) October 3, 2022
pic.twitter.com/TaD3f2W0HX https://t.co/IevjwRq5AE
— Peter Twinklage (@PeterTwinklage) October 3, 2022
https://t.co/gxVd4m0iHO pic.twitter.com/NPGds05xyP
— Marcos ? (@thatssodated) October 3, 2022
literally the entire HSM franchise https://t.co/EyvVV3PtER pic.twitter.com/v51t9GuXX1
— robbie ? (@rob_brom) October 3, 2022
And, look, we’re not total cynics. If you scroll past all the screenshots of (seminal) gay adult films, there are actually some great recommendations in the replies, too! So, take notes, because there are some proper queer classics below that you’ve got to make sure you check out:
— Allegra Dee (@itsallegradee) October 3, 2022
The original – not that I didn’t like the remake/revival – but the original is just too iconic. pic.twitter.com/qN33rD6InJ
— D’Manda Martini (@dmandamartini) October 3, 2022
— otto ♈️ (@ottovonfad) October 3, 2022
— B (@blkvnw) October 3, 2022
— Frances Bucket🏳️🌈 (@owlofday) October 3, 2022
Bottom line is: Go support queer films! Even if Bros isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other incredible LGBTQ stories out there.
Related: Here’s all of the queer, must-see movies and TV shows headed your way this fall
Donston
One of the points of the film was to give people a “gay movie” that was fun and cute and modern as opposed to depressing or oppressive or sensationalistic. It also was about highlighting unabashedly queer performers and telling a story that wasn’t focused on traumas or “finding yourself” or coming out. In that way, it was groundbreaking. Still, the ads made it look really damn basic. So much so that I knew I would wait till streaming despite the solid reviews. While not that many people are interested in watching Billie Eichner as a romantic lead. He really should have cast someone else if he was that worried about box office appeal and was gonna throw a hissy fit if it wasn’t a hit. He has an unearned arrogance that’s just not appealing to many people. Never mind him not having conventional leading man looks (no shade).
dbmcvey
It’s a really good movie. You should see it.
Toofie
Some very good points.
abfab
Harold And Maude
Doug
Wow. This is really pitiful. An actor makes a gay film to try and bring more recognition to us in Hollywood and it’s immediately dissed, picked apart and boycotted by the community, many of whom haven’t even seen it and won’t even give it a chance. This is gay unity is 2022.
dbmcvey
I hate the way the industry judges everything off the opening weekend. There have been many, many films that didn’t do a lot of business their first weekend but then picked up based on word of mouth.
lykeitiz
Unfortunately this is not new to 2022. Gays have been self-loathing and tearing each other down for decades. I’m ok with blaming our behavior on the straights, but it’s still true.
Eternal.Cowboy
It’s a bit of a reckoning for white cis gay men right? After a really good run they are no longer the darlings of the LGBTQIA community. When straight people thought they were exciting they didn’t show up for anyone else in the community. Now that they are passé we are hearing about a lack of unity. People
Have to sleep in the bed they made
Diplomat
Beanie Feldstien got torched by her “community” for being cast as a frumpy Fanny Brice w a weak singing voice in Funny Girl, a very straight play. Though different casting circumstances, a similar thing is happening here with Billy Eichner in Bros. He’s just not hot. At all. it’s like pairing Martha Stuart with Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mt w Martha holding a rolling pin in front of the pup tent.
It’s not a gay thing, it’s a human thing. Mistakes get taken to task. And in this case, “that’s showbiz”.
dbmcvey
Bros is a really good movie. I don’t know how groundbreaking it is.
Diplomat
The problem w Eichner’s movie Bros is Eichner. Zero sex appeal. Poor casting choice.
Will wait for streaming and that may not work out either though the humor may entice me.
John
I agree. Casting was a big mistake. Billy should have just stayed as writer and producer.
bachy
Finding a good gay romantic comedy lead is difficult. I would have preferred to see someone like Russell Tovey, Scott Evans, Lee Pace or Luke Evans in the lead. Somebody cute and sympathetic. I feel the same way about Uncoupled.
bachy
Has anyone here seen I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)?? It’s a gay romantic comedy starring Jim Carrey and Ewan MacGregor as the lovers, and has to be one of the most side-splittingly hilarious films ever!
Are you prepared to see Jim Carrey getting it on with Ewan MacGregor? If so, you should definitely rent it.
Diplomat
Hey Bachy,
Yes I loved that movie. Time for a retake!
FreddieW
And it’s a true story.
lykeitiz
That movie was insane – in a good way!
inbama
Not appreciated when it came out, but it does hold up with age.
lykeitiz
Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo as drag queens was groundbreaking, even if their movie was a Priscilla ripoff.
Can anyone really imagine 3 similar stars today doing that? Dwyane Johnson, Will Smith, & Benecio Del Toro? Probably not.
Jamie Foxx? Yeah, maybe……
inbama
Which takes us back to that annoying question: is it better to make a “gay movie” with certifiably gay stars that hardly anyone sees or a “gay movie” with actual movie stars regardless of their sexual orientation?
FreddieW
I think it’s good to have movies that make their points without being preachy.
The point I got from “Bros” — and especially in the stretch dealing with Luke McFarlane’s parents — was: “I’m obnoxious, and if you can’t tolerate it, you’re a bigot because I’m gay.” It came across clearly when the main character told McFarlane that he had internalized homophobia because when taking his boyfriend to meet his parents, McFarlane asked him not to be such a jerk around them.
Jim
AMEN
Eternal.Cowboy
Us? Not us, you. Only a person with a raging case of internalized homophobia thinks that is a debate worth having. Try hating yourself a little less.
Diplomat
Movie stars that hold the screen, gay or straight, without a doubt.
Jim
Really did anyone find Billy Eichner desirable in any sense of the word???
Chrisk
Ouch. Lol Yeah, sex appeal when it comes to gay romantic comedies is a real thing.