After COVID-19 pandemic hampers sci-fi thriller rollout LumineGoldove Entertainment chose to handle distribution itself instead of working with a sales agent. Plans included creating dozens of life-size figures to advertise the film, holding a raffle with tens of thousands of dollars in prizes, and hiring a company that could release the film in theaters. Ultimately, he spent about $4 million on marketing for a title he hoped would gross at least $20 million in its opening week.

On Monday, Goldove Entertainment sued its distribution partner Wild About Movies, which allegedly lied about the number of theaters that would show the film, for fraud and breach of contract. The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, blames the company for the film’s disappointing box office performance and seeks damages equivalent to its marketing expenses.

Wild About Movies chief executive Timothy Nasson denied the accusations and said he planned to sue for fraud, harassment and defamation. He added: “The film grossed $23,000 from 200 screens in the first seven days. They become aware of the fact that it exploded and try to blame someone.”

Lumine explores an alien abduction and the quest to find the person abducted by her fiancé. The film, which premiered in July alongside Long legs And Fly me to the moonfeatures an appearance by Eric Roberts and is edited by Academy Award winner Thom Noble, with Gino McKoy as director and writer. It was produced by Goldove, whose management team consists of McKoy and his parents.

Goldove claims to have invested more than $4 million to market the film, based on Wild About Movies’ purported claims that it could secure distribution in more than a thousand theaters in prime locations and at favorable times. for sustained releases which would give the film a chance to gain momentum. by word of mouth. Costs included social media ads, billboards and subway stations in major cities, as well as special promotions and a raffle with a $50,000 space rover from the film .

According to the lawsuit, the company was informed that a minimum of 300 screens at AMC theaters and 500 screens at Regal and Cinemark were secure.

“In reality, the defendants got the picture in far fewer theaters than they had promised and represented themselves as being able to book, and many of them in remote locations, at times when less of people go to the theater and for no more than one or a few days,” the complaint states.

Under their agreement, Wild About Movies was to receive $275,000 if at least 1,500 screens were released. Lumine its opening weekend, no charge for fewer than 750 screens. Nasson says he received a payment of $50,000, even though the minimum threshold was not met.

Goldove, whose creative director is McKoy, also claims Wild About Movies failed to meet its obligations related to promotional screenings, daily box office reporting and marketing strategy. Highlighting the company’s “duplicity, sabotage and ineptitude,” the lawsuit alleges that Lumine “comes and leaves in the proverbial blink of an eye, closing its doors within a day or a few after opening at virtually every location.” He blames the distribution partner for having had to “scramble to mitigate its damages and obtain alternative distribution for the film in an attempt to make it gain momentum”, adding to the “millions of dollars in damages that they have already suffered.”

In response, Nasson says, “Every suggestion and decision made by and by every expert, from NRG to AMC Theaters, Cinemark, Regal Cinemas and everyone in between, has been rejected. »