http://www.gamespot.com/articles/american-ultra-writer-goes-on-twitter-rant-after-m/1100-6430036/

Last weekend's box office chart was notable for the disappointing performance of the three new releases, none of which could unseat Straight Outta Compton or Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation from the top slots. Finishing in sixth place behind The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and the largely panned Hitman: Agent 47 and Sinister 2, was the one original movie on the chart, the action comedy American Ultra. Now, the film's screenwriter, Max Landis, has gone a multi-tweet rant about the state of Hollywood, and how hard it is for a non-sequel, remake, or reboot to find an audience.

As Landis explains, his film received decent reviews and had two notable stars (Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg), but it was beaten by three sequels, an old TV show reboot, and a biopic, finishing the weekend with a gross of just $5.5 million. Over multiple tweets, the writer--son of Blues Brothers and Animal House director John Landis--questioned whether there was still an audience for entirely original subject matter.

"It seems the reviews didn't even matter, the MOVIE didn't matter." Landis said. "Are original ideas over? I wanted to pose this to the public, because I feel, put lightly, confused. I feel like I learned a lesson, here, but have no idea what it is."

Landis subsequently apologised that his tweets had been widely perceived as overly negative, but did stress that he was "all about passion for stories and honesty in my industry."

Read his full comments below:

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
So here's an interesting question: American Ultra finished dead last at the box office, behind even Mission Impossible and Man From Uncle...
1:18 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
...American Ultra was also beaten by the critically reviled Hitman Agent 47 and Sinister, despite being a better reviewed film than either..
1:18 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
...which leads me to a bit of a conundrum: Why? American Ultra had good ads, big stars, a fun idea, and honestly, it's a good movie...
1:19 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
...Certainly better, in the internet's opinion, than other things released the same day. If you saw it, you probably didn't hate it...
1:20 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
...so I'm left with an odd thing here, which is that American Ultra lost to a sequel, a sequel reboot, a biopic, a sequel and a reboot.
1:21 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
...it seems the reviews didn't even matter, the MOVIE didn't matter. The argument that can/will be made is: big level original ideas don't $
1:22 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
The question is: has that changed? I wish I could say Ultra was a bad movie, but it isn't. Divisive, sure. But better than others this week.
1:24 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
Am I wrong? Is trying to make original movies in a big way just not a valid career path anymore for anyone but Tarantino and Nolan?
1:25 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Max Landis ✔@Uptomyknees
That's the question: Am I wrong? Are original ideas over? I wanted to pose this to the public, because I feel, put lightly, confused.
1:26 PM - 22 Aug 2015

Me: Fuck it, im not posting anymore of his crying.

Good advertising? I had no idea what that movie was until right now.

The move got, like, 47% on Rotten Tomatoes. What the fuck reviews are he talking about?

@ Teej...I never heard of this crap until he ranted about it

I've heard of it. I've seen commercials for it all over the place and I hardly even watch television. >_> It looks good.

Its got that chick from Twilight in it, I LOVE Twilight!

IMDB wrote:

A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.

Sounds stupid.

^Yeah it's a silly premise, but I don't think it is meant to try and be serious. I havent watched it yet but it seems worth a viewing. Not paying in the theatre, maybe online.

I have never ever ever heard of this movie.