‘No Hard Feelings’ Makes a Remarkable Impression at the Global Box Office

‘No Hard Feelings’ Achieves Remarkable Success at the Global Box Office

Sony’s latest R-rated studio comedy, ‘No Hard Feelings,’ has made an impressive impact at the worldwide box office, injecting new life into the genre. In just over 10 days since its release, the film has surpassed the $50 million mark globally, positioning itself as the highest-grossing original R-rated studio comedy since ‘Good Boys’ in 2019. Interestingly, both movies share the same director, Gene Stupnitsky, who, prior to his success in raunchy cinema, was renowned for his work on NBC’s ‘The Office’ alongside his producing partner Lee Eisenberg.

Featured as FilmSweep’s Video of the Day, ‘No Hard Feelings,’ starring Jennifer Lawrence—who also serves as a producer under her banner, Excellent Cadaver—has earned $31 million domestically and an additional $20 million from international territories, bringing its worldwide box office total to $51 million. In comparison, ‘Good Boys’ concluded its run with $83 million domestically and $111 million worldwide. Both films garnered positive reviews but were not without controversy. Some viewers expressed discomfort watching young characters engage in explicit behavior in ‘Good Boys,’ while ‘No Hard Feelings,’ a story about a millennial woman agreeing to “date” a sheltered teenage boy at his parents’ request, faced criticism for potentially promoting sexual grooming. Stupnitsky, addressing these concerns in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, emphasized the filmmakers’ conscientiousness in avoiding any inappropriate elements, assuring audiences that their perception would change after experiencing the film.

Currently holding a “fresh” rating of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, ‘No Hard Feelings’ has garnered praise for Jennifer Lawrence’s performance. In his review, Nate Richard from FilmSweep commended Lawrence for her comedic prowess, both in dialogue and physical comedy, highlighting her daring choices on screen that paid off splendidly.

Image via Sony

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This film represents a departure for the Oscar-winning actress, who had been involved in franchise films for several years but eventually grew disillusioned, leading her to take a two-year break. Lawrence shared during the London premiere that she couldn’t resist the script, co-written by Stupnitsky and John Phillips, which she considered the funniest she had ever read. Her co-star, newcomer Andrew Barth Feldman, even put his Harvard studies on hold to be part of the project.

Could this herald a revival for raunchy studio comedies?

Theatrical releases for movies like ‘No Hard Feelings’ have become increasingly rare, with most R-rated comedies opting for direct streaming platforms. The sub-genre arguably experienced its peak over a decade ago when any film even remotely related to Judd Apatow achieved tremendous success at the box office. Some of these comedies grossed over $200 million worldwide, and the pinnacle was reached with Seth MacFarlane’s ‘Ted,’ which surpassed $500 million in 2012. ‘Joy Ride,’ an upcoming film, aims to capitalize on the renewed interest in adult-oriented raunchy comedies when it hits theaters this Friday. For a glimpse of ‘No Hard Feelings,’ you can watch the red band trailer here, and stay tuned to FilmSweep for further updates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about R-rated comedy

More about R-rated comedy

• Box Office Mojo: “No Hard Feelings”
• Gene Stupnitsky – IMDb
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Controversy Surrounding ‘No Hard Feelings'”
• Jennifer Lawrence – IMDb
• Variety: “Revival of Raunchy Studio Comedies”
• FilmSweep: Red Band Trailer for “No Hard Feelings”