# Why did My Big Fat Greek Wedding do so well? It sucked eggs! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492 "2003-02-12T02:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/61 "2003-02-12T21:55:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*That’s exactly my point. I’m baffled by a movie which I perceive not to be great at all breaking box office records, much like you were. > > Ain’t life grand? \*\* Does the weekly/monthly/yearly box office always or fairly regularly track movies that you think are good? If not, then there’s no reason to be baffled. A movie you didn’t like happened to do quite well at the box office. It happens to most people all the time. Unless you’re going to stand here and say that most of the time, you like the movies that do well at the box office and vice versa, I’m baffled as to why you’re baffled. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/62 "2003-02-12T21:59:26Z")
I think the success of this movie was that it tapped a demographic that many movies don’t consider. It definately went for the 50 and over female crowd. While every movie out there is vying for the male 18-30 comedy/action film with some romance thrown in for thier date, this movie really had no competition for its target audience. I would go so far as to say this movie probably set a record for “matinee” ticket sales. When else do females over 50 see movies? ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/63 "2003-02-12T21:59:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jeevmon \* > \*\*I’m baffled as to why you’re baffled. \*\* I’m baffled that you’re baffled as to why I’m baffled! Oh no, I’ve gone all cross-eyed. Did I mention that I think this movie sucks? ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/64 "2003-02-12T22:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*I’m baffled that you’re baffled as to why I’m baffled! > Oh no, I’ve gone all cross-eyed. > Did I mention that I think this movie sucks? \*\* Yes, many times and with great passion. But unless you can honestly say that the films that you like are the ones that consistently make a lot of money or the films that make a lot of money are the ones you like, your confusion doesn’t make any sense. The explanation for the movie’s success is that a lot of people liked it, and therefore don’t agree with you on this issue. You may disagree with them, call them stupid, unenlightened, idiotic, or whatever, but the fact is, a lot of them disagree with you and voted with their wallets. So the movie made money. What else is there to discuss? ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/65 "2003-02-12T22:18:27Z")
Lola, as to your linked review: I’d hope you could make a better arguement for why you did or didn’t like a movie than this angry rant. But then again, this guy only gave 16 Candles a 3 out of 10, :eek: So I guess that explains things a bit… This kind of reminds me of Owen Glieberman (sp?) of Entertainment Weekly who gave Oh Brother Where Art Thou an “F”, and declared it the worst film of the year (apparently worse than Freddy Got Fingered) His critique of that film was similar to the one you cited. Owen’s scathing review almost kept me from seeing that wonderful little film. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/66 "2003-02-12T22:37:47Z")
Actually, **Hampshire** may have something there with regard to the success of the movie possibly being due to the demographic of the folks who purchased tix at the box office. It would be interesting to know the ages of all the folks in this thread who loved this movie. If this movie did, in fact appeal mostly to the middle-aged set, then I attribute my difference in opinion to a generation gap thing. In which case, there is nothing left to discuss except to say “Glad y’all liked it, I happened to think it sucked, but at least I’m no longer baffled.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Harrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@John\_Harrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Harrison)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/67 "2003-02-12T22:40:16Z")
> [@](#): > > This kind of reminds me of Owen Glieberman (sp?) of Entertainment Weekly who gave Oh Brother Where Art Thou an “F”, and declared it the worst film of the year (apparently worse than Freddy Got Fingered) His critique of that film was similar to the one you cited. Owen’s scathing review almost kept me from seeing that wonderful little film. I’ve found that EW has been getting more and more bizarre with their movie reviews to the point that I let my subscription lapse, and OG seems to be losing his mind. (IMO) ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/68 "2003-02-12T23:07:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\* > Am I missing something here??? > > 😕 \*\* Yeah, you’re missing something. The reason it was so popular was because many, many people thought that it was FUNNY. Oh, but you say, “I didn’t find it funny at all. And if I didn’t, then, why, oh why in God’s name could anybody else do so?” Hmmm, I have no idea. No, wait! Maybe it’s because other people have a different idea of what’s funny than you. Jeez, would you just let others appreciate a film, and not criticize it so much? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/69 "2003-02-12T23:19:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Harrison \* > \*\*I’ve found that EW has been getting more and more bizarre with their movie reviews to the point that I let my subscription lapse, and OG seems to be losing his mind. (IMO) \*\* **OG NOT LOSE MIND!! OG SMASH!!!** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/70 "2003-02-12T23:26:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by notcynical \* > \*\*“I didn’t find it funny at all. And if I didn’t, then, why, oh why in God’s name could anybody else do so?” Hmmm, I have no idea. No, wait! Maybe it’s because other people have a different idea of what’s funny than you. Jeez, would you just let others appreciate a film, and not criticize it so much?" \*\* People are as entitled to love this movie as much as I am entitled to hate this movie. If I don’t agree with something, I am most certainly entitled to criticize it and even question it. Don’tcha love a free country? Yippee! ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/71 "2003-02-12T23:29:33Z")
“I’d like to buy an argument, please.” ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/72 "2003-02-13T03:57:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hampshire \* > \*\*I think the success of this movie was that it tapped a demographic that many movies don’t consider. It definately went for the 50 and over female crowd. While every movie out there is vying for the male 18-30 comedy/action film with some romance thrown in for thier date, this movie really had no competition for its target audience. > I would go so far as to say this movie probably set a record for “matinee” ticket sales. When else do females over 50 see movies? \*\* Well, based on the admittedly unrepresentative sample of **jeevgurl** , **Eva Luna** , and myself (a Sicilian, an Eastern European Jew, and an Indian), who all liked the film, I think it also appealed to people who were born into cultural/ ethnic backgrounds where big, closely-knit extended families are the norm rather than the exception. Where women are pressured to marry a nice Jewish/Greek/Sicilian/Indian boy and start having grandkids, and these goals are considered to have primacy over career. Where those same women are really the ones in charge. I won’t go so far as to say it was a great film, or one of the top five films of the year. But I enjoyed it. Which is more than I can say of other films I saw last year. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/73 "2003-02-13T05:02:23Z")
WTF is with this thing that women over 50 only go to matinees? You all got a curfew on them or something in the US? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/74 "2003-02-14T04:09:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*… If I don’t agree with something, I am most certainly entitled to criticize it and even question it… \*\* I agree that you are so entitled. Why are you pointing this out to me, though? ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/75 "2003-02-14T04:55:12Z")
I walked out after 30 min. I never even want to see an olive again. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492/76 "2003-02-15T01:00:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jeevmon \* > \*\*I think it also appealed to people who were born into cultural/ ethnic backgrounds where big, closely-knit extended families are the norm rather than the exception. Having been born into a small, WASPy, suburban, nuclear 1950s family, I found the movie funny and insightful, and the characters enjoyable. Why did it become a mega-hit, rather than just a hit? Damned if I know. My WAG would be that it wasn’t trying to be either a blow-lotsa-stuff-up action movie, or a dumb-and-dumber comedy, and there’s a lot of people out there who, when we look through the movie section, _start off_ by crossing off all those movies. (Yeah, we’re mostly older. It’ll happen to you, too. :)) And then we’re hoping for something with at least a hint of intelligence and insight. There was little for us amongst the regular movie fare in 2002, IMHO. So when MBFGW came along, with the additional marker of being an indie film (i.e. _not_ made by the people who are doing their best to make all movies into the sort of stuff we detest), my WAG is that practically every last one of us went to see it at some point. So it became a megahit, rather than just a hit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-do-so-well-it-sucked-eggs/154492.md?page=3)