Synopsis
In the summer of 1968, television news changed forever. Dead last in the ratings, ABC hired two towering public intellectuals to debate each other during the Democratic and Republican national conventions. William F. Buckley, Jr. was a leading light of the new conservative movement. A Democrat and cousin to Jackie Onassis, Gore Vidal was a leftist novelist and polemicist. Armed with deep-seated distrust and enmity, Vidal and Buckley believed each other’s political ideologies were dangerous for America. Like rounds in a heavyweight battle, they pummeled out policy and personal insult—cementing their opposing political positions. Their explosive exchanges devolved into vitriolic name-calling. It was unlike anything TV had ever broadcast, and all the more shocking because it was live and unscripted. Viewers were riveted. ABC News’ ratings skyrocketed. And a new era in public discourse was born.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $50,738 (5.7% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 7.38 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 94.9% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $750,000 (worldwide box office is 1.3 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 3 opening theaters/69 max. theaters, 5.9 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $1,141,677 |
Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists
| Record | Rank | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,201-9,300) | 9,231 | $892,802 |
| All Time International Box Office (Rank 20,701-20,800) | 20,763 | $48,134 |
| All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 15,901-16,000) | 15,974 | $940,936 |
| All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 1,801-1,900) | 1,835 | $892,802 |
| All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,301-3,400) | 3,371 | $892,802 |
| All Time International Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) | 3,472 | $48,134 |
| All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 4,001-4,100) | 4,013 | $940,936 |
See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 31st, 2015 (Limited) by Magnolia Pictures |
| International Releases: | July 24th, 2015 (Wide), released as Best Of Enemies (United Kingdom) |
| MPAA Rating: | R for some sexual content/nudity and language. (Rating bulletin 2378, 6/17/2015) |
| Running Time: | 87 minutes |
| Comparisons: | vs. 20 Feet From Stardom Create your own comparison chart… |
| Keywords: | TV Industry, News, Political, Writing and Writers, Professional Rivalry, Voiceover/Narration, LGBTQ+, Sundance Film Festival 2015 |
| Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
| Genre: | Documentary |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Factual |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Tremolo Productions, Media Ranch Productions, Motto Pictures, ITVS |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Ranking on other Records and Milestones
| Record | Rank | Amount | Chart Date | Days In Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 2015 Theater Average | 71 | $16,913 | Jul 31, 2015 | 3 |