Why did Ex Machina succeed at the box office?

Ex Machina was released in the UK, 21 January 2015 and in the US April 10 2015.
It was filmed at a number of locations but all based in the UK and in Norway. The
movie is about a programmer who is invited to participate in the Turing Test to
test the artificial intelligence of the robot Ava. Producers of the film were
Andrew MacDonald and Allon Reich. Macdonald produced 25 films including ex
machine, most of these are seen to have been successful in the film industry,
this including, The last King of Scotland and Never Let Me Go. Allon Reich is
mostly known for The last king of Scotland and 28 weeks later, these two movies
were very successful when produced. These movies that he is known for were
both produced by Andrew Macdonald and himself. The reason for its success in
relation to the producers are that, it is seen that the two producers work well
together as they have released successful films such as The last King of Scotland
and 28 weeks later which 28 weeks later made $64.2 million and The last king of
Scotland made $48, 363, 516 million in the box office. Out of the two films that
they both produced together it is seen that they were both very successful. This
is potentially a pattern to be seen more in the future for movies produced by
both producers. Ex machinas budget was $15m and made $36.9 million in the
box office this showing its success in the box office very clearly.
Alex Garland, the writer of the movie has written a few movies. These have been
successful these movies include, never let me and 28 days later. These two
movies have featured producers, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich. Again, this
suggests that the way they work well together espciailly in low budget films in
order for them to be successful in the box office.
Ex Machina is a science fiction thriller. The genre within the movies, tend to be
successful as seen in following science fiction movies; avatars, Jurassic World,
Avengers Assembles, Hunger Games and Transformers. The range of the amount
it made at the box office lie between $691`.2 million which is Hunger Games and
highest of $2.788 billion being Avatar. It shows that sci-fi films are popular and
successful in general hence the success in the box office of Ex Machina. During
production there were no issues found but Actress, Alicia Vikander found it
difficult and challenging to play Ava as she did not feel robotic within her
costume when shooting. Post production, the film did not involve any green
screen or special effects when filming. There were mostly VFX shotsapproximately 800,000. The character Ava was 3D printed for a scene that takes
place in the laboratory where shes constructed.
Universal Studios being the distributer, has a massive influence on the success
of the film at the box office, seeing as they are responsible for the marketing of
Ex Machina and how it is advertised to the public before shown in screens.
Following that they have the responsibility of getting it on the screens as well as
advertising through trailer, poster and website. Universal Studios have
distributed over 200 films which the majority have been successful. Examples of
these have been Pitch Perfect 2, Ted, Minions, Fast and Furious 7 and Unfriended.
With this the range of the amount made in the box office are from $62.9m to
$1.512 billion. This suggests that Universal distribute their films well due to the

amount low budget to high budget films success in the box office. This can be
due to the way it has been marketed as well as the reputation universal studios
have for successful and good rating films.
Producer, Andrew Macdonald is the founder of DNA films, a British Producer
Company. Macdonald as mentioned above has produced a limited number of
films including the last king of Scotland and 23 weeks later, that have been
successful. Next that, the second out of the three proding companies is the
British production company, Film4. Film 4 is known for production of many more
films including The last king of Scotland and 28 weeks later and many more such
as Slumdog Millionaire which was a massive success in the box office, $377.9
million. Film4 is a large production company which has came out with many
successful British such as inbetweeners 2 , 4 weddings and a Funeral. The final
Production company involved in the production of ex machine is the Scott Rudin
Productions which is owned by Scott Rudin himself is was the only American
company involved in the production. It produced three of the well known movies,
School of Rock, The girl with a dragon tattoo and the social network. Through this
it is seen that ex machine worked with three of the best producing companies in
order to make the movie successful , seeing as they have had success in
producing both low budget and high budget films. Film4 and DNA are the two
production companies that also combine well together in making movies
successful in the box office. This influence is greatly passed on forwards to Ex
Machina.
At the same time as Ex Machina, there were very little sci-fi movies in the cinema
running at the same time. Predestation was one of the few sci-fi movies that
were running. This movie made $4.3m in the box office. Compared to ex
machine, it did very poorly in the box office. This could have been one of the
reasons Ex Machina succeeded in the box office. In the USA, The screens were at
its peak at 200,004 and its first screening only had 4 screenings. It
finally finished at 4 screens; it was shown in screens for 2 months.
Other non-science fiction movies were project alumnac, apocpylse, the boy next
door, the loft and Taken 3. Out of the 5 movies, that were running in the cinema
at the same time as this, on rotten tomatoes, the range they got went from 9%
to 34%. The lowest range of the amount it made in the box office went from
$10.1m to $325.8. Though in the box office some of the movies come across to
be successful however they had got bad ratings through rotten tomatoes.
Because of this in cinemas the attraction is shone towards ex machine.
The audience of this film is suited to a certain group of people and it seen that
only that particular audience it is aimed at are the reason it became so
successful. Although it is a risk as it is not a four quadrant film. The certificate
which is a 15 limits the audience itself. Due to the fact that Ex Machina was one
of the only movies in the genre of science fiction this gave it a boost for success
in the box office especially for the audience it attracts.

The success of the ex machina in the box office is due to the timing of the
release of the film and most importantly the people involved this is focused
more to the production, director and distribution side of the film.