The raunchy, animated comedy Sausage Party scored big at the box office this weekend, debuting with $33.6 million. Considering the movie’s budget was only $19 million, the strong debut has given a boost to Sony’s bottom line and to the idea of original story telling, a seemingly shrinking concept in a movie-going world dominated by sequels, prequels and spin-offs.
The story follows grocery items as they grapple with the dangers of the kitchen and the people who want to eat them. “It was the something different that adult audiences have been craving,” Jeff Bock, an analyst with Exhibitor Relations, told Variety. “When comedy pushes the envelope, that’s when it works best.”
Four of the movie’s stars, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and David Krumholtz, hit the red carpet at NYC’s Sunshine Landmark on Thursday, Aug. 4, for the movie’s premiere.
Rogen, who co-wrote the movie, explained that his love for animated films is what inspired Sausage Party. “We were at dinner when the idea first came up,” Rogen said. “But it was just born of a love for animated movies. Like Toy Story, the joke is all about exploring the secret world of these various everyday objects. Once we started talking about the secret world of food, it became incredibly entertaining, because you eat food—and it’s kinda fucked up.”
Check out a few photos from the premiere below and check out the new film in theaters now!
Photo Credit: Denise Korey