Advertisement
UK markets open in 48 minutes
  • NIKKEI 225

    38,100.27
    +138.47 (+0.36%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,441.44
    +189.60 (+1.17%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.83
    +0.14 (+0.17%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,392.60
    +4.20 (+0.18%)
     
  • DOW

    37,753.31
    -45.66 (-0.12%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    49,006.27
    -2,227.37 (-4.35%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • NASDAQ Composite

    15,683.37
    -181.88 (-1.15%)
     
  • UK FTSE All Share

    4,273.02
    +12.61 (+0.30%)
     

Michael Bay's Benghazi movie has a massive sales spike as Republicans attack Hillary Clinton

John Krasinski Christian Black Paramount final
John Krasinski Christian Black Paramount final

("13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi."Christian Black/Paramount)

Though Michael Bay's movie about the deadly 2012 attack on the US Embassy in Libya, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," only took in a disappointing $69.4 million worldwide in theaters (the movie had a $50 million budget), it's getting a second life on home video. And it might have Donald Trump to thank.

Since it became available digitally in May and via Blu-ray/DVD on June 7, the film has taken in more than $40 million in sales, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

That's a huge number for a movie of this size that seemed to have a small audience when it was in theaters. (According to THR, the sales breakdown is: digital purchases around $7.1 million, digital and physical rentals $20.2 million, and $13.5 million for Blu-ray and DVD sales.)

ADVERTISEMENT

The election season may be at play here.

The vocal criticism of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for what's seen as a slow response to the attack has not died down. In fact, we heard it throughout the primaries, and Trump has regularly touched on it at his rallies, getting an intense response from his supporters.

And at the Republican National Convention, two of the movie's subjects, Mark Geist and John Tiegen, criticized Clinton for not doing her job.

However, it should be said that the film's studio, Paramount, told THR that the film is selling well across the country, not just in states that are leaning toward Trump.

The movie takes a very apolitical stance, never mentioning Clinton by name.

NOW WATCH: Trump spokeswoman: Capt. Khan's 2004 death was probably caused by Obama's and Hillary's policies



More From Business Insider