A24 debuts first trailer for Franco’s ‘The Disaster Artist’
A24 Films has premiered the first trailer for James Franco’s The Disaster Artist, set for theatrical release this December. The Disaster Artist is based on the true story behind the making of Tommy Wiseau’s cult hit The Room, commonly referred to as one of the worst films ever made. The film, filled with narrative flaws and plot holes, starred Wiseau and Greg Sestero (Retro Puppet Master) in the lead. A24 pegged the film as a “hilarious and welcome reminder that there is more than one way to become a legend – and no limit to what you can achieve when you have absolutely no idea what you're doing”. The comedy, directed by Franco (127 Hours), received a standing ovation at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival where it was screened as a work in progress. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise A24 swooped in to secure it. Franco previously starred in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, also distributed by A24. (We reckon that previous relationship may have helped, as well.) The Disaster Artist was written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who adapted it from Sestero’s best-selling tell-all about The Room. Neustadter and Weber have previously collaborated on 500 Days of Summer, Paper Towns, and The Spectacular Now. The Disaster Artist stars Franco in the lead alongside his younger brother Dave Franco (Now You See Me), Seth Rogen (The Interview), Zoey Deutch (Why Him?), Ari Graynor (The Sitter), Jacki Weaver (The Voices), Hannibal Buress (Daddy’s Home), Zac Efron (Neighbors), Alison Brie (The Little Hours), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), and Bryan Cranston (Wakefield). — The Disaster Artist is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 1, 2017 in the United States, ahead of its wide release a week later. See the trailer here.
Critical Reception and Awards
The finished film landed with critics and awards voters in ways that surprised even the most optimistic insiders at the time. It posted a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76 Metacritic score. James Franco took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, while the National Board of Review placed the movie among its top ten films of the year. Reviewers praised the way the picture captured the chaotic energy of Wiseau’s original production without turning the real people into simple punchlines.
Box Office Performance
Released on a modest ten million dollar budget, The Disaster Artist earned twenty nine point eight million worldwide. The limited December 1, 2017 opening quickly expanded on the strength of early awards buzz and word of mouth from midnight crowds who already knew The Room by heart. Domestic numbers proved strongest in major cities where the source material had long held cult status.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Nearly a decade later the double bill of The Disaster Artist and The Room still draws packed houses. Tommy Wiseau continues to tour with live screenings of The Room into 2026, often joined by Greg Sestero for Q and As that feel closer to reunion concerts than standard repertory events. The original film’s reputation as the ultimate so bad it is good experience has only grown, and Franco’s movie is regularly cited as the reason a new generation discovered the phenomenon in the first place.
Streaming and Availability
Viewers who missed the theatrical run can now catch the film on Cinemax channels through Amazon and Apple TV. Purchase and rental options remain available on Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, making it easy to revisit the story of how one strange dream turned into two separate cult touchstones.
