Synopsis
Songwriter Stephin Merritt is known as "the Cole Porter of his generation" for his memorable melodies, lovelorn lyrics and wry musical stylings. Shot over a period of 10 years, "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields" explores his friendship with his longtime bandmate and manager Claudia Gonson. Through his recording and songwriting process, the film traces a 20-year career that has yielded one of the most engaging bodies of work in the contemporary American songbook.
Scores
Overall Score
28.4
Popularity Percentile (Year)
8.1%
Box Office Percentile (Year)
27.7%
Review Aggregate
75.0
Critic Consensus
Critic reception is mixed, with 76% of 29 logged reviews marked Fresh. Across reviews, critics repeatedly emphasize macabre, dark, lighthearted. Common reservations focus on execution consistency, even when reviewers praise standout elements.
macabredarklightheartedgrittystylizedcharacter-driven
Cast
| Cast | Year | Reported Salary | Inflation Adjusted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | ||||
Aggregated Reviews
Rotten Tomatoes critic score77.0
RT critic review count31
Rotten Tomatoes audience score75.0
RT audience rating count100
IMDb rating7.2
IMDb votes314
Box Office ?
| Category | Year | Reported | Inflation Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 2010 | $68,719 | $98,841 |
| International | 2010 | N/A | N/A |
| Worldwide | 2010 | $68,719 | $98,841 |
Earnings / Profitability
| Category | Year | Reported | Inflation Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | |||
| Theatrical Net Revenue | 2010 | $34,360 | $49,420 |
| Digital Rentals ? | 2010 | $1,066,000 | $1,533,261 |
| Digital Purchases ? | 2010 | $311,000 | $447,321 |
| Physical Rentals ? | 2010 | $2,501,000 | $3,597,266 |
| Physical Purchases ? | 2010 | $5,604,000 | $8,060,407 |
| TV & Streaming Revenue | 2010 | $75,000 | $107,875 |
| Total Revenues | 2010 | $9,591,360 | $13,795,550 |
| Expenses | |||
| Budget ? | 2010 | $250,000 (est) | $359,583 (est) |
| Print & Advertising (P&A) ? | 2010 | $80,000 (est) | $115,066 (est) |
| Participations | 2010 | $384,000 | $552,319 |
| Residuals ? | 2010 | $650,000 | $934,915 |
| Interest & Overhead | 2010 | $50,000 | $71,917 |
| Total Expenses | 2010 | $1,414,000 | $2,033,800 |
| Movie Net Profit or Loss | 2010 | $8,177,360 | $11,761,750 |
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