an evaluation of the recently released The Theory of Everything

1. THE THEORY OF
EVERYTHING: A LOOK AT THE
RE L ATIONSHIP BE TWEE N THE FAMOUS
PHY SICIST STE PHE N HAWK ING AND HIS
WIFE
Working title case study

2. NARRATIVE
 The Theory of Everything is a 2014 British biographical romantic drama film
directed by James Marsh and adapted by Anthony McCarten from the memoir
Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Wilde Hawking, which deals with
her relationship with her ex-husband, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, his
diagnosis of motor neuron disease, and his success in physics.
 The film stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones with Charlie Cox, Emily
Watson, Simon McBurney, Christian McKay, and David Thewlis featured in
supporting roles. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto
International Film Festival on 9 September 2014.

3. DETAILS
 By 8 October 2013, principal photography had begun, with the shooting being based in Cambridge
and at other locations in the United Kingdom.[Prior to the start of principal photography, Working
Title had begun shooting on the lawn in front of the New Court building from 23 September 2013 to
27 September 2013; they filmed the Cambridge May Ball scene, set in 1963.On 24 September 2013,
scenes were filmed at St John’s College, The Backs in Queen’s Road and Queen’s Green. The New
Court lawn and Kitchen Bridge were included features in the filming location of the piece. The May
Ball scene was the last of the outside shoots, with filming in a lecture theatre the following day and the
remaining filming completed in the studio over the final 5 weeks of the production.
 The firework displays company Titanium, which developed the displays for the London 2012
Olympic Games, provided three identical firework displays for the May Ball scene

4. RELEASE
The Theory of Everything premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7
September 2014, where it opened in the official sidebar section, Special Presentations. On
10 April 2014, Focus Features acquired the distribution rights to The Theory of
Everything in the United States, with the plan of a 2014 limited theatrical release. Shortly
after, Entertainment One Films picked up the Canadian distribution rights.The first trailer
of the film was released on 7 August 2014. On 8 October 2013, Universal Pictures
International had acquired the rights to distribute the film internationally. The film had a
limited release in the United States on 7 November 2014 expanded in successive weeks to
Taiwan, Austria, and Germany, ahead of a bow in the United Kingdom on 1 January
2015, before expanding throughout Europe.

5. RECEPTION
 The film had a North American limited release on 7 November 2014; it was
released in five theatres and earned $207,000 on its opening weekend, for an average
of $41,400 per theatre. Focus's head of distribution Jim Orr said, "We are very, very
pleased," he added, "It's resonating with audiences and the [exit] surveys we
conducted showed that [the film] played very well across all demographics. It has
outstanding performances with great direction by James Marsh. I believe the
performances, the film itself and the director will be getting Academy attention.“
The film was then widely released on November 26 across 802 theatres, earning $5
million and debuting at No. 7 at the Box Office. During its five day Thanksgiving
week, the film earned $6.4 million.