Crowe's Cinderella battered

Film

13:30 15 June 2005

Russell Crowe's new film has taken a beating at the box-office in the wake of the actor's assault on a New York hotel worker.

The Oscar-winner's new movie 'Cinderella Man' - which is based on heroic 1920s American boxer Jim Braddock - has slipped down the US movie charts after takings dropped significantly last week.

The critically-acclaimed boxing drama took an impressive $18.3 million in its opening weekend but last weekend earnings dropped by half.

Industry experts are convinced Crowe's attack with a telephone on hotel porter Nestor Estrada is responsible for the significant drop in takings.

Respected Hollywood columnist Jeffrey Wells is quoted by America's New York Times newspaper: "Crowe has single-handedly turned the movie into a financial disappointment. His ability to demand the big bucks may be in great peril if audiences are going to look at his films and say, 'Screw it, I don't want to pay to see that thug.'"

Crowe was charged with second degree assault and possession of a weapon - a reference to the telephone - last Monday (06.06.05) for allegedly attacking Estranda.

The incident happened when the actor got embroiled in a row after claiming the phone in his room didn't work when he tried to contact wife Danielle Spencer.

(c) BANG Media International