Everything you’ve heard about The Big Sick, from the 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score to the early Oscar buzz, is true: it’s one of the year’s best films (which is particularly impressive because romantic comedies are usually among the year’s worst films). Unfortunately, it’s still in limited release; fortunately, that changes this weekend. “3 weeks ago, we were told the goal was 1,000 screens,” tweeted Kumail Nanjiani, who co-wrote the semi-autobiographical movie with his wife, Emily V. Gordon. “This weekend, we open in over 2,500.”
That was part of a larger Twitter thread, where the Silicon Valley star thanked everyone who’s seen The Big Sick and shared their stories along the way.
We just got back a whirlwind multi-continent tour to promote #TheBigSick. We did interviews, Q&A’s after screenings, ate a lot. I met people I never thought I’d meet. People I’ve been a fan of for decades have been watching the movie & reaching out. I’ve gotten messages from people I look up to that would make a teenage Kumail’s head explode. They make an adult Kumail’s head explode.
He’s been in conversations about interracial couples.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885184591018852352
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885185260933201921
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885185664295239680
He and Emily have talked to people with her medical condition.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885185998275072000
He didn’t start immediately bawling when told this.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885186906631188481
And most importantly, he argued about ice cream.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885187208424046592
“I’m overwhelmed, moved, stunned, grateful, thankful, connected. I feel like an open wound. In a good way. Everything makes me feel so much,” Nanjiani continued. “The fact we’re going this wide with a fraction of the advertising budget of most summer movies is absurd. It’s all word of mouth.”
It’s almost as if people are responding to an original idea. Hmmm. Anyway, check out Nanjiani’s thread below, then go see The Big Sick. It has everything you want in a movie: a 9/11 joke, a Gremlins reference, and… that’s it.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/885183459596976128
