Warren: No Maher ‘Religulous’ here

Bill Warren has a message for customers angry that Bill Maher’s anti-religion movie, “Religulous,” isn’t being shown in Wichita.

Take off the tin-foil hats.

Warren, admittedly no fan of the Libertarian comic whose “Real Time With Bill Maher” runs Friday nights on HBO, said the decision to pass on the movie comes down to dollars and cents.

“There are six or seven movies that came out at the same time, and most of them are making money,” he said. “That one isn’t. I don’t have the screens anywhere to be able to afford to do that.”

That hasn’t stopped customers from complaining, a fact of movie theater life, Warren said. He expects more when Josh Brolin as “W” premieres soon in Wichita.

“There will be people upset about that movie, too,” Warren said. “But it’ll make money. People will want to see that.”

20 Comments

  1. ictBest
    Posted October 8, 2008 at 9:11 pm | Permalink

    I like Bill Maher. I’ll watch his movie when it comes out on Netflix.

  2. Posted October 9, 2008 at 12:23 pm | Permalink

    Maybe they could show it at that place on Broadway – the Murdock? Or perhaps the Orpheum?

  3. Genuineamerican
    Posted October 9, 2008 at 12:39 pm | Permalink

    Mr. WARREN!

    YOU Made An Excewllent Choice, For NOT Showing
    ANTHING To Do w/Such A JERK As That IDIOT Maher.

  4. Posted October 9, 2008 at 2:07 pm | Permalink

    Ah yes … the face of censorship arrives. Afraid of other ideas.

  5. Bill Wilson
    Posted October 9, 2008 at 3:54 pm | Permalink

    For the record, I’m a Maher fan – for the spirited political dialogue he generates, not for his disdain for religion.

  6. buck67209
    Posted October 9, 2008 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

    “Religulous” is indeed making money, Bill Warren. At least we have one competing chain in this town to thwart your censorship – Northrock will be showing the movie starting this Friday. As for the money, “Religulous” was released on only 502 U.S. screens last weekend and took in $3,409,643 or $6,792 per screen according to the “Yahoo! Movies” website. By comparison, the anti-Michael Moore flick that Bill Warren’s Theaters were more than happy to screen, “An American Carol,” played in 1,639 theaters and made $3,656,000 or $2,230 per screen.

  7. Jombi
    Posted October 10, 2008 at 6:43 am | Permalink

    In typical Wichita Kansas fashion!
    I’m sure there are some books in the library he doesn’t approve of either.

  8. Posted October 10, 2008 at 8:52 am | Permalink

    Bill Warren is an advocate of socialism as well as censorship. Perhaps the City politicians are behind his attempt to keep this movie out of Wichita.

  9. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted October 10, 2008 at 10:06 am | Permalink

    Maybe he gets his movie advise from sarah palin?

  10. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted October 10, 2008 at 10:07 am | Permalink

    “Perhaps the City politicians are behind his attempt to keep this movie out of Wichita.”

    Naaaaaw. I think it’s terry fox, joe wright, and probably their buddy phreddy phelps.

    “Jesus, save me from your followers!”

  11. mrcnokc
    Posted October 10, 2008 at 2:31 pm | Permalink

    It’s playing in Oklahoma City. Y’all come on down! I’m going tonight. AMC Quail Springs…

  12. lizard
    Posted October 11, 2008 at 10:51 am | Permalink

    I’ll be seeing this movie one way or another. I thought Warren had more guts that this. He should know that censorship never wins, it just makes people more interested.

  13. jerry
    Posted October 11, 2008 at 1:18 pm | Permalink

    Warren is quoted as not airing the movie as a result of a business decision. That is his right.

    Please leave it at that.

  14. wildcat
    Posted October 13, 2008 at 7:29 am | Permalink

    It’s his theatre, he can show what he wants!! Take your whinning some place else!

  15. Posted October 13, 2008 at 10:42 am | Permalink

    “wildcat
    Posted October 13, 2008 at 7:29 am | Permalink
    It’s his theatre, he can show what he wants!! Take your whinning some place else!”

    Not when he has $6 million of MY money involved!

  16. Posted October 13, 2008 at 12:08 pm | Permalink

    Religulous IS showing in Wichita. Check out Northrock 14 (Dickinson Theaters) for showtimes: http://www.dtmovies.com/showtimes.aspx?tid=93

  17. einsfahrt
    Posted October 16, 2008 at 8:42 am | Permalink

    Political leanings aside, a business decision is a business decision. So much vitrol…

  18. Posted October 18, 2008 at 6:49 am | Permalink

    Christ people, it IS Bill’s theatre. Drive out east to see it… Good ol’ Northrock 14… see ya tonight. Big ups, Mahr.

  19. Posted October 18, 2008 at 6:51 am | Permalink

    Christ, it IS Billy Warren’s theatre… drive out east and catch it at Northrock.

  20. bth
    Posted October 18, 2008 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    undrtow0515 – I agree that it is his theater. At least I did until I became his source of finance.