The keyword phrase "patriots day hit or flop" functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a single conceptual unit representing the central topic of inquiry: an assessment of the film Patriots Day's performance. In this structure, "Patriots Day" is a proper noun, while "hit" and "flop" are nouns representing the binary outcomes of success and failure, linked by the conjunction "or". The entire phrase serves as the subject for analysis.
To resolve the question posed by this noun phrase, one must analyze two primary metrics: commercial performance and critical reception. A "hit" is typically defined by significant box office revenue relative to its production and marketing budget. A "flop" denotes a film that fails to recoup these costs. Patriots Day was produced on an estimated budget of $45 million. Its worldwide box office gross was approximately $52.3 million. Standard industry formulas suggest a film must earn 2 to 2.5 times its production budget to achieve profitability, factoring in marketing costs. By this measure, the film was a commercial disappointment and did not constitute a financial hit.
Critically, however, the film was largely a success. It received positive reviews from critics, earning a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and favorable scores on other aggregate sites. The consensus praised its sensitive handling of a traumatic event, strong direction, and compelling performances. Therefore, the assessment is nuanced: Patriots Day can be classified as a critical success but a commercial underperformer. It was not a "flop" in terms of quality or reception, but it also failed to become a box office "hit".
