<P> In a 2017 interview for a Vox video, The Disaster Artist co-writer Tom Bissell explained his views on The Room's popularity, as well as his personal enjoyment of the film, by noting that: </P> <P> It is like a movie made by an alien who has never seen a movie, but has had movies thoroughly explained to him . There's not often that a work of film has every creative decision that's made in it on a moment - by - moment basis seemingly be the wrong one . (...) The Room, to me, shatters the distinction between good and bad . Do I think it's a good movie? No . Do I think it's a strong movie that moves me on the level that art usually moves me? Absolutely not . But I can't say it's bad because it's so watchable . It's so fun . It's brought me so much joy . How can something that's bad do those things for me? </P> <P> The Room played in the Laemmle Fairfax and Fallbrook for the next two weeks, grossing a total of US $1,800 (equivalent to $2,395 in 2017) before it was pulled from circulation . Toward the end of its run, the Laemmle Fallbrook theatre displayed two signs on the inside of the ticket window in relation to the film: one that read "NO REFUNDS" and another citing a blurb from an early review: "This film is like being stabbed in the head ." During one showing in the second week of its run, one of the few audience members in attendance was 5 - Second Films' Michael Rousselet, who found unintentional humor in the film's poor dialogue and production values . After treating the screening as his "own private Mystery Science Theater", Rousselet began encouraging friends to join him for future showings to mock the film, starting a word - of - mouth campaign that resulted in about 100 attending the film's final screening . Rousselet and his friends saw the film "four times in three days," and it was in these initial screenings that many of The Room traditions were born, such as the throwing of spoons and footballs during the film . </P> <P> After the film was pulled from theaters, those who had attended the final showing began e-mailing Wiseau telling him how much they had enjoyed the film . Encouraged by the volume of messages he received, Wiseau booked a single midnight screening of The Room in June 2004, which proved successful enough that Wiseau booked a second showing in July, and a third in August . These screenings proved to be even more successful, and were followed by monthly screenings on the last Saturday of the month, which began selling out and continued up until the theatre was sold in 2012 . Tommy frequently made appearances at these screenings, and often engaged with fans afterwards . On the 5 year anniversary of the film's premiere, it sold out every screen at the Sunset 5 and both Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero did Q&A's afterwards . The film was featured on the 2008 Range Life tour, and expanded to midnight screenings in several other cities soon after . Celebrity fans of the film included Paul Rudd, David Cross, Will Arnett, Patton Oswalt, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Seth Rogen, and James and Dave Franco . Kristen Bell acquired a film reel and hosted private viewing parties; Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas would also slip references into episodes of Mars "as much as possible". The film eventually developed a national and international cult status, with Wiseau arranging screenings around the United States and in Canada, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand . </P>

How much money did the film the room make