In a surprising turn of events at the box office, Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited epic ‘Megalopolis’ has failed to resonate with audiences, while Chris Sanders’ family animation ‘The Wild Robot’ has soared, capturing the top spot in weekend ticket sales.
‘The Wild Robot,’ an adaptation of Peter Brown’s best-selling novel, opened with an impressive $35 million in ticket sales across the United States and Canada, based on studio estimates released on Sunday. The film exceeded expectations, proving that family-friendly features continue to attract large audiences. Critics have widely praised the heartwarming story of a shipwrecked robot who takes on the role of guardian for an orphaned gosling. The positive reception was also reflected in the film’s A CinemaScore, indicating strong approval from its viewers. With such a robust opening, ‘The Wild Robot’ appears poised for a highly successful and extended run under the Universal Pictures banner.
Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, suggested that ‘The Wild Robot’ could follow a trajectory similar to Pixar’s ‘Elemental.’ While ‘Elemental’ had a modest opening, it eventually amassed nearly $500 million worldwide. Family films, led by major hits like ‘Inside Out 2,’ have played a pivotal role in revitalizing the box office this year. David A. Gross, a consultant who runs a newsletter for Franchise Entertainment, noted that the family film genre could potentially bring in $6 billion worldwide in 2024, signaling a return to pre-pandemic figures.
In contrast, ‘Megalopolis,’ a grandiose vision from Coppola that reimagines a Roman epic within the context of modern-day New York, debuted to a disappointing $4 million. Coppola, who personally financed the $120 million project, has seen mixed critical reception since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, resulting in a lukewarm D+ CinemaScore from audiences. Despite the passion and years Coppola devoted to the project—it has been in development since the late 1970s—the movie fell short of financial expectations. The 85-year-old director has emphasized that his motives were never financial, framing ‘Megalopolis’ as a deeply personal statement about human potential.
“Everyone’s so worried about money,” Coppola explained in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of the film’s release, “I say: Give me less money and give me more friends.”
Initially turned down by numerous studios following its Cannes debut, ‘Megalopolis’ eventually found a distributor in Lionsgate, albeit for a fee. Coppola also covered the majority of the film’s $15 million marketing expenses. Despite featuring a star-studded cast including Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Aubrey Plaza, ‘Megalopolis’ struggled at the box office, even failing to outperform smaller releases such as the Indian Telugu-language action film ‘Devara: Part 1,’ which opened with $5.1 million to take fourth place.
Meanwhile, other major releases continued to battle for box office supremacy. Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ slipped to second place in its fourth weekend, raking in $16 million. Starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, the Warner Bros. sequel has collected an impressive $250 million domestically in just a month.
Taking third place was ‘Transformers One,’ the Hasbro-based prequel featuring Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry. After a somewhat lackluster opening weekend, the Paramount release saw $9.
.3 million in its second weekend.
‘Megalopolis’ was further overshadowed by other debut films, including Jason Reitman’s ‘Saturday Night,’ a dramatization of the genesis of NBC’s iconic sketch-comedy show. Launched in five theaters in New York and Los Angeles, ‘Saturday Night’ brought in $265,000, showcasing a strong per-theatre average of $53,000. The movie is slated for a nationwide release in two weeks, coinciding with the commencement of the NBC series’ 50th season.
According to estimates by Comscore, the weekend box office figures for Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters are as follows:
1. ‘The Wild Robot’ – $35 million
2. ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ – $16 million
3. ‘Transformers One’ – $9.3 million
4. ‘Devara: Part 1’ – $5.1 million
5. ‘Speak No Evil’ – $4.3 million
6. ‘Megalopolis’ – $4 million
7. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ – $2.7 million
8. ‘My Old Ass’ – $2.2 million
9. ‘Never Let Go’ – $2.2 million
10. ‘The Substance’ – $1.8 million
Final domestic figures will be disclosed on Monday, providing further insight into the current dynamics at the box office. While ‘The Wild Robot’ revels in its success, ‘Megalopolis’ stands as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the film industry, where even the most iconic directors can face significant challenges.
