In a surprising weekend at the box office, Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited film “Megalopolis” failed to captivate audiences, while Chris Sanders’ animation “The Wild Robot” soared to the top spot. According to studio estimates released on Sunday, “The Wild Robot,” based on Peter Brown’s beloved book, garnered an impressive $35 million in ticket sales across theaters in the U.S. and Canada.
The tale of a shipwrecked robot nurturing an orphaned gosling, “The Wild Robot,” has been praised by critics, which played a crucial role in its successful debut. The warm reception from reviewers was echoed by audiences, who gave it an A CinemaScore. This positive feedback suggests a promising future for the Universal Pictures release.
Media analyst Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore has noted the potential for “The Wild Robot” to achieve sustained success at the box office, drawing comparisons to Pixar’s “Elemental.” The latter, although not a sequel, opened with $30 million and ultimately grossed nearly $500 million globally. With an appealing storyline and strong critical backing, “The Wild Robot” might follow a similar trajectory.
Family-friendly films have been a robust sector this year, led by “Inside Out 2,” the year’s biggest hit. David A. Gross, a film consultant, is optimistic about the genre’s future, predicting it could hit the $6 billion mark worldwide by 2024, returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Contrasting sharply is “Megalopolis,” Coppola’s ambitious Roman epic set in contemporary New York. With a self-funded budget of $120 million, the film managed only $4 million in its opening weekend, a dispiriting figure. The legendary director, now 85, had envisioned the project as a legacy piece, a testament to human potential, rather than a commercial triumph.
Despite the tepid response and a mere D+ CinemaScore from audiences, Coppola remains undeterred by financial concerns, emphasizing his preference for creative collaboration over monetary gain. His efforts to bring “Megalopolis” to life have spanned decades, and even though the film has stumbled in its commercial run, Coppola has maintained a philosophical stance. “Everyone’s so worried about money,” he remarked to The Associated Press, “I say: Give me less money and give me more friends.”
Finding a studio distributor proved challenging after the film’s premiere at Cannes, leading Lionsgate to eventually pick it up, albeit at a cost. Coppola also absorbed the majority of the $15 million marketing expenditure. Featuring stars such as Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Aubrey Plaza, “Megalopolis” debuted in approximately 200 IMAX locations, contributing $1.8 million to its overall earnings.
Meanwhile, Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” slid to second place in its fourth weekend, pulling in $16 million, adding up to a substantial $250 million domestic total after a month. The Warner Bros. sequel featuring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder continues to perform strongly.
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The Transformers saga’s latest prequel, “Transformers One,” landed third, earning $9.3 million in its second weekend after a lackluster debut.
Interestingly, Coppola’s “Megalopolis” fell behind the Indian Telugu-language action film “Devara: Part 1,” which opened to $5.1 million, securing the fourth position.
Newly debuted “Saturday Night,” Jason Reitman’s nostalgic take on the inception of the famed sketch-comedy show in 1975, launched in five theaters in New York and Los Angeles with a robust per-theater average, signaling a successful wide release in two weeks.
Comscore’s estimated ticket sales for the weekend affirm this diverse landscape at the box office, showcasing a blend of family films, epic failures, and promising theatrical debuts. The final domestic figures will offer a clearer picture on Monday.
The ranking for the weekend is 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
Charles Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” may have stumbled at the box office, but Chris Sanders’ “The Wild Robot” brings a wind of change and optimism with its remarkable performance, highlighting a dynamic shift in audience preferences.
