Photo Credit:Associated Press
By any financial measure, Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-in-the-making, self-financed epic “Megalopolis” was a mega-flop. Despite the legendary director’s passion and investment, the film only managed to earn $4 million in its opening weekend. This is a stark contrast to the success of DreamWorks Animation’s family film “The Wild Robot,” which topped the box office with $35 million.
“The Wild Robot,” directed by Chris Sanders and based on Peter Brown’s bestseller, captivated audiences with its heartwarming story of a shipwrecked robot raising an orphaned gosling. The film received rave reviews and an A CinemaScore, setting it up for a long and lucrative run. Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for Comscore, predicts that “The Wild Robot” could follow in the footsteps of Pixar’s “Elemental,” which had a modest opening but went on to gross nearly $500 million worldwide.
In contrast, “Megalopolis” struggled to find its footing. The film, which Coppola envisioned as a grand statement about human possibility, received mixed reviews from critics and a D+ CinemaScore from audiences. Despite its ambitious narrative set in a modern-day New York with Roman epic influences, the film failed to resonate with moviegoers. Coppola, who financed the $120 million project himself, remained undeterred by the financial outcome, emphasizing his focus on artistic expression over monetary success.
The box office performance of “Megalopolis” was further overshadowed by other releases. Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” slid to second place with $16 million in its fourth weekend, while the Indian Telugu-language action film “Devara: Part 1” grossed $5.1 million, securing fourth place. Even Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night,” which debuted in limited theaters, outperformed expectations with a strong per-theater average.
The contrasting fortunes of “Megalopolis” and “The Wild Robot” highlight the unpredictable nature of the film industry. While Coppola’s film may not have achieved commercial success, it stands as a testament to his enduring commitment to cinematic artistry. Meanwhile, “The Wild Robot” continues to charm audiences, proving that heartwarming stories and strong word-of-mouth can still drive box office success.
As the year progresses, family movies like “The Wild Robot” and “Inside Out 2” are expected to power the box office, potentially reaching pre pandemic levels of revenue. For Coppola, “Megalopolis” remains a deeply personal project, one that he hopes will be appreciated for its artistic vision rather than its box office performance.
