NEW YORK — While director Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long, self-financed blockbuster “Megalopolis” was a huge flop among moviegoers, DreamWorks Animation’s critically acclaimed family film “Wild Robot” ” soared to number one at the weekend box office.
What you need to know: “Wild Robots,” director Chris Saunders’ adaptation of Peter Brown’s bestseller, has exceeded its expected release date and generated $35 million in ticket sales in theaters in the United States and Canada. “Wild Robot” will likely be the biggest box office hit, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Universal Pictures’ “Megalopolis,” Coppola’s vision of a Roman epic set in modern-day New York, was never expected to perform anywhere close to such standards, but the film’s $4 million ‘s debut album still had a solemn impression even after reaching the top spot in three weeks. At the box office, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice fell to second place with $16 million in its fourth weekend.
“Wild Robot,” director Chris Saunders’ adaptation of Peter Brown’s bestseller, exceeded its release expectations with $35 million in ticket sales at theaters in the United States and Canada, according to studio estimates on Sunday. “Wild Robot” was poised to do well after critics raved about the story of a shipwrecked robot who raises orphaned geese. Audiences agreed, giving the film a CinemaScore. “Wild Robot” is likely to be a long-term, high-grossing film for Universal Pictures.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at comScore, said “The Wild Robots” is “similar to the “Elemental” scenario in that it aims to achieve decent box office success and then aim for long-term playability. “It may take a page away from Japan,” he predicts. Pixar’s Elemental, which like Wild Robot was not a sequel, opened to a modest $30 million, but went on to gross nearly $500 million worldwide.
Family films have particularly boosted box office revenue this year, with “Inside Head 2” being the year’s biggest hit. Film consultant David A. Gross, who publishes the Franchise Entertainment Newsletter, said the genre’s sales should reach $6 billion worldwide by 2024, “lower than pre-pandemic levels. “It’s back to normal,” he said.
Megalopolis, Coppola’s idea of a Roman epic set in modern-day New York, was never expected to perform anywhere near that level. But for a film in which Coppola himself invested $120 million, the $4 million debut price was still a hefty sum. After its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, critics had mixed opinions on Coppola’s first film in 13 years. Audiences gave it a D+ CinemaScore.
Even by economic standards, Megalopolis was a huge failure. But Coppola, 85, insisted from the beginning that money was not his concern. Coppola crafted the film, which he first began making in the late 1970s, as a grand personal expression of human potential.
“Everyone is so worried about money,” Coppola told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of the film’s release. “I say this: Spend less money and have more friends.”
The studio took over “Megalopolis” after Cannes. Lionsgate eventually agreed to distribute it for a fee. Mr. Coppola also received most of the $15 million in marketing costs. The film, starring Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel and Aubrey Plaza, was also shown in about 200 IMAX venues and accounted for $1.8 million in ticket sales.
After spending three weeks at the top of the box office, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice slipped to second place with $16 million in its fourth weekend. Warner Bros.’ sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice, starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, grossed $250 million domestically in its first month of release.
In third place was the Transformers prequel “Transformers One” starring Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry. After a weaker-than-expected premiere last weekend, the Paramount-released film raked in $9.3 million in its second weekend.
“Megalopolis” also beat the Indian Telugu action film “Devara: Part 1.” Its opening weekend grossed $5.1 million, good enough for fourth place.
Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night” was also released in theaters. It is a loving dramatization of the nightly sketch comedy show that first aired in 1975. That same weekend, the NBC series began its 50th season, and Reitman’s film opened in five cities: New York and New York. Los Angeles theaters raised $265,000, which translates to a hefty $53,000 per theater average. “Saturday Night” will be released nationwide in two weeks.
Estimated ticket sales from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final national figures will be released on Monday.
1. “Wild Robot,” $35 million.
2. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” $16 million.
3. “Transformers One,” $9.3 million.
4. “Debara: 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.