As a seasoned cinephile with decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must confess that the saga of Francis Ford Coppola’s latest magnum opus, “Megalopolis,” has been a rollercoaster ride of anticipation and disappointment. The $120 million budget and the lukewarm box office debut are making it seem less like a passion project and more like a modern-day Titanic, albeit without the iceberg (or Celine Dion’s theme song, thankfully).
As a cinephile, I’ve often rolled my eyes at the suggestion that this upcoming film is a passion project. However, with its opening weekend projections pointing towards a staggering $120 million, it’s starting to feel more like a pet project of the director. Despite the mixed bag of reviews swirling around, it seems the movie isn’t poised to be a blockbuster, as reported by Variety. The box office debut is projected to fall short, with a disappointing $5-7 million take, which doesn’t bode well for Coppola’s wallet.
Coppola has poured his heart, spirit, and a substantial amount of funding into bringing Megalopolis to life. Films that take a long time to materialize and are financed by their creators often fall into two main categories. There are low-budget productions that astound everyone with what they accomplish on a tight budget, effortlessly recouping their minimal costs, and then there are grand-scale spectacles, which are the passion projects of influential figures in the industry who have the means to create something according to their vision – we’re thinking about Mr. Costner here.
It’s becoming evident that Megalopolis could become an undervalued masterpiece of its era. However, this recognition may not boost the film’s potential to significantly recoup its massive budget. Given its initial single-digit earnings from a 1,700 theater release in North America, it appears that Coppola might have poured considerable resources into one of his most personal films at a potentially high personal cost.
Megalopolis Will Still Find an Audience
Initially, a disappointing box office performance for a play could spell doom for a film, until it was rediscovered much later. However, Megalopolis may not have to wait that long for a second chance. Despite its performance in theaters, the movie will eventually be streamed globally, and this is where it can truly find its fanbase.
Similar to Kevin Costner’s “Horizon,” “Megalopolis” is a film that has been making waves in the media for quite some time now, from production troubles to its acclaimed festival screenings and varying critical reactions. Yet, the headlines alone may not lure moviegoers into theaters, as many prefer to avoid the cost of a cinema ticket for something they’re unsure about enjoying. Instead, they are content to hold off a few months until these films become available for streaming at home.
At present, no location has been confirmed for Megalopolis to make its landing, but it seems likely that Prime Video or Netflix will feature at the top of potential platforms. For now, those who are curious about the enigmatic world of Megalopolis can catch it in theaters from September 27 onwards.
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2024-09-26 20:02