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- The Crow Can’t Draw Flies at the Box Office
- Bill Skarsgård’s The Crow Is Overshadowed by Brandon Lee’s Legacy
- The Crow Is a Fallen Franchise
As a film critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the legacy of Brandon Lee and his iconic portrayal of Eric Draven in “The Crow” is undeniably profound. Having witnessed the evolution of this franchise since its inception, it’s clear that no actor could ever truly replace Lee – much like how no one can fill the shoes of Marlon Brando or James Dean.
The release of The Crow in cinemas was met with a chilly reception, marred by poor critical appraisals and unfavorable publicity. With indications of becoming one of the biggest box office bombs of 2024, this film’s failure serves as further proof that the The Crow franchise is under a persistent spell. Notably, this latest iteration, either described as a reboot, “re-imagining,” or remake of the 1994 movie by the same name, has unfortunately followed in the footsteps of its predecessors. Directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Bill Skarsgård, the film is a long-awaited, yet ultimately disastrous production that traces its origins back to the unfortunate 1993 demise of the original film’s lead actor, Brandon Lee, who was fatally struck by a prop gun. Lee’s untimely death has left an indelible shadow over the franchise, which now includes four unsuccessful sequels and a short-lived television adaptation.
The poor performance at the box office for the remake of “The Crow” signifies a significant business mistake in underestimating the lasting impact of Lee on the series. While those who were deeply affected by Lee’s passing during the film’s release have strong reservations towards the new movie, viewing it as almost blasphemous, the franchise doesn’t hold the same emotional significance for younger generations. The underperformance of “The Crow” demonstrates that the themes of sorrow and loss that the movie embodied, originating from James O’Barr’s 1989 comic book series, have moved beyond the franchise and become almost exclusively associated with Lee. His powerful, poignant portrayal in the 1994 film continues to resonate as strongly today as it did three decades ago.
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The Crow Can’t Draw Flies at the Box Office
Initial disinterest from moviegoers towards the release of The Crow was mirrored in the low earnings predictions for the film, forecasting it to earn between $6 million and $9 million during its domestic opening weekend. However, surprisingly, the movie managed to gross only $4.6 million during its first weekend, ranking it eighth for the weekend, with the re-release of Coraline taking the lead and Despicable Me 4‘s holdover release narrowly edging ahead.
Compared to the original movie, released in 1994, the initial domestic opening was $11.7 million and went on to make a total of $50.7 million domestically and $94 million worldwide, with a production budget of $23 million. Conversely, the recent remake of The Crow, costing $50 million to produce, managed only $4.6 million at international box offices during its opening weekend, totaling less than $10 million globally. Not only did it fail to match the original’s box office success, but it also underperformed the first sequel, The Crow: City of Angels, which earned nearly $18 million domestically by the end of its run. At its current rate, The Crow may struggle to exceed $10 million at the domestic box office before wrapping up its theatrical release.
Bill Skarsgård’s The Crow Is Overshadowed by Brandon Lee’s Legacy
Despite the uncertainty about how The Crow would have fared if Brandon Lee had lived to see its release in 1994, there’s no denying that the tragic circumstances surrounding his death created a unique interest in the movie, ultimately driving it to commercial success.
The Crow came out approximately a year after Lee’s passing, leaving a profound impact on its director, Alex Proyas, and creator James O’Barr, as they were considering abandoning the project. However, they ultimately completed the film as a tribute to Lee’s fervor and skill. The movie served as Lee’s cinematic obituary, with both O’Barr and Proyas expressing their belief that it should not be altered through remakes or sequels.
Although Bill Skarsgård, who took over the character of Eric Draven from Lee in the film series, is a skilled and intriguing actor, Lee’s deeply moving portrayal in the original movie has left such a lasting impression on the character that it appears challenging for any other actor to create a distinct identity within this role. This difficulty can be seen in the poor box-office performance of the new film, suggesting that viewers prefer Lee as Eric Draven and are not interested in seeing another actor take on the role.
The Crow Is a Fallen Franchise
It’s not really surprising that The Crow failed at the box office, considering the strong connection audiences have with Brandon Lee’s memorable portrayal of Eric Draven and the fact that the movie series had been inactive since 2005. The weak fourth installment, The Crow: Wicked Prayer, was disappointingly released directly to video after a brief theatrical run, following it by three years was The Crow: Salvation, which, like its predecessor, received only a token theatrical release before being distributed directly to video.
After the demise of Lee, the film series struggled significantly and failed to thrive on television as well. This was evident with the TV series “The Crow: Stairway to Heaven” that aired in 1998, featuring Mark Dacascos as Eric Draven, lasting for 22 episodes. Over the past three decades, the franchise has been on a steady decline, making the release of the new film intriguing. It’s fascinating to try to understand why this movie was made, as suggested by original director Alex Proyas, who views the new version of The Crow as a cynical attempt at earning money with no potential profits in sight. “The Crow” is currently playing in cinemas.
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2024-09-01 01:01