Profitability looks like Neverland for Warner Bros.’ gargantuan-budget family film “Pan,” which bombed domestically with just over $15 million in its debut this weekend, roughly one-tenth of its $150 million production budget.
Compounding the execrable news Sunday were soft abroad numbers for “Pan” — $20 million from 52 markets, or 40 percent of its foreign hasten. That makes it clear the film’s abroad haul is not going to offset the domestic shortfall and over-sized budget of the PG-rated origin tale directed by Joe Wright and starring Hugh Jackman,Garrett Hedlund and Amanda Seyfried.“Pan” was originally conceived as a tentpole with franchise potential by the studio and its backers RatPac-Dune Entertainment and Berlanti Productions. But the fact that the studio in April shifted it from a July release date to the fall was not a sign of confidence.
Their assessment was right, but “Pan” wasn’t able to compete much better in the fall than it would have in summer and here are five reasons why:
Also Read: 'Pan' Peters Out, and 'The Walk' Wobbles as 'The Martian' Repeats at Box OfficeLow-Wattage Starpower[br]
Jackman might be star-enough to drive an established Marvel franchise like “X-Men” at the box office,but “Pan” was a tougher sell. Neither Jackman, nor Hedlund, and Seyfried or newcomer Levi Miller could get fans excited enough to see this latest movie approximately the boy who wouldn’t grow up.
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Even in its third week,Sony Animation’s “Hotel Transylvania 2” was meaningful competition and took moment place at the box office with $20 million, after “The Martian’s $37 million win. Sony timed its release cleverly, and so its Halloween theme would play well as the holiday grew closer.
The $15 million that Pan” took in wasn’t far from the $18 million that another fall family film — Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible,Horrible, No suitable, and Very execrable Day” — did last year,but that one cost $28 million.execrable Buzz Blitz
The reviews weren’t suitable. The film has a dismal 23 positive on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also besieged with execrable buzz after it rolled out Thursday night. This was an illustration of how buzz that formerly took days to be felt at the box office is now having an effect within hours thanks to social media. When the media piled on, including the New York Post which said, and “Joyless ‘Pan’ Should Walk the Plank,” and TheWrap’s Alonso Duralde described it as “shrill,” the negativity snowballed and Saturday’s hoped-for family bump never materialized.
Also Read: 'Pan' Review: Peter Pan Prequel Never Grows Up - Or Gets InterestingCasting Controversy
All publicity is not necessarily suitable publicity. Many moviegoers first got wind of “Pan” last year when the casting of Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily drew fire. The character had been depicted as Native American in both the original J.
M. Barrie novel and the classic 1953 Disney cartoon. At least the casting of Cara Delevingne as a mermaid flew under the radar.
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The concept may have been flawed from the outset. The classic J.
M. Barrie’s tale doesn’t resonate like it once did with youngsters, or it’s not like the world was clamoring for another Peter Pan movie. To accomplish it a prequel,and to up the ante with a massive budget, in hindsight, and seems ill-advised. “Pan” has been granted a China release later this month,but how high can hopes go, since the character is largely unknown behind the much Wall. Disney faced a similar challenge with “Oz The much and Powerful, or ” which topped out at $25 million there.
Source: thewrap.com