Box Office Report for the Week of September 29

As expected, Francis Ford Coppola‘s Megalopolis is officially a Megaflopolis (sorry), grossing a meager $4 million out of a hefty $120 million budget. The writing was on the wall as soon as its reception from Cannes started populating the internet, but I’d argue it was a doomed project from the start.

However, one can’t deny that Coppola finally got his long-gestating project to bow out in cinemas, not only by way of a mini-major (Lionsgate) backing it, but also have an IMAX release. Something like this would clearly not happen if it were not directed by the man who gave us The Godfather, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now.

For those who think this commercial failure continues Lionsgate’s flop era, the details on its acquisition are different than most films the studio distributes, including marketing costs that Coppola himself paid. One should also put in context how the movie was financed. Coppola sold part of his wine company to lock in over $120 million of his own pocket to make the film he had always wanted to, but was unable for many years. In that regard, the movie’s box office results feels irrelevant, and the win itself is that it was released in this economy in an era where studio executives only think about commercial viability instead of artistic quality. Coppola won by having Lionsgate distribute it, and in IMAX. The rest doesn’t significantly matter.

However, one commercially viable and artistic film did end up at #1 this weekend: DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot, with a $35 million domestic tally and a $53 million total on a $75 million budget. Should Universal play their cards right, it will be one of the most profitable animated films of the year, and could very well go all the way at the Academy Awards. It’s the best-reviewed DreamWorks animated movie ever, so there is potential to sway awards voters with its timely story and incredible artistry on display.

Meanwhile, NTR proves, once again, why he is the Man of Masses with Devara: Part 1 taking the American box office by storm, with an incredible $5.1 million domestic tally in 1,040 theatres, which also includes select IMAX screens. However, one must consider that Telugu movie tickets are usually $35 to $40 per person (yes, really, but it would require five different articles to explain why it costs this much), which naturally inflates its grosses. But one cannot deny his pure star power. One fan even went so far as to travel from Japan to Los Angeles to meet him in person at the movie’s U.S. premiere! Have a look:

Some acted surprised when they saw the video, but this is what happens when you largely ignore the biggest film industry in the world at your own peril… He’s called the Man of Masses for a reason, after all!

Here is the full list of the top ten films of the weekend:

1. The Wild Robot (Universal): $35M – 3,962 theatres
2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros): $16M (-38%) – 3,804 theatres
3. Transformers One (Paramount): $9.3M (-62%) – 3,970 theatres
4. Devara: Part 1 (Prathyangira Cinemas): $5.1M – 1,040 theatres
5. Speak No Evil (Universal): $4.3M (-26%) – 2,661 theatres
6. Megalopolis (Lionsgate): $4.0M – 1,854 theatres
7. Deadpool & Wolverine (Disney): $2.7M (-30%) – 1,975 theatres
8. My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios): $2.22M (+706%) – 1,390 theatres
9. Never Let Go (Lionsgate): $2.2M (-51%) – 2,667 theatres
10. The Substance (MUBI): $1.8M (-44%) – 1,712 theatres

Source: Comscore