Introduction
In 2023, the passionate critics’ acclaim was not enough to turn some of the best-reviewed films into financial successes, with some of the biggest box office failures this year – such as “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and “Joy Ride” – being widely loved by critics and cinema audiences despite their modest performance at the box office.
Film “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”
Based on the beloved 1970 book by Judy Blume, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” grossed only $20.3 million after its release in 3,343 theaters in April, but critics and audiences loved the adaptation featuring Rachel McAdams, earning a 99% rating from critics and a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Film “Priscilla”
SoFia Coppola’s film “Priscilla,” about the epic love story of Elvis Presley starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, also failed to convert its 82% critic rating into meaningful box office revenue – the film grossed only $20.7 million domestically after its release in over 2,300 theaters.
Film “Dumb Money”
The film “Dumb Money,” which tells the story of the GameStop stock short squeeze that turned ordinary people into millionaires overnight, received praise from 84% of critics and 85% of viewers, but the box office numbers did not reflect that – the film only made $13.9 million after its release in 2,837 theaters in September.
Film “Joy Ride”
“Joy Ride,” an adult-rated comedy about a business trip to China gone wrong, was released in 2,820 theaters in July and was loved by 91% of critics, but it only grossed $12.9 million, making it one of the biggest box office failures of 2023.
Important Background
2023 was a tough year for Hollywood. Members of the Writers Guild of America, representing 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike in May and didn’t return until September in one of the longest strikes in the guild’s history. Actors joined the protesting workers in July and stayed off work until early November. The strikes are estimated to have cost more than $6 billion to the economy of California and other highly productive states, according to a Reuters report, and forced delays in filming and scheduled releases from major studios like Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal Pictures. Many films that were released on time this year received mixed receptions at the box office, leading to unexpected flops from Disney Pixar and DC’s superhero movie franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney’s list of box office flops (“The Marvels,” “Haunted Mansion,” “Elemental,” “Wish”) contributed to making this year particularly challenging for the legacy media company that includes the nonprofit streaming service Disney+ and declining attendance at Disney World’s flagship park in Florida. Disney’s failures coincided with the unconvincing performance of other big-budget films such as “The Flash” and “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” from DC Comics.
What to Watch For
The only major release scheduled for this Christmas is “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on December 22, a sequel to the 2018 film that grossed $1.1 billion worldwide. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is expected to earn between $32 and $42 million in its opening weekend, according to Box Office Pro, a far cry from its predecessor’s opening of $67.8 million.
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