Posted on 03/01/2020 5:28:20 PM PST by EdnaMode
Harrison Fords canine adventure The Call of the Wild is shaping up to be the latest box office dud for the Disney-owned 20th Century.
The film, based on Jack Londons best-selling novel, has made $45 million in the U.S. and $79 million globally after two weeks in theaters. That wouldnt be a bad result, had The Call of the Wild cost a moderate amount to make and market. However, it carries a price tag above $125 million, meaning the film needs to make between $250 million and $275 million to break even, according to sources close to the production and rival studio executives. Given the unlikeliness that itll reach those ticket sales, The Call of the Wild is expected to lose around $50 million. TSG co-financed the film, which will help mitigate damages for Disney.
After Disney broke box office records last year with billion-dollar blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King and Captain Marvel, the studio is well positioned to withstand a hit or two. Since formally acquiring 20th Century Fox last year, Disney has jettisoned off a string of box office misfires. Most notably, the company blamed much of its $170 million quarterly write-down in August on X-Men spin-off Dark Phoenix, a film that cost $200 million and tapped out with $250 million globally. Underwater with Kristen Stewart, buddy comedy Stuber and the animated Spies in Disguise were also theatrical disappointments.
The Call of the Wild received mixed reviews from critics, though audiences seemed to like it more and gave it an A- CinemaScore. The film debuted to $24.8 million last weekend, ahead of expectations. Box office analysts believe it benefitted as Fords first major on-screen film role in years. The Call of the Wild declined 46% in its sophomore outing and brought in $13.3 million in North America, an average result for a family film. Internationally, The Call of the Wild has made $33 million from 50 foreign markets, representing 91% of its overseas footprint. However, Coronavirus has closed theaters in China, Italy and Korea, which could hinder ticket sales abroad.
The Call of the Wild was written by Michael Green (Logan, Blade Runner 2049) and directed by Chris Sanders. It follows a man (Ford) who crosses paths with a dog named Buck, who was captured from his California home and sold to freight haulers.
More good news.
Did a book report. 100 pages. Great reading for a teenager with a short attention span. White Fang was even better. Movie musta sucked unless the younger generation has no clue.
An old man and his CGI dog.
Sorry Harrison, you lost me when you got political.
Sorry. Harrison Ford is no Clark Gable.
I wouldn’t go see a Harrison Ford movie if they paid me too. Wonder how the son of a bitch likes that?
Next time use a real dog not a fake computer generated one.
Huh? What am I missing here? What happened to Jack London?????
Pretty sure he would have gotten his $ up-front
Some good news this week. FOAD H. Ford.
The Classics comic book is even better ‘cause it has pictures
Ford’s stupid libtard mouth helped tank this movie.
Get woke go broke Harrison. The Trump curse strikes again.
I did a book report too. ...mid 60’s. ...
Only Hollywood can screw this up. ....I will never see the movie.
Probably talking about the screenplay that was based on the original. The movie took licenses with the story.
His libtard mouth tanked this movie along with the fact the subject matter of the film is not what current movie goers want to watch, save a very, very small niche of customer.
His last minute Damascene conversion to “wokeness” didn’t help at all
Too much CGI. The previews made the whole thing look way too fake.
The review I saw told about the dog as mostly a creation of CGI. This effect took the realism out of the picture.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.