Francis Ford Coppola's $140 Million Sci-Fi Epic "Megalopolis" Flops at Box Office

The legendary director behind "The Godfather" trilogy has faced his toughest critic yet - the box office. Francis Ford Coppola's latest film "Megalopolis" crash-landed in theaters, leaving both fans and industry experts scratching their heads. Let's dive into what happened and why this $140 million sci-fi spectacle failed to take flight.

A Star-Studded Cast Can't Save the Day

Imagine having Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aubrey Plaza in your movie. Sounds like a recipe for success, right? Well, not quite. Despite its impressive lineup, "Megalopolis" only managed to scrape together $4 million in its opening weekend at U.S. theaters. Ouch!

From Cannes to Catastrophe

The film's journey began with a bang at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. But even there, it divided audiences faster than you can say "lights, camera, action!" Some critics hailed it as a "modern masterpiece," while others weren't shy about dropping the F-bomb - "fiasco," that is.

Rotten Tomatoes: The Bruised Apple

If Rotten Tomatoes scores were grades, "Megalopolis" would be sitting in detention. With a critic score of 49% and an even more dismal audience score of 34%, it's safe to say this Big Apple-based story left a sour taste in viewers' mouths.

Empty Seats and Empty Wallets

Picture this: You spend $140 million on your dream project, sell part of your beloved wine business to fund it, and then watch as it plays to nearly empty theaters. That's the harsh reality Coppola faced when "Megalopolis" debuted across 2,000 screens in the U.S.

What's the Story, Morning Glory?

Set in a post-disaster New York City, "Megalopolis" follows the rebuilding of the metropolis. It's a tale of ambition, urban planning, and probably a whole lot of construction noise. But it seems audiences weren't ready to don their hard hats and dive into Coppola's vision of the future.

The Big Apple vs. The Wild Robot

While "Megalopolis" was struggling to fill seats, DreamWorks' "The Wild Robot" was having a wild time at the box office. This animated adventure based on Peter Brown's book series raked in $25 million on its opening weekend. Talk about a David and Goliath story!

What's Next for Coppola and "Megalopolis"?

As "Megalopolis" continues its international rollout, all eyes are on its performance. Will overseas audiences embrace Coppola's ambitious project, or will it continue to stumble? Only time will tell if this cinematic gamble will pay off or go down as one of Hollywood's costliest misfires.