Moviegoers will proclaim endlessly on social media that they’re exhausted by the constant franchise fare that populates multiplexes. Audiences say that they desperately want original films, but the box office failure of “The Creator” confirms that ticket buyers won’t put their money where their mouth is.
A sci-fi epic that looks far more expensive than it is, Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” grossed $40 million domestically, with a worldwide final posting of $98 million. Stellar visuals, a notable B-list cast, action-focused marketing, and decent word of mouth (it got a B+ from CinemaScore) couldn’t even push Edwards’ labor of love to $100 million. While blame can partially be shifted to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which left its charming cast unable to promote the flick, “The Creator” did receive adequate marketing from Disney.
Made for a modest $80 million, one can’t even blame the failure of “The Creator” on a bloated budget. While many might claim they yearn for originality, “The Creator” was widely rejected, debuting to $14 million on a weekend dominated by franchise offerings like “Saw X,” “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” and “The Nun II,” all of which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
Every few years, the movie industry tries to give viewers mid-scale, original blockbusters, and they continue to fail. With the disappointment of “The Creator,” cinephiles can say goodbye to new, daring, IP-less films entering theaters. But what can viewers expect from Hollywood in the next few years?
