Far away from Pandora, the R-rated “Babylon,” directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, bombed with $3.5 million from 3,343 venues over the weekend and an estimated $5.3 million through Monday. The film’s especially terrible start, as well as its “C+” CinemaScore from audiences, suggests that even with winter blues, the 3-hour and 9-minute long “Babylon” may not have resonated on the big screen.
That’s a problem because the movie cost roughly $80 million to produce and tens of millions more to market, meaning the Oscar hopeful will become a money loser unless business picks up in the coming days. The film international release in late January should help ticket sales. But barring a reversal in fortunes, “Babylon” may be the lone blemish in Paramount’s otherwise unexpectedly stellar year at the box office, with hits ranging from “Top Gun: Maverick” to the creepy thriller “Smile.”
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, suggests there’s still room for optimism regarding “Babylon,” an over-the-top ode to Hollywood. “The film will get a boost if it picks up big awards nominations,” he says.
movies flopping left and right...
