Will Smith’s new sci-fi action thriller Gemini Man could cost its studio a massive $75 million loss, following another terrible weekend at the box office.
The movie opened in China over the weekend, and it was hoped that the world’s second biggest movie-going market could pull things back from the brink, but it seems it has flopped there too.
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It made $21 million over its opening weekend in China, falling behind Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’s $22.4 million.
Added to its worldwide box office so far, and it’s only managed $118.7 million.
While that might sound like a decent amount of money, it most certainly is not – the special effects-heavy movie, helmed by Ang Lee, cost in the region of $138 – $158 million.
Add on a significant amount for marketing and advertising, and Paramount Pictures, Skydance, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Chinese film group Alibaba Pictures is looking down the barrel of a $75 million loss, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The movie, which has been in development hell for 20 years, finds Smith playing an ageing hitman who is pursued by a clone of his younger self.
As well as using extensive de-ageing technology so that Smith can play his older and younger selves, Lee continues to pursue hi-frame rate filming, which has proved hugely divisive among audiences and critics (The Times calls the effect ‘aesthetically repellent’).
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Technology and visual effects aside, the movie received terrible reviews, Variety calling it ‘a high-concept misfire’.
The past decade hasn’t been particularly kind to Smith at the box office.
After Earth with his son Jaden flopped in 2013, Winter’s Tale in 2014 tanked dramatically the year after (making $31 million), as did Collateral Beauty and sports drama Concussion.
Coming up, he has the return of the Bad Boys franchise, with Bad Boys For Life due out in January, 2020.
