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Francis Ford Coppola faced one of his biggest failures this year with his aspirational yet risky epic sci-fi movie.Megalopolispresents the Catilinarian conspiracy in an alternate setting of a 21st Century New York stylized as the new Rome, but it failed to impress.
The movie may have the backing of talented stars like Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Shia LaBeouf, and others, but it didn’t help ease the boredom felt by the viewers. The epic made on a budget of $136 million not only tanked at the box office, but also made audiences yawn when they tried to watch it till the end.
The extravagant concept that made people weary
Megalopoliswas a huge risk from the beginning, not only was the sci-fi movie inspired by a real-life historic event but it was also made using the maker’s hard-earned money.Francis Ford Coppola, the film’s writer and director, invested $120 million himself to make the movie on a massive budget of $136 million (via PEOPLE).
However, nothing not even the amazing performance ofShia LaBeoufas Clodio Pulcher could save the film from receiving a terrible response. The movie was criticized for multiple reasons, but its unbearably long runtime stood out.
A Reddit user pointed out that the time kept increasing as they tried to finish theAdam Driverstarrer. Others had similar complaints, stating the normal runtime felt exceptionally slower due to the plot’s tediousness and the pretentious narrative.
A major reason behind the movie’s lackluster response at the box office was the extremely polarizing reviews it received. Some critics called it a masterpiece and a witty play on the parallels between modern government and a historical event. However, soon negative reviews poured in like a thunderstorm, citing the film was a mess of indulgence and over analyzation.
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In the end, aRotten Tomatoesscore of 45% and tons of negative reviews killed any minor chance the movie had of succeeding. Although it tanked horribly, others still believe the concept could be a hit, only if the execution was better.
The multiple hurdlesMegalopolishad to overcome
Although it can be said that Coppola invested his own money in the script because he was passionate about it, he had another reason too. According to several reports, major studios weren’t willing to invest in the movie, fearing its unfavorable outcome (via SlashFilm).
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The article also revealed thatThe Godfatherfilmmaker had to toil a lot in order to secure a capable distributor for his dream project. Fortunately, this task was later handled by Lionsgate for the film’s North American distribution.
Many also believed it stood no chance against competitors likeThe Wild RobotandTim Burton‘sBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. Audiences were more excited to witness the glamorous trio ofWinona Ryder,Monica Bellucci, andJenna Ortegain the gothic horror sequel.
“I did a weird thing in Megalopolis”: Francis Ford Coppola Had to Improvise to Use the Same Trick He Tried on Marlon Brando in ‘The Godfather’
Meanwhile,Chris Sanders‘ DreamWorks Animation production featured stars likePedro Pascal,Mark Hamill, and several others in a heartwarming emotional tale of found family. So, Coppola’s aspirational sci-fi epic partly based on the Catilinarian conspiracy, failed to make a substantial mark during its release.
Megalopolisis currently available to watch on Prime Video.
Shruti Pathak
Articles Published :286
An entertainment writer with a passion for storytelling that transcends genres, Shruti Pathak is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also a devoted poetry enthusiast, exploring the beauty of language and emotion through verse. Obsessed with the show Friends, a self-proclaimed swiftie, and inspired by classical literature these are just some characteristics that describe the novice writer. Newly joining FandomWire as an intern writer, she hopes to share her thoughts while sharpening her writing skills on various entertainment topics.
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Adam DriverBeetlejuice 2Francis Ford CoppolaMegalopolisShia LaBeoufThe Wild Robot
