Paramount’s ‘Better Man’ became a historic box office flop with just $1.9 million grossed in its nationwide debut, one of the worst openings ever for a studio movie. The film, a musical about British pop star Robbie Williams featuring a CGI chimp, cost $110 million to produce. Despite critical acclaim, it is unlikely to reach even $10 million at the domestic box office.
‘Better Man’ joins a long list of Hollywood misfires that did not deserve such disappointing box office returns. Martin Scorsese once railed against the industry’s obsession with box office numbers, calling it “repulsive.” Christopher Nolan agreed, noting that films like ‘Blade Runner’ were flops on release but gained appreciation over time.
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ grossed $380 million but carried a $150 million budget, making it less profitable than expected. Its prequel ‘Furiosa’ tapped out at $173 million in summer 2023, failing to reach $70 million domestically. Variety called the film “darkly bedazzling.”
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s ‘The Fall Guy’ grossed $171.8 million worldwide against a $130 million production budget. The action romance earned rave reviews for the stars’ chemistry, with Variety praising Gosling’s performance.
