Perhaps it was poetic justice that on the weekend of the 88th annual Academy Awards, itself shrouded in controversy because of its lack of diversity, that the first contender among 2016’s lot of potential blockbuster films, Alex Proyas’ fantasy epic, Gods Of Egypt, would be destined to flop big time at the box office because of its apparent white-washing.
The Gerard Butler-led Lionsgate film had dreams of becoming the next big movie franchise, but instead after a reported budget of $140 million to make the film, and millions more spent on marketing and advertising, only opened to a paltry $14 million despite being shown in well over 3,000 theaters across the country.
“We’re disappointed with the results,” said Lionsgate exective David Spitz. “It was certainly below expectations.”
Gods wasn’t the only new movie to open over the weekend to disappointing results. Both sports dramedy Eddie The Eagle, and ensemble thriller Triple 9 opened below expectations, though neither were as big a disappointment, with their combined budgets amounting to a third of Gods.
All flops aside, Deadpool enjoyed another profitable seven days tallying $31.5 million to top the otherwise slow weekend take. That draw officially makes it the third highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time behind The Passion of the Christ and American Sniper. Despite its horrid showing, Gods of Egypt’s $14 million draw was good enough to land it at number two for the week. Dreamworks’ animated hit Kung Fu Panda 3 earned $9 million and fell a spot from two to three but did well enough overseas to become the top-grossing animated film of all time in China. Sony’s action adventure Risen also fell a notch from three to four with its tally of $7 million. And rounding out the top five is the aforementioned Eddie The Eagle, which opened at $6.3 million.
For the full weekend top 10, check out the list below:
1. Deadpool – $31.5M
2. Gods of Egypt – $14M
3. Kung Fu Panda 3 – $9M
4. Risen– $7M
5. Eddie The Eagle – $6.3M
6. Triple 9 – $6.1M
7. How To Be Single – $5.1M
8. The Witch – $5M
9. Race– $4.2M
10. The Revenant – $3.8M
