Rupert Sanders’ much-anticipated reboot of The Crow has failed to take flight, crashing hard at the North American box office.
Despite the hype surrounding this R-rated adaptation of the beloved graphic novel, the numbers tell a grim story: the $50 million production grossed just $2 million in its opening weekend.
With such a dismal performance, the film didn’t even manage to break into the top five, leaving many to wonder what went wrong.
Keep on reading for more details!
A Promising Premise That Didn’t Deliver
Fans of the original 1994 The Crow film, which has since achieved cult status, had high hopes for this reboot.
The dark, gritty narrative and the film’s iconic status had many expecting a blockbuster revival.
However, despite its promising premise, The Crow simply didn’t resonate with audiences.
The film received a B- CinemaScore, a rating that typically indicates lukewarm reception but not necessarily a box office disaster.
Yet, in this case, the score seemed to reflect a lack of enthusiasm that translated into a disappointing turnout.
Blink Twice and The Forge Steal the Spotlight
While The Crow was struggling to find its wings, two other films, Blink Twice and The Forge, were quietly outperforming expectations.
Blink Twice, Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut, pulled in $820,000 during previews and went on to rake in $2.8 million on its opening day.
Meanwhile, The Forge, a faith-based film by Sony Affirm, also surpassed The Crow in earnings.
Both films landed in the fourth and fifth spots at the box office, leaving The Crow trailing behind in eighth place.
It wasn’t just the new releases that outshone The Crow. Even films like Twisters, in its sixth weekend, and the re-release of Coraline managed to draw larger crowds.
Twisters is expected to pull in around $5.85 million, while Coraline is set to earn $5.1 million in its second week. These numbers make The Crow‘s $2 million look even more dismal by comparison.
Lionsgate’s Struggles Continue
Lionsgate, the studio behind The Crow, is facing a difficult time at the box office.
The disastrous performance of The Crow comes on the heels of another major flop, Borderlands.
This video game adaptation, with a staggering $110 million budget, managed to make just over $8 million during its opening weekend.
Things only got worse as Borderlands struggled to maintain its momentum, ultimately earning a disappointing $14 million domestically.
With The Crow now joining the ranks of Lionsgate’s recent misfires, the studio is undoubtedly feeling the pressure.
The weak performance of these high-budget films raises questions about the studio’s ability to connect with audiences, especially when it comes to adaptations of beloved properties.
Viewer’s Reactions
Those who have watched the movie didn’t like it more than the 1994 version. However, some totally enjoyed it! Here are the some of the reactions of people:
- “The original Crow cannot be mimicked and this film does nothing to attempt it, but it does bring a new facet to the haunting story of Eric Draven and Shelley Webster. This time a bit removed from the former urban grunge atmosphere that made the former dark fantasy a pop culture legacy. There is one thing I do respect about the writer in that regard, and that is they left a great deal of things in the first story alone and didn’t carry forward and attempt to mimic the same settings as posed in the 1994 film of the same name…”
- “Don’t miss out because of the reviews alone! I went into his hesitant because of that alone but it’s not following the original’s plot but it has its own beautiful and gut wrenching spin. Truly I believe the reviews are biased and based off comparisons to the original. The great thing about this is it doesn’t feel like a remake, it’s leaving Brandon’s work as his own and not really trying to overshadow or rework anything…”
- “I had a very unbiased opinion because I haven’t seen the original, I enjoyed it, the cinematics where shot beautifully, the soundtracks where a brilliant choice for the style of the movie however the acting from FKA twigs was quite poor, and because of this there was no chemistry between the 2 characters which is the main plot of the movie…”
What Went Wrong? Examining the Factors Behind the Failure
So, what exactly led to The Crow’s disastrous start? There are a few potential factors at play.
- First, the competition was fierce, with other films offering fresh, engaging content that appealed more to moviegoers.
- Second, while The Crow has a dedicated fan base, it’s possible that the reboot failed to capture the essence of what made the original so special, alienating both new viewers and longtime fans.
- Finally, the marketing for the film may not have been as effective as needed, failing to generate the buzz required to drive ticket sales.
Can The Crow Rebound?
While the opening weekend numbers are undeniably disappointing, it’s not entirely out of the question that The Crow could find some footing in the coming weeks.
Positive word-of-mouth, if it develops, could help the film gain some momentum.
However, given the current trajectory, it seems more likely that The Crow will be remembered as another misstep for Lionsgate in what has been a challenging year.
The Crow’s poor performance serves as a reminder that even with a well-known property, success at the box office is never guaranteed.
For Lionsgate, the focus now may shift to understanding where things went wrong and how to avoid similar pitfalls in the future.
Whether The Crow can recover or not, the film’s rocky start is a clear signal that something needs to change for the studio moving forward.
| Actor/Actress | Role | Notable Previous Work |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Skarsgård | Eric Draven/The Crow | It (Pennywise), John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| FKA Twigs | Shelly Webster | Honeyboy, We Are Who We Are |
| Danny Huston | Top Dollar | Wonder Woman, Succession |
| Rupert Friend | Detective Albrecht | Hitman: Agent 47, Homeland |
| Jonny Lee Miller | Judah Earl | Elementary, Trainspotting |
Conclusion
- The Crow reboot struggled at the box office, earning only $2 million and failing to crack the top five.
- Films like Blink Twice and The Forge outperformed The Crow, landing higher in the box office rankings.
- This is the second major flop for Lionsgate following the poor performance of Borderlands.
- The film’s failure could be due to ineffective marketing, tough competition, or a failure to capture the original’s essence.
- The weak debut raises questions about whether The Crow can recover in the coming weeks or if it will remain a box office disappointment.