With all due respect to Martin Scorsese, part of the conversation around “Blade Runner 2049” has been its weaker than expected opening weekend numbers. Warner Bros. has admitted the turnout was “narrower” than they had anticipated, and the picture looks unlikely to crack $100 million domestic. That’s not a good look for a movie that cost $150 million plus marketing, and it seems even the theater chains are bracing for what this will do to their bottom line.
The stock market reacted to the low figures for “Blade Runner 2049,” and exhibitors AMC, Regal and Cinemark all saw their stock prices drop on Monday, with the former taking the biggest hit, losing 7.9%.
What’s the takeaway here? Well, it’s a reminder that in the current go big or go home, blockbuster climate, the stakes are absurdly high. It’s almost a miracle that Denis Villeneuve got to make his contemplative, moody sci-fi sequel at all, but you can bet it will be a long, long time before anybody on the Warner Bros. lot (besides Christopher Nolan) gets that kind of creative blank slate to make what they want. When a film missing its opening weekend goalposts causes a ripple effect of financial worry, it’s only going to make executives all the more cautious when it comes to taking risks.
It’ll certainly be interesting to see what Villeneuve is able to do next. Will Legendary feel less confident about moving ahead with “Dune,” another cult sci-fi property, in the wake of these box office numbers? My guess is there will be some serious second guessing as Hollywood watches where these numbers wind up. [Deadline]