The first box-office flop of the decade goes to … Dolittle !
Starring Robert Downey, Jr., the adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation (all varyingly bad and weird) made a lacklustre showing over a four-day American weekend. Despite coming in at second place, with a domestic total of $30.6 million, t he film, with a reported budget of $175 million, is currently projected to lose up to $100 million.
The movie has yet to be released in over 20 markets, including China and the U.K., so there is a possibility it can break even — though it’s highly unlikely. Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil managed as much last year, performing poorly domestically, but gaining a decent profit after a strong international box office.
It’s all particularly impressive considering Cats — a widely panned and bizarre film, with noted production issues — came out just weeks before, and is estimated to lose $70 million at a $95-million budget, now a drop in the bucket compared to Downey’s Dolittle .
Both films fall under the Universal Pictures studio, where it appears some producers have gotten a little too eager to give the green light.
Both films have become the subject of much mockery on social media, and both were savagely trashed by critics and audiences alike.
A true feat, indeed.
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