If you’ve been following the box office for the past couple of weeks, it’s been quite an interesting time. Horror films dominate with impressive holds week-to-week, while former cinema darlings are getting overlooked.
That’s the case with Amsterdam, as filmmaker David O. Russell is dealing with quite the flop on his hands. It was meant to be an awards contender, given its period piece backdrop and star-studded cast, but the film hasn’t been able to connect with critics and now audiences.
The film is reported to have an $80 million production budget plus a further $70 million spend on marketing and is looking at an estimated global gross of around $35 million. Reports say once you add in the ancillary markets and other revenue, Amsterdam will lose somewhere in the region of $100 million.
While some will note the film’s performance is another lousy look for non-tentpole, ‘prestige’-type movies, Amsterdam’s marketing and word of mouth certainly aren’t helping the case. Couple that with the multiple David O. Russell controversies, and you can chalk this up to an overpriced movie from a director people aren’t open to seeing at the moment.
Outlets like Deadline also point out that the actors’ pay and locations will have played a factor in the budget, but it still doesn’t explain the poor turnout. With the Russell drama surrounding alleged insensitive comments about a trans family member and reported terrible behaviour, that’s also easy to blame.
SEE ALSO: Read our ★★ review of Amsterdam here
However, the stars in the film aren’t always the most box office friendly. Outside of significant franchises like their work in the DC Films, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale are not particularly strong draws. John David Washington is a promising actor but hasn’t established much connection with viewers.
All of this created a lackluster whirlwind that is Amsterdam, and it’s looking to be one of the year’s biggest duds.
Three friends — a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney — become the prime suspects in a murder in the 1930s and at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history.
Amsterdam features a cast that includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Rami Malek (No Time to Die), Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy), Robert De Niro (The Irishman), Mike Myers (Austin Powers), Timothy Olyphant (JustiQueen’sMichael Shannon (Knives Out), Chris Rock (Spiral), Anya Taylor-Joy (Queen’s Gambit), Andrea Riseborough (Possessor), Matthias Schoenaerts (The Old Guard), Alessandro Nivola (The Red Sea Diving Resort), and Taylor Swift.
Amsterdam is currently playing in cinemas.
