"Furious" - Why does the "Mad Max" spin-off fail to succeed in spite of winning?
In a surprising turn of events, "Furiosa" emerged victorious in the US box office battle against "Garfield" during the long weekend. The "Mad Max Saga" featuring Anya Taylor-Joy (28) and Chris Hemsworth (40) raked in $32 million from Friday to Monday. On the other hand, "Garfield: A Slice of Life" managed to make an estimated $31 million. Monday was Memorial Day, a holiday in the United States that honors fallen soldiers.
The Not-So-Celebratory Win for "Furiosa"
While this win over "Garfield" may seem like a reason to rejoice, it's not quite the cause for celebration for George Miller (79) and his team. With earnings of $32 million, "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" is the poorest "Memorial Day" performer in nearly three decades, barring the pandemic year 2020. "Casper," the ghostly comic character, made $22 million in 1995. In contrast, Disney's real-life adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" brought in $118 million in 1994.
Reasons for "Furiosa"'s Unimpressive Beginning
"Mad Max: Fury Road," released in 2015, made $45 million in its opening weekend (over three days). Although "Furiosa" ultimately collected $380 million worldwide, these results are lackluster compared to the franchise's standards. The first three "Mad Max" films with Mel Gibson (68) also failed to reach blockbuster status.
Another factor affecting "Furiosa"'s performance is the change in cast from the earlier installments. Prequels tend to underperform compared to their sequels. It seems "Furiosa" hasn't been able to attract a new audience beyond the existing "Mad Max" fan base - which primarily consists of older men. To become a true blockbuster, a movie needs to resonate with a broad range of demographics.
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Despite triumphing over "Garfield" in the US box office during the holiday weekend, the success of "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" is underwhelming, earning $32 million. This makes it the lowest-grossing Memorial Day release in nearly three decades, aside from the 2020 pandemic year. The movie's US dollar earnings pale in comparison to Disney's "The Little Mermaid" from 1994, which brought in $118 million.
This win against "Garfield" may not be cause for celebration for director George Miller and the "Mad Max" team, as the film's performance is far from impressive. The US media has been critical of the $32 million earnings, noting that it's one of the lowest Memorial Day openings for a major film in recent years.
"Furiosa"'s star-studded cast, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, as well as Charlize Theron reprising her role as Imperator Furiosa, did not draw in a large enough audience to boost box office sales. The change in casting from earlier installments may have affected the movie's appeal, as prequels often struggle to attract new audiences.
Comparatively, "Mad Max: Fury Road," released in 2015, had a more successful opening weekend, earning $45 million in three days. Despite ultimately grossing $380 million worldwide, "Furiosa" falls short of the previous films in the franchise, which also failed to reach blockbuster status during their respective releases.
The US media has been scrutinizing the film's performance, suggesting that to become a true blockbuster, "Furiosa" needed to resonate with a broader audience, beyond the existing "Mad Max" fan base - primarily made up of older men. As Memorial Day weekend comes to a close, the film's financial prospects remain uncertain, leaving many wondering about its long-term impact on the franchise.
Source: www.stern.de
