"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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Source: www.stern.de
