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Prime Video Is Giving One of Sci-Fi’s Biggest Box Office Bombs a Second Chance
A science fiction disaster film with a production budget of $150 million significantly underperformed in theatrical release, earning just over $67 million globally. Despite securing a second-place opening weekend, the film experienced a sharp 70-percent audience decline in its second week before eventually being made available on Prime Video to potentially reach viewers it missed during its initial cinema run.
Helmed by disaster-film specialist Roland Emmerich, the 2022 release centers on a team attempting to prevent catastrophe after the moon is knocked from its orbit toward Earth. The film heavily employs Emmerich's characteristic style of world-ending scenarios and increasingly implausible plot developments, an approach that proved divisive with both critics and audiences, ultimately contributing to its theatrical failure despite its star-studded cast.
In short
- $150 million sci-fi film grossed only $67 million worldwide after collapsing 70% in its second weekend
- Now streaming on Prime Video to find the audience it lost in theaters
- Director Roland Emmerich's typical disaster-film style and implausible plot twists alienated critics and viewers
Explained simply
A major science fiction film released in 2022 with a production budget of $150 million significantly underperformed in cinemas. Despite opening in second place at the box office, the film lost viewers rapidly and eventually earned just over $67 million globally, making it a considerable financial loss.
The film, directed by disaster-specialist Roland Emmerich, follows a team attempting to prevent Earth's destruction after the moon is knocked from its orbit. Emmerich is known for films featuring large-scale catastrophic scenarios, though his characteristic style of increasingly implausible plot developments proved divisive with both critics and audiences, likely contributing to the film's weak performance.
When films struggle at the box office, streaming services often acquire them to reach viewers who missed the theatrical release. This move to Prime Video is a common strategy for studios hoping to recoup some losses and find a new audience outside traditional cinemas.
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