How ‘Klara And The Sun’ Got Blotted Out At the Box Office
Klara and the Sun, starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams and directed by Taika Waititi, opened to just $701,000 in the US, despite a broader box-office recovery and interest in auteur-led films. Its weak debut raises questions about how a high-profile, original film aimed partly at women failed to find an audience.
The film played in 880 cinemas, averaging less than $800 per venue. Its reported direct cost was $44.3 million, with a contingency of $4.4 million and anticipated New Zealand subsidies of $7.55 million; Sony insiders put the net cost in the high $20 millions before marketing and distribution. The article says financiers Spyglass and TSG covered half the budget, limiting the potential losses.
In short
- Klara and the Sun opened to $701,000 domestically.
- It played in 880 cinemas, averaging under $800 each.
- Sony insiders say its net cost was in the high $20 millions.
Explained simply
Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun is a speculative story told by Klara, an artificial friend designed to keep a young person company. It explores companionship, technology and how people value one another. The film adaptation stars Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams and was directed by Taika Waititi.
The film’s backers include Spyglass and TSG, while Sony handled its release. Its reported production costs were partly offset by expected New Zealand subsidies, and the financiers covered half the budget. The story matters because the film’s performance raises questions about the commercial risks of making original films with prominent casts and established directors.
Americas Celebrity Entertainment Film Geopolitics Politics World