Jenna Ortega’s New Sci-Fi Movie Officially Removed From 1,000 Theaters in Debut Weekend
Sony scaled back the nationwide release of *Klara and the Sun*, starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams, after poor reviews and weakening box-office expectations. The sci-fi drama is now playing in about 850 US theatres, down from nearly 2,000 planned, and is expected to take less than $1 million over its debut weekend.
Directed by Taika Waititi, the film is based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel and has a 24% Rotten Tomatoes score. Its reported budget is as high as $40 million, making the modest opening a difficult start for the film and its two stars, both coming off recent box-office disappointments.
In short
- Sony cut the film’s planned US release from nearly 2,000 theatres to about 850.
- It is forecast to earn less than $1 million in its opening weekend.
- The reported budget reaches $40 million, and reviews have been poor.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Sony’s decision to reduce the release could be seen as a pragmatic response to weak reviews and sharply reduced audience interest. Focusing screenings where demand is strongest may limit further losses and allow theatres and viewers to give more attention to films with better prospects.
The case against
A rapid pullback can also make it harder for a film to find an audience, especially when its literary source, director and cast might attract viewers through word of mouth. A wider release would have offered more people the chance to judge the film for themselves and might have given it time to build interest beyond its opening weekend.
Explained simply
Klara and the Sun is a science-fiction drama based on a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, a British writer. It stars Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams and is directed by Taika Waititi, whose films include both comedies and dramas.
The story centres on an artificial friend designed to keep a young person company, raising questions about technology, relationships and what it means to be human. A cinema release gives studios a chance to earn back the cost of making and promoting a film, while reviews and ticket sales can influence how widely it is shown.
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