“The Fall Guy,” released by Universal Studios in summer 2024, had a disappointing opening weekend with only $28.5 million at the domestic box office, marking a 52 percent drop from the previous year’s hit, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Despite positive reviews, star power from Ryan Gosling, and a high budget of $130 million, the film failed to attract a larger audience. This underperformance raises concerns about the future viability of non-franchise projects at such high costs and contributes to the overall decline in box office revenue for the year.
The lackluster performance of “The Fall Guy” also sets a worrying tone for other major releases scheduled for the summer, including “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” “Furiosa,” “The Garfield Move,” and the original film “IF.” While some of these films are expected to open better than “The Fall Guy,” there are no guarantees in the current box office climate. The industry could be facing an even more challenging summer than anticipated, with high-performance demands and steep competition for audience attention.
In the Top 10 at the box office, aside from the reissue of “The Phantom Menace” which secured second place, there were no other standout performers. “Challengers” saw a 49 percent drop in its second weekend, while “Tarot” struggled with a lackluster opening of $6.5 million and a C- Cinemascore. The disappointing results from these films underscore the uncertainty and challenges facing the industry in terms of predicting audience demand and box office success.
Despite a decent A- Cinemascore, “The Fall Guy” is projected to reach only around $100 million domestically, which may not be enough to cover its total production costs of over $200 million including marketing expenses. This financial shortfall is a significant disappointment for the studio and the filmmakers involved. The industry will be closely watching the film’s performance in international markets to see if it can make up for its lackluster domestic run.
On the independent and specialized film front, there were some positive openings with films like “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Wildcat,” and “Evil Does Not Exist” receiving strong initial reactions in limited release. These smaller-budget films have the potential to find success with niche audiences and critical acclaim, highlighting the diversity of offerings in the film industry beyond big-budget blockbusters. It will be interesting to see how these films fare as they expand to wider audiences in the coming weeks.
Overall, the disappointing performance of “The Fall Guy” at the box office in summer 2024 serves as a cautionary tale for the industry. As studios continue to grapple with changing audience preferences, evolving distribution models, and increased competition from streaming platforms, the future of theatrical releases remains uncertain. The challenges faced by big-budget films like “The Fall Guy” emphasize the need for creativity, innovation, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape.
