BOX OFFICE: 2013's Next Big Budget Flop? 47 RONIN Kicks Off Run By Bombing In Japan
If a samurai movie can't even succeed in Japan, what chance does it have in America? 47 Ronin - which stars Keanu Reeves and has a budget of at least $175 million - opened in Japan this weekend with a paltry $1.3 million. As many predicted, it looks set to be yet another flop!
Universal's 47 Ronin won't open in North America until December 25th, but it kicked off its international run this weekend in Japan. However, the samurai movie (which is heavy on the CGI and light on star power) took only $1.3 million, finishing third behind two local-language films. While the majority of foreign releases struggle in the country, it's not a good sign for the studio that a movie about a story famous in Japanese folklore starring popular Japanese actors like Hiroyuki Sanada and Rinko Kikuchi has failed to find any real success this soon. Such a sluggish start is an indication that the same will happen elsewhere, especially as awareness of 47 Ronin domestically is extremely low. Analysts are already predicting an opening of only $10 million, with a final total of around $50 million. Not a good result for a movie which cost $175 million to produce...
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