The concept of Ready Player One is a fanboy’s dream. The inventive pop culture fest was a hit with critics upon its initial release. With Steven Spielberg at the helm many saw the event as a bonafide hit. Unfortunately, the box office tracking for Ready Player One is not doing as well as expected. One would think that a live action film featuring Batman, the Delorean, and King Kong would be an instant success. Tracking points to it being an uphill battle.
The Hollywood Reporter has attributed a $35 million three-day weekend for the virtual reality-centric film. Oddly, the film is opening on a Thursday, something considered unorthodox in blockbuster filmmaking. This was established to gain more money over the Easter weekend. Over the four-day the film is expected to reel in $50 million on the high end. Though that may sound respectable for the $100 million dollar film, the marketing brings up the overall budget to $200 million. The film will need at least $400 internationally to earn a profit.
Compared to other films of this nature, Ready Player One is on par with Pacific Rim with its mid-$30 million three day result. The film ended with $101 million domestically, which is what Spielberg’s film will probably do if the tracking sticks. Hopefully the hype around the film will grow over the next few weeks. With a rumored screening happening at SXSW this weekend, fingers are crossed for a great film. Never ever doubt Steven Spielberg.