That same year, Paramount’s Hercules, starring Dwayne Johnson, fared somewhat better, grossing $244 million, but it sported a hefty production budget of $100 million. In 2014, Lionsgate’s The Legend of Hercules fell flat, topping out at under $63 million worldwide after costing $70 million to make. It was certainly below expectations,” said Lionsgate distribution chief David Spitz.Īncient epics are tricky business at the box office, but Hollywood remains obsessed with the proverbial sword-and-sandal genre.
Brenton Thwaites plays a mortal hero who teams with the god Horus ( Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) to save the empire. Still, studio insiders say the company’s exposure on the $140 million budget is limited to $10 million after foreign presales and hefty Australian tax credits, but that doesn’t include $35 million to $40 million in marketing costs.ĭirected by Alex Proyas, Gods of Egypt, earning a problematic B- CinemaScore, stars Butler as god of darkness Set whose rule has forced the Egyptian empire into chaos and conflict. The film was skewered by critics, with a 13 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Gods of Egypt, with aspirations of launching a new franchise, is a major disappointment for Lionsgate and Butler, who had hoped the recreate the success enjoyed by Zack Snyder and Butler’s 300. Related: Oscars 2016: Who Will Win, Who Should Win The Sony comedy debuted to $3.7 million from 16 markets, the majority from the U.K. Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Brothers Grimsby is also getting an early jump overseas before its U.S. Gods of Egypt doesn’t land in China until March 11.ĭeadpool, boasting a domestic total of $285.6 million, had plenty to celebrate as it jumped the $600 million mark worldwide for Fox after earning another $40 million overseas this weekend for a foreign total of $324.2 million and global cume of $610 million.Īnother big winner overseas this weekend was Disney’s animated offering Zootopia, which grossed $30 million from 31 markets for an early foreign tally of $81.4 million. It fell flat in Europe, while it’s top-grossing market was Russia with $3.5 million. The ancient fantasy epic, starring Gerard Butler, also bombed overseas, where it debuted to $24.2 million from 68 markets for a worldwide start of $38.2 million. Superhero sensation Deadpool continued to rock the multiplex in its third weekend, grossing $31.5 million from 3,856 theaters and buryingGods of Egypt, the first big-budget bomb of 2016 at the global box office.įrom Lionsgate, Gods of Egyptopened to an estimated $14 million domestically from 3,117 locations after costing a hefty $140 million to produce (rival studios have it coming in closer to $13.8 million). By Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter