It doesn’t get more Hollywood than “Fly Me to the Moon.”
The Apple production stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in a rom-com tied to the ’60s space race and the moon landing “hoax.”
Big stars! A big budget (reportedly $100 million)? A sweet summer schedule release and the perfect counter-programming to kiddie hits (“Inside Out 2”) and horror frights (“Longlegs”).
And … thud.
“Fly Me to the Moon” snared a tepid $10 million in its opening weekend. It’ll need a supermodel’s legs to avoid losing a bundle following its theatrical run.
What happened?
The film had almost zero buzz up until its release date. That never helps. Summer audiences weren’t wooed by the comely stars or the ’60s-era setting.
And we’re still addicted to sequels, prequels and reboots.
Here’s the visual proof.
The year’s other can’t-miss films (“Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Joker: Folie à Deux”) should crack the current top 10 list. Throw two more sequels on the box office pile.
The people have spoken. We want sequels, prequels and reboots. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is both a reboot AND sequel … a twofer!
Last year may have been an anomaly.
The top two films were original-ish. “Barbie” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” “Oppenheimer,” a true original, also crashed the Top 10 list. So did “Sound of Freedom.”
Each had an original pitch to entire audiences. “Barbie” connected to generations of doll-loving fans. Any film directed by Christopher Nolan is an event, and “Oppenheimer” proved it. Hollywood storytellers finally cracked the video game code, meaning we’ll see plenty more of Mario and co. moving forward.
“Sound of Freedom?” A true sleeper sensation.
Yet no original film made the Top 10 list in 2022.
Studio marketers have their work cut out for them. Original stories matter. They also require sophisticated ad campaigns to make audiences willing to give them a try.
As for consumers? They have to stop complaining about the glut of sequels, prequels and reboots and give these original stories a try. They might like what they see, and it’ll help ensure Hollywood makes more of ’em.
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