While none of us would balk at $100 million, that number is sending waves through the Disney corporation as Solo: A Star Wars Story drastically underperformed in its opening weekend.
Disney estimated on Sunday (May 27) that Solo would gross $101 million USD in North America by the end of the U.S. Memorial Day weekend. Overseas numbers were even worse, with the film grossing just $65 million USD internationally. This included a dismal $10.1 million in China.
The film, which tells the origin story of the franchise's Han Solo, was initially projected to bring in between $130 and $150 million USD domestically.
As a standalone Star Wars film, it's trailing behind Rogue One's $155 million opening weekend in 2016. That film went on to surpass the $1 billion mark globally, while analysts expect Solo to merely rake in $400 million against its $250 million budget (which does not include marketing costs).
Signs of potential trouble with Solo were apparent ever since Disney fired original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller and hired the more traditional blockbuster helmer Ron Howard. The latter's final film has been criticized for being mere fan service.
Whatever the case, The Hollywood Reporter explains that the film might have suffered because of its proximity to Deadpool 2 and Avengers: Infinity War.
"There's a question of frequency, and how many times people will go to the movies. Is this too much and too soon for a third time in a five-week period?" Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis said.
Though it will still rake in an inconceivable amount of money, Solo is the least successful entry in the current Star Wars series. Or, as our review puts it, "Solo might unfortunately end up being remembered as the moment when the series finally disappeared up its own ass."
Disney estimated on Sunday (May 27) that Solo would gross $101 million USD in North America by the end of the U.S. Memorial Day weekend. Overseas numbers were even worse, with the film grossing just $65 million USD internationally. This included a dismal $10.1 million in China.
The film, which tells the origin story of the franchise's Han Solo, was initially projected to bring in between $130 and $150 million USD domestically.
As a standalone Star Wars film, it's trailing behind Rogue One's $155 million opening weekend in 2016. That film went on to surpass the $1 billion mark globally, while analysts expect Solo to merely rake in $400 million against its $250 million budget (which does not include marketing costs).
Signs of potential trouble with Solo were apparent ever since Disney fired original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller and hired the more traditional blockbuster helmer Ron Howard. The latter's final film has been criticized for being mere fan service.
Whatever the case, The Hollywood Reporter explains that the film might have suffered because of its proximity to Deadpool 2 and Avengers: Infinity War.
"There's a question of frequency, and how many times people will go to the movies. Is this too much and too soon for a third time in a five-week period?" Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis said.
Though it will still rake in an inconceivable amount of money, Solo is the least successful entry in the current Star Wars series. Or, as our review puts it, "Solo might unfortunately end up being remembered as the moment when the series finally disappeared up its own ass."
