Coppola's Megalopolis Opens to Weak $5M at Box Office

Francis Ford Coppola's long-awaited film, Megalopolis, is set to open in North American theaters on September 27, following an advance screening at the New York Film Festival on September 23. The film, which stars Adam Driver and features a budget of $120 million, is projected to have a disappointing domestic opening of around $5 million to $8 million. This low box office forecast raises concerns about significant financial losses for the project. Despite Coppola's esteemed reputation, no major Hollywood studio was willing to support the film after a buyer's screening attended by top executives. Lionsgate eventually agreed to distribute and market the film, but Coppola is reportedly responsible for the marketing costs. The film's promotional efforts faced setbacks, including the retraction of an initial trailer due to incorrect critic quotes. A new trailer has since been released, omitting any reviewer quotes. Coppola's passion for this project has spanned decades, and he has invested a portion of his personal wealth into its production. The film's themes revolve around the creation of a utopian city, reflecting Coppola's artistic vision and ambition. The collaboration with Imax for select screenings highlights the film's innovative approach, as Coppola utilized Imax-certified cameras during production. As the release date approaches, the film's performance will be closely monitored, given its potential to rank among the lowest openings in Coppola's career.