Coppola's film channels Ayn Rand's controversial philosophies
- Francis Ford Coppola invested around $120 million to create Megalopolis, largely funded by his wine business.
- The film features a character reminiscent of Ayn Rand's heroes, intertwining themes of architecture and individualism.
- Despite its grand vision, Megalopolis failed to perform well at the box office, earning only about $10 million.
In the United States, Francis Ford Coppola undertook an ambitious film project titled Megalopolis, which he financed with an estimated $120 million, primarily borrowed against his lucrative wine business. This film aims to serve as a personal artistic expression and reflects Coppola's vision of a grand narrative, comparing it to the works of Ayn Rand, particularly The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. The central character, Cesar Catilina, portrayed by Adam Driver, is developed as a complex architect and inventor, echoing elements of Rand's protagonists. However, the film's narrative has faced criticism for presenting unclear political and moral agendas, a stark contrast to Rand's well-defined themes of individualism and capitalism. Despite the vast financial investment and the aspiration to depict epic themes related to societal corruption and artistic vision, the film struggled to resonate with audiences, achieving only approximately $10 million at the box office. As a result, the perceived lack of coherence in its artistic vision and execution may have contributed to its financial underperformance, rendering Coppola’s ambitions less impactful than initially hoped.