UPDATE: “After Earth” opens to just $27 million in a stunning loss to “Now You See Me”, which raked-in $28.1 million in 500 fewer theaters.
Practically from his first regular appearance on screen (as TV’s “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”) Will Smith has been guaranteed money. And that includes his music videos. Movies? Smith has been most bankable stars in Hollywood from the start of his big screen career. And it seems there are very few summers when Smith isn’t part of a major box office hit.
Well, the Summer of 2013 may just change that. Early indications are that Smith’s “After Earth”, in which he stars with son Jaden, is headed for major BOMB status. The sci-fi action film is out in over 34-hundred theaters and cost nearly $130 million to make. Yet it’s projected to barely make $25M opening weekend and could actually do worse than that, as the early reviews have not been good.
Will Smith blockbusters (which this one could be classified as) always gross well over $100M. And even his “smaller” films, such as “Seven Pounds” ($70M), “The Pursuit of Happiness” ($163.6) and “Ali” ($58.2) attract an audience. His only true bomb so far is probably 2000’s “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, directed by Robert Redford, which only made $30.9M.
In a summer filled with high powered sci-fi (“Iron man 3”, “Star Trek Into Darkness”, “Man of Steel”) and loads of apocalyptic-themed movies, “After Earth”, which is being promoted as more of a star vehicle for Jaden Smith than Will, could be completely ignored.
It will be interesting to see where the blame goes. My guess is that it will directed at director M. Night Shaymalan, once a darling of fans and most critics who has completely self-destructed with his last several films. Smith’s credibility as box office gold might be bruised a bit, but nothing that a new hit won’t cure.