Despite featuring major A-list actors like Margot Robbie, Dwayne Johnson, and Julia Roberts, numerous non-franchise films have bombed at the box office this fall, signaling a significant shift in audience engagement, with only massive, critically acclaimed productions like Leonardo DiCaprio's 'One Battle After Another' seeing moderate success, often still struggling to profit.
This fall has seen an unprecedented rejection of star-studded movies by audiences, with films featuring A-listers such as Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Channing Tatum, Kristen Dunst, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Daniel Day-Lewis collectively failing to produce a single hit. Even Leonardo DiCaprio's 'One Battle After Another,' despite being one of the biggest stars, supported by other familiar faces, directed by an Oscar nominee, having an IMAX budget, and receiving rapturous reviews, is only heading towards a respectable $200m worldwide and is unlikely to turn a profit theatrically. Historically, movie stars provided a baseline level of interest for non-genre films, ensuring modest box office success. However, that era, exemplified by Tom Cruise or Will Smith's consistent draws, seems to be over. While franchise brand names have largely replaced stars in ticket sales, studios had hoped recent original successes from Warner Bros. might indicate a willingness for audiences to sample more non-genre movies, nudged by stars. This assumption has proven entirely wrong, as not a single star-laden film this autumn has connected meaningfully, failing to even match the modest success of past titles like 'Ticket to Paradise' or 'Don't Worry Darling.' It now appears that everything—great reviews, strong trailers, online buzz, and low competition—must align perfectly for non-genre films to attract even a modest audience. This creates a deflationary effect where even successful non-franchise events like 'One Battle After Another' don't reach past heights. While some attribute this to a more savvy audience, celebrity culture isn't dying but shifting, with kids aspiring to be influencers and streamers still paying stars for content. The article suggests that audiences are increasingly opting to stay home, influenced by the cost-effectiveness of streaming and the need for 'inescapable hype' to draw them to theaters, rather than simple star power. The 'irrational devotion' to movie stars is being replaced by algorithms designed to keep viewers on the couch.
