Taika Waititi was once considered one of Hollywood's new filmmaking kings after a hit Marvel movie, an Oscar-winning World War II film and an upcoming Star Wars project (though that project has reportedly been put on hold). How the mighty can fall, it seems. His latest movie finds itself in an awkward position before audiences have even had a chance to see it. Despite bringing together Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams and a book adored worldwide, his newest film has met with critical revulsion, and it looks set to be one of the year's biggest box office flops.
Klara and the Sun officially opened in just 880 theaters across North America today, a massive drop from the 1,900 locations initially projected by The Numbers earlier this month. It is a second blow for the film, coming alongside a difficult critical reception, with the movie currently holding just 24% on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on the bestselling novel by Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun introduces audiences to Klara, an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home.
When Klara meets Josie, each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother, and they have suffered great loss, but Klara's innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie's complicated world. The cast is led by Ortega (Wednesday) as Klara, alongside Mia Tharia (Phoenix Rise) as Josie, Adams (Arrival) as Josie's mother, Aran Murphy (Lola) as Rick and Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire).
'Klara and the Sun' Has Struggled With Critics
The movie's early reception has been particularly disappointing given the talent involved, with Waititi returning to the kind of emotional storytelling that earned him an Academy Award for Jojo Rabbit. It is just that he seems too prone at this point to return to the quirky style of filmmaking that worked in small doses before, but on a grander scale. And with a story as emotional as this one, there is a total tonal shift.
The limited release puts the film in big trouble as it pertains to box office projections, too. The Numbers originally anticipated approximately 1,900 theaters for Klara and the Sun, but the confirmed figure of 880 means the film will have considerably fewer opportunities to attract ticket buyers during its opening weekend.
Klara and the Sun opens in 880 North American theaters today.
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