Jenna Ortega's Sci-Fi Film Loses Spanish Theatrical Release After Weak Box Office

It seems like we're hearing more and more about box office disasters at the moment, but this one might be an exception to the rule. We've got something that is so expected to be a disaster that it doesn't even get the chance to be a box office flop. That's the situation that Jenna Ortega's latest film finds itself in, despite the fact it's armed with an Oscar-winning director, a cast packed with recognizable names, and source material written by a Nobel Prize-winning author.

Klara and the Sun has reportedly had its planned theatrical release in Spain cancelled, following a disastrous opening at the domestic box office. According to Spanish publication Hobby Consolas, Sony Pictures has abandoned the film's Spanish theatrical rollout for the time being following poor reviews and disappointing commercial returns. The movie opened in 880 North American theaters on October 23, earning just $701,059 during its first weekend, for an average of approximately $797 per theater.

Directed by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), the film adapts Kazuo Ishiguro's acclaimed 2021 novel. The cast includes Ortega (Scream) as Klara, Amy Adams (Arrival) as Chrissie, Mia Tharia (September Says) as Josie, Aran Murphy (Lola) as Rick, Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) as Capaldi, Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face) as the Store Manager, Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) as Melania, and Davida McKenzie (Leviticus) as Simone.

How Badly Has 'Klara and the Sun' Performed?

The movie has earned approximately $1.44 million worldwide, including around $776,000 domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. It has also received overwhelmingly negative reviews, despite the acclaim surrounding its source material. Sony also scaled back its release in American theaters considerably, and had been expected to release it in approximately 1,900 North American theaters, but the eventual opening was considerably smaller.

Critically, it was a nightmare, too. It currently holds a dismal 25% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 73 reviews, and critics have largely taken issue with the film's overly sentimental tone and its failure to capture the emotional complexity of the original novel, with The Guardian, The Times, and The Telegraph all awarding it just one star.

The Spanish release cancellation represents another setback for a production that had already experienced a lengthy delay. The film remains available theatrically in selected territories, including the United States. No replacement Spanish release date or confirmed streaming debut has been announced.