'Jupiter Ascending,' 'Seventh Son' Make For Two Big Flops In One Weekend

It’s not very often that Hollywood unleashes two major theatrical bombs over the same weekend. But that’s what happened when Jupiter Ascending and Seventh Son both crashed and burned in U.S. theaters on Friday.

Warner Bros.’ Jupiter Ascending, starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, is quickly dropping in estimates to a thin $18 million weekend at the box office. With a budget north of $175 million, the Wachowskis’ sci-fi fantasy tentpole could lose tens of millions barring a dramatic turnaround overseas.

The forecast for Universal and Legendary’s long-delayed Seventh Son, starring Jeff Bridges, is just as gloomy. The medieval fantasy tentpole has already projected a loss of $85 million, as Variety exclusively reported this week, despite earning $82 million at the international box office. It’s on track for only $6.6 million in its U.S. debut.

Neither of the b.o. calamities are entirely surprising—both big-budget movies were long-delayed due to poor tracking and Paramount’s The Spongebob Movie, which is soaking up $53 million this weekend, was originally projected to win the weekend. Still, the lousy performances are a black eye for investors and filmmakers.

Andy and Lana Wachowski, masterminds of The Matrix, have yet to find commercial or critical success since their Keanu Reeves trilogy. Their previous two films, Cloud Atlas and Speed Racer, made a combined $67 million domestically.

The stylish filmmakers were hoping that heartthrob Channing Tatum, whose found box office success with pics like 22 Jump Street and Magic Mike, could attract more younger viewers. But Tatum is barely recognizable in Jupiter Ascending, looking more like an elf than a sexy bounty hunter.

The sci-fi space opera, which was originally supposed to open last summer, earned a B-Cinemascore from moviegoers and a not-so-fresh 22% rating on RottenTomatoes.

Jeff Bridges, meanwhile, is experiencing his own financial folly of late. The Seventh Son actor’s last two wide releases, R.I.P.D. and The Giver, both bombed at the box office. R.I.P.D.

Seventh Son, directed by Sergei Bodrov, began filming in March 2012 and has had four different release dates. Co-starring Julianne Moore and Ben Barnes, the movie is based on Joseph Delaney’s literary series The Spook’s Apprentice, about a young hero with magical abilities.

Next week, Universal’s Fifty Shades of Grey is expected to heat up an otherwise chilly winter at the box office. Despite Warner Bros.’ smash hit American Sniper, several movies have tanked domestically, including Johnny Depp’s Mortdecai and Michael Mann’s Blackhat starring Chris Hemsworth.