Wes Anderson’s New Comedy Scores His Best Box Office Weekend Since 2014
Asteroid City achieved a significant victory for director Wes Anderson at the box office today. The movie, which premiered in just six domestic theaters on June 16, expanded to 1,675 screens this weekend. It tells the story of a small desert town visited by aliens and placed under military quarantine, featuring a talented cast that includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Hong Chau, and Jeff Goldblum.
According to Variety, Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City is projected to earn $8.4 million at the US box office this weekend. This figure falls short of other big movies of the weekend such as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Elemental, leaving the Anderson film in fifth place overall. Nevertheless, it represents the best single weekend performance for an Anderson film in almost a decade, since The Grand Budapest Hotel earned $8.5 million domestically in March 2014.
Could Asteroid City Be Wes Anderson\’s Ticket Back to the Oscars?
The Grand Budapest Hotel remains Wes Anderson’s highest-grossing movie to date. Asteroid City almost reaching its record weekend indicates that his commercial prospects remain robust. However, this could also imply that Asteroid City will put up a strong showing at next year’s Academy Awards.
The last Anderson film to win an Oscar was The Grand Budapest Hotel, which won two awards that year. Although his stop-motion follow-up Isle of Dogs was nominated for two awards, it failed to win either. His next film, The French Dispatch, was completely snubbed at the Oscars that year.
A movie’s box office total does not have a direct correlation with awards. However, original and independent movies that resonate with audiences at the box office tend to do well at the Oscars. Asteroid City‘s Rotten Tomatoes score may be lower than The Grand Budapest Hotel, but this box office result may improve its overall chances of success.
Source: Variety
Asteroid City scored a major win for director Wes Anderson at the box office today. The movie, which opened in just six domestic theaters on June 16, expanded to 1,675 screens this weekend. It follows the events that take place in a small desert town when it is visited by aliens and placed under military quarantine, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Hong Chau, and Jeff Goldblum.
Per Varietythe box office for Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City is projected to take in $8.4 million this weekend in the U.S. This total can’t quite compete with the other big movies of the weekend like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Elementalplacing the Anderson picture at No. 5 overall. However, it is the best single weekend performance for an Anderson movie in nearly a decade, after The Grand Budapest Hotel‘s $8.5 million domestic weekend in March 2014.
Could Asteroid City Be Wes Anderson’s Ticket Back to the Oscars?
The Grand Budapest Hotel remains Wes Anderson’s highest-grossing movie since the beginning of his career. Asteroid City nearly reaching its record weekend shows that his commercial prospects haven’t diminished at all in the intervening years. However, this could also mean that Asteroid City will make a strong showing at next year’s Academy Awards.
Indeed, the last Anderson movie to win an Oscar was The Grand Budapest Hotelwhich took home two trophies that year. Although his stop-motion follow-up Isle of Dogs was nominated for two awards, it won neither. His next movie, 2021’s The French Dispatchended up being snubbed entirely at the Oscars that year.
A movie’s box office total doesn’t directly correlate to awards. However, original and independent movies that resonate with audiences at the box office frequently play well at the Oscars. Asteroid City’s Rotten Tomatoes score might be lower than The Grand Budapest Hotelbut this box office take could help boost it overall.
Source: Variety
