On the heels of the response to “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Warner Bros.) on PVOD (in its second week out, it managed only a tenth place showing on either iTunes or Fandango), “Megalopolis” (Lionsgate), Francis Ford Coppola’s much lower grossing but also much publicized $100 million self-financed film, got a home release that garnered almost zero interest.
“Saturday Night” (Sony) was the other big name release, and landed #6 on both iTunes (ranking by revenue) and Fandango (by transactions) top 10 lists (#4 and #6 respectively; it was #1 for a day at iTunes). It’s not like it was a much bigger hit than “Megalopolis” in theaters or PVOD. Its domestic gross was only $9.5 million, less than $2 million better than Coppola’s film.
“Megalopolis” not making either list is surprising. But what is stunning is it is nowhere to be found among the more than 80 movies listed on their daily list, nor has it since it was released. “Goodrich” (Bleecker Street) with Michael Keaton, which grossed barely over $1 million is #24 Monday. “The Apprentice” (Briarcliff), with a $4 million total, made the top 10 its opening week. Both films have the same $19.99 rental price as “Megalopolis.”
Clearly the poor general audience word of mouth for Coppola’s film is a fact. But perhaps its status as a film which was distributed as a service deal by Lionsgate (as effectively as was possible under tough circumstances) reduced its marketing and other awareness elements. Still, it’s shocking.
Less shocking is that Netflix subscribers preferred between two prime releases the conventional holiday-oriented rom-com “Hot Frosty” to Jacques Audiard’s Cannes-premiered and currently awards-touted “Emilia Pérez.” The former is typical original fare for the streamer — a heartbroken widow (Lacey Chabert) finds solace when a snowman transforms into a sexy handyman (Dustin Milligan) at Christmas. The beefcake promos seemed to have done the trick with it immediately taking the #1 spot among movies.
“Emilia” isn’t in the top 10, which is not surprising. The Mexican-made, French produced (it’s their Oscar submission) drama centering on an audacious character’s transition into a woman is a specialized film, and one that if it had a conventional theatrical release, even in the hands of Neon or A24, would have been an unlikely box office top 10 contender. The time to see if there is a reaction will be in January after the Oscar nominations.
The VOD charts are otherwise little changed, with “The Wild Robot” once again #1 at both. “It Ends with Us” (Sony) with a new rental price of $5.99 surged to #2 at iTunes. Otherwise mostly close to last week.
As always, more turnover at Netflix. Two other originals debuted — “The Lost Children,” a dramatization of how a group of children survived a Colombian plane crash, currently #2, and the documentary “Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley,” focusing on his comeback 1968 NBC special.
“Rob Peace,” directed by and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor is #3. Though released to little attention theatrically in August after its Sundance premiere, this is another example of a film that to most Netflix subscribers might as well be an original. It will get far more viewers than many Sundance-premiered titles.
Top 10s
iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions, while Fandango at Home lists by revenue. The listings below are for Monday, November 18 (iTunes) and the week of November 11-17 (Fandango).
The distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.
iTunes
1. The Wild Robot (Universal) – $19.99
2. It Ends with Us (Sony) – $5.99
3. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (WB) – $19.99
4. Saturday Night (Sony) – $19.99
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal) – $3.99
6. Alien: Romulus (Disney) – $19.99
7. Gladiator (Universal) – $3.99
8. Twisters (WBD) – $5.99
9. The Substance (MUBI) – $19.99
10. Blink Twice (Amazon MGM) – $5.99
Fandango at Home
1. The Wild Robot (Universal) – $19.99
2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (WB) – $19.99
3. Alien: Romulus (Disney) – $19.99
4. Deadpool & Wolverine (Disney) – $19.99
5. Transformers One (Paramount) – $19.99
6. Saturday Night (Sony) – $19.99
7. Twisters (Universal) – $5.99
8. The Substance (MUBI) – $19.99
9. It Ends with Us (Sony) – $5.99
10. Joker: Folie à Deux (Warner Bros.) – $19.99
Netflix Movies
These are the most-viewed, current rankings on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on November 18. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed, and usually includes films for which it doesn’t have domestic rights. They have no other U.S.-only weekly chart.
1. Hot Frosty (Netflix original)
2. The Lost Children (Colombian Netflix original)
3. Rob Peace (2024 theatrical release)
4. Focus (2015 theatrical release)
5. Meet Me Next Christmas (Netflix original)
6. The Lost City (2022 theatrical release)
7. The Secret Life of Pets (2016 theatrical release)
8. Fast & Furious 6 (2013 theatrical release)
9. Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis (Netflix original documentary)
10. Sing (2016 theatrical release)
