I’ve already stated that commercial success does not equate to quality art, and vice versa. However, if critics have been generally split on “Megalopolis,” audiences seem to absolutely hate the film The exits have resulted in a D+ CinemaScore, 1/2 star and 45% positive on PostTrak, and a 5.6/10 on IMDb.
“Megalopolis,” which has a budget of $136M, opened this weekend with a paltry $4M. Yet, as someone who never thought Coppola would be able to bring this passion project on the big screen, I’m just glad the film even exists. In fact, I look forward to seeing it again.
Speaking with Forbes about the tepid response from audiences, Coppola says the reactions to the film mimic those of his 1979 classic “Apocalypse Now”:
The truth is that I find the experience of “Megalopolis” existing and being seen by an audience very similar to what it was like when I made Apocalypse Now. When Apocalypse Now came out, people saw it and said, ‘Wow, what the hell is it?’ There was an ambivalent confusion because it was clearly a film not made with any rules.
He goes on to state that he’s not disappointed “Megalopolis” hasn’t become an immediate hit, and expects that, much like “Apocalypse Now,” people will discover or rewatch it and find new appreciation for it:
With “Apocalypse Now,” the experience was like, ‘Wow. I have got to see it again.’ People went to see it again because it wasn’t boring; it was unusual, and they’re still seeing it 40 years later. The same thing has happened with “Megalopolis”. Because it’s not really boring, they’re willing to see it again. My hunch is that people are going to see it again, and each time they see it, it becomes a different movie because it has a lot in it that is not apparent in the first viewing.”
Know what? I actually agree with Coppola. It’s not that far fetched to believe that “Megalopolis” will have a healthy shelf life — mostly because it’s unlike any film we’ve ever seen before. Every frame, every line of dialogue in this film is, as Coppola states, “not boring.” It’s consistently filled with scenes that flabbergast you. Coppola jams so much stuff into its 130 minute runtime that a rewatch is certainly worth it. Cult status is practically sealed for this film.
Regardless, don’t feel too bad for Coppola’s hard losses on “Megalopolis”. When asked about spending $136M on such a risk-taking project, he admits having no regrets and that it was all worth it just to finally realize his long gestating dream project:
I put the risk in the movie. I have no problems with the financials. My children, without exceptions, have wonderful careers without a fortune. They don't need a fortune.” He went on, “It’s how I felt the film should be, and I was paying for it…. There are so many people who, when they die, say ‘I wish I had done that.’ When I die, I'll say, ‘I got to do that.
Coppola might also make some of his money back. He seems to have a contingency plan in place that could include a “very useful” tax write-down. “I’m very old so it all goes into an estate plan.”