Amid all the claims that Hollywood can’t produce movie stars anymore, and that the likes of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Denzel Washington are a dying breed, many believed Glen Powell might carry the torch this decade and beyond. That plan is not looking so good at the moment.
Looks like Powell will have his second straight box office failure. Back in November, he led Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man,” which flopped hard, earning only $69M worldwide against a $110M+ budget.
This weekend sees Powell’s second straight flop, A24’s “How to Make a Killing,” which is set to earn $3M in its wide release, around 1700 screens. The mixed reviews (48% on Rotten Tomatoes) certainly didn’t entice audiences to buy a ticket.
Originally titled “Huntington,” “How to Make a Killing,” directed by John Patton Ford, was shot in July 2024 and co-stars Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, and Topher Grace. The budget is reported to be in the $15M range.
What went wrong? There are many theories out there—a combination of factors. Despite A24’s confidence that Glen Powell is an A-lister capable of selling tickets on his name alone, it’s a theory that has never really been proven. Another possibility, along with the bad reviews, is weak marketing or misaligned promotional strategies that failed to generate excitement among target audiences.
Has Powell saturated the market? He is everywhere these days. His success in “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Anyone But You,” “Hitman,” and “Twisters” opened many doors for him. Then he decided to make the Disney+ series “Chad Powers,” which, despite bad reviews, turned into a hit on streaming.
Powell is next set to star in projects that include J.J. Abrams’ “The Great Beyond,” set for a November release, and a Ron Howard firefighting movie shooting later this year.
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