Unexpected Box‑Office Woes for Romantic Thriller

The new romantic thriller starring a well‑known actress and her co‑star is not living up to the hype it received before its release. The film was expected to bring in about $40 million over the first four days of a holiday weekend, but it opened with only $13. 3 million on Friday, leaving the total short of the projected figure. This underperformance is a concern for the studio that paid $80 million for worldwide rights, especially after a rival streaming service offered twice as much. The studio’s marketing team had pushed the movie toward younger audiences, and that strategy seemed to work at first: more than half of ticket buyers were under 35. However, the film received a lower than expected audience grade from critics and viewers alike.Critics are split. The movie’s approval rating on a popular review aggregator sits at 63 percent, while the audience score is higher at 84 percent. Some reviewers praised the performances and fresh take on a classic story, while others found it lacking in drama. The film’s performance contrasts with other releases that have exceeded expectations, such as a family‑friendly animated adventure and an action‑packed crime drama, both of which have strong critical support. The studio’s pattern of backing daring projects continues. Previous successes include a film that won multiple Academy Award nominations and another that was lauded for its originality. Yet the current movie’s modest opening shows that even well‑timed releases can struggle if they fail to connect with the broader public. The holiday box‑office landscape remains competitive. While the romantic thriller may not match last year’s numbers, it still adds variety to an otherwise slow season. The film’s future will depend on word‑of‑mouth and potential overseas markets, where it is set to open next week.