The Killer’s Game: A Record Low for Dave Bautista
The Killer’s Game has set an unfortunate record for star Dave Bautista, hitting a box office low during its debut weekend. This action-comedy film features an ensemble cast including Sofia Boutella, Pom Klementieff, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, and Ben Kingsley. The plot centers on a hitman, played by Bautista, who mistakenly orders a hit on himself after receiving a false terminal diagnosis and must then fight for his life against a slew of assassins.
The film’s release coincided with two other movies: the Blumhouse horror remake Speak No Evil and the documentary Am I Racist?.
According to Deadline, as of Sunday morning, The Killer’s Game is projected to earn $2.6 million over its three-day opening weekend from 2,623 theaters across the US. This places it sixth on the domestic chart, behind Am I Racist? at fourth and Speak No Evil at second. Both of these films trail behind the previous weekend’s hit, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, now in its second week. This marks the lowest debut for a Dave Bautista film, surpassing his previous low of $3.2 million for 2018’s Hotel Artemis.
Implications of The Killer’s Game’s Box Office Performance
Dave Bautista’s Strength in Ensemble Casts
The underwhelming opening of The Killer’s Game could spell trouble for Dave Bautista, who has enjoyed success in many blockbuster films, often as part of an ensemble cast. Notable examples include Dune and the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Although Hotel Artemis also featured an ensemble cast, Bautista’s ensemble films generally perform better, such as the 2022 whodunit Glass Onion, which grossed $9.4 million in just 696 theaters during its limited pre-Netflix release.
Of Bautista’s ten lowest-grossing opening weekends, three feature him in a leading role. This excludes the 2020 film My Spy, which was released on Prime Video during the COVID-19 pandemic and performed well enough to warrant a sequel. Bautista’s highest-grossing films typically see him in major supporting roles rather than as the lead. While this doesn’t necessarily imply that Bautista isn’t a bankable star, the film’s continued performance may impact his financial viability if it doesn’t improve.
Our Perspective on The Killer’s Game’s Box Office Debut
Uncertain Future for the Movie
The initial performance of The Killer’s Game doesn’t necessarily indicate a commercial flop, particularly if its budget is more modest than many contemporary blockbusters. The film’s conclusion suggests the possibility of a sequel, though this would require a significant improvement in its box office prospects. However, becoming a sleeper hit seems unlikely given the stiff competition from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and the upcoming release of Transformers One, which could dominate theater space. The ultimate performance of The Killer’s Game remains to be seen as its theatrical run progresses.
Source: Deadline
The Killer's Game
- Action
- Comedy
- Thriller
A hitman named Joe is diagnosed with a terminal illness and decides to end his life on his own terms by placing a hit on himself. When he learns the diagnosis was a mistake, he must evade the world's deadliest assassins who are now targeting him. The action-packed narrative follows Joe as he fights for survival while confronting his past decisions and the relentless killers pursuing him.
