He indeed was a mastermind in the field of battle, but even Napoleon started as an underdog. He managed to rise to the very top, and his story will not be limited to the history books. This time, Napoleon overturns the box office predictions, claiming the No. 1 spot.
During the projections and speculations, it was predicted that the film would gross between $15M-$22M, suggesting a reign of mediocrity. Being an R-rated film made the journey even tougher, but that wasn’t enough to stop the ‘son of the Revolution.’
This year’s box office is indeed unpredictable, with more R-rated films observing a massive rise in the market. It also marks the end of the reign of terror for Apple TV, as they experienced a significant dip with Martin Scorsese’s creation, Killers Of The Flower Moon.
Though the French emperor was close to winning over North America, in terms of global dominance, he not only exceeded predictions, but Scott’s Napoleon shattered them by miles. The film grossed a whopping $78.8M at the box office.
In terms of that $78.8M mark, the globe contributed more than the US audience. In the international market, $46.3M is impressive for an R-rated film, especially considering the somewhat underwhelming projections.
Apple invested $200 million in the film “Napoleon,” despite mixed reviews and box office performance. Prioritizing building buzz for Apple TV+, akin to their approach with “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Apple is less concerned about immediate profits. This strategy continues with the upcoming film “Argylle” in 2024 through Universal Pictures.
For the longer run, Apple needs films like these to establish itself as a long and viable option. And though they will take some hits in the shorter term, like Killers Of The Flower Moon, as soon as it starts streaming on the platform, the movies are destined to draw numbers.