‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ snuffed out at box office
"Jack the Giant Slayer" star Nicholas Hoult and director Bryan Singer consult on the set of the film. (Daniel Smith / Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)
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Bryan Singer and cast members, including Stanley Tucci, far left, and Ewan McGregor, third from left, on the set of the film. (Daniel Smith / Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)
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Stanley Tucci, left, and Ewen Bremner in "Jack the Giant Slayer." (Daniel Smith / Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)
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Ewan McGregor, from left, Eleanor Tomlinson and Nicholas Hoult star in "Jack The Giant Slayer." (Daniel Smith/Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)
Link“Jack the Giant Slayer” landed with a thud at the box office this weekend, the first official bomb of 2013.
The film was No. 1 at the box office this weekend, but barely raked in a disappointing $28 million. The film, which cost nearly $200 million to make, is directed by Bryan Singer (“X-Men”) and stars Nicholas Hoult (“Warm Bodies”). It was released by New Line (“Lord of the Rings.”).
The CGI-heavy film is a riff on the childhood favorite, “Jack and the Beanstalk,” which ends with the ogre toppling to his death after he’s outwitted by a young boy.
Well, you could say young boys and young men outwitted Hollywood movie executives in this instance too. The movie was made with them in mind. …. But they stayed away in droves.
Our colleague Steven Zeitchik breaks down the reasons why “Jack the Giant Slayer” flopped, including its quizzical name (is Jack a giant who kills? Or is he a killer of giants?), a violence-heavy trailer and a PG-13 rating.
Unfortunately for “Jack,” his problems may only get worse.
“Jack the Giant Slayer” debuted (perhaps inexplicably) one week before “Oz the Great and Powerful” rolls into theaters, competing for box office dollars.
–Rene Lynch
@ReneLynch
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