AFTER EARTH, the newest outing by director M. Night Shyamalan, hasn’t quite taken off in America, with a very disappointing opening weekend.
Starring father-son duo Will and Jaden Smith, distributors Sony predicted to rake in around $35 million. Unfortunately for everyone involved, American audiences weren’t that bothered by the film, with AFTER EARTH only taking $27 million – Will Smith’s lowest summer opening since MADE IN AMERICA (taking $11.8 million in 1993).
Of course, this isn’t the first time Will and Jaden have worked together. 2006 saw the pair collaborate (or was that a case of pushy parenting?) for THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, which garnered a healthy $163.6 million in total. Maybe Jaden’s cuteness has rubbed off? Or could it be Shyamalan’s tainted name after the failures of THE HAPPENING and THE LAST AIRBENDER?
FAST & FURIOUS 6 ($34.5 million) and NOW YOU SEE ME ($28.1 million) sat comfortably at the top of the US box office. We’ll have to wait and see if AFTER EARTH can do any better internationally.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
