Stephen King is facing backlash after making incendiary comments regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Through a tweet on Twitter/X, he accused Kirk of wanting to see gay people stoned to death. This blatant falsehood had repercussions. Once aware of potential legal consequences, King issued an apology, likely motivated by the threat of lawsuits that could cost him millions.
However, karma appeared to strike back this past weekend as King’s latest film, an adaptation of his book ‘The Long Walk,’ flopped at the box office. Premiering on September 12, the film managed to scrape together a mere $11 million in its opening weekend, substantially below industry expectations. The production budget was reportedly $20 million, which means the film needs a significant turnaround to even break even.
Despite sturdy promotional efforts, the film struggled to gain traction among audiences. Critics offered a more favorable reception, granting it a “B” CinemaScore. Still, the low box office performance has prompted conversations about its viability as a successful King adaptation. Notably, this film marks the lowest opening for a King adaptation in over three decades. With such disappointing numbers, one must question whether these recent events are just a coincidence.
This failure isn’t an isolated incident. King’s previous films, including February’s ‘The Monkey’ and June’s ‘The Life of Chuck,’ also underperformed. ‘The Monkey’ earned only $14 million, while ‘The Life of Chuck’ brought in a paltry $224,000 during its opening week. These lapses raise eyebrows about the quality and appeal of King’s adaptations in recent times.
‘The Long Walk,’ which prominently features actor Mark Hamill—known for his strong anti-Trump sentiment—did not resonate with moviegoers. Cast in a role that sparked little excitement, Hamill’s presence has done little to attract more conservative viewers, who may already view the film through a skeptical lens due to King’s earlier comments.
This lackluster performance comes at a time when Hollywood’s bet on adapting King’s works was expected to be a safe investment. Historically, King adaptations have fared well at the box office, drawing in fans eager to see his stories brought to life. However, as evidenced by the figures thus far, this trend seems to be faltering.
The fallout from King’s comments seems to intertwine with the public’s reception of his latest work. Observers wonder if King will change his approach to public discourse in light of his film’s failure. Given his history, that may be unlikely, but the current results suggest that securing a robust audience requires more than just recognition; it demands integrity and respect for differing viewpoints.
In summary, King’s recent foray into Twitter war declarations and the box office display his struggle to adapt—both in narrative and in audience relations. His statement about Kirk may have backfired, coinciding ominously with his film’s poor reception. The broader implications for his career and public persona remain to be seen, but for now, he seems caught in a troubling cycle of controversy and failure at the box office.
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