Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to the spotlight, but her latest cinematic venture is making headlines for a reason no A-lister wants to see.
Despite the glitz, glamour, and early awards season chatter, J.Lo’s highly anticipated musical remake of Kiss of the Spider Woman is facing a surprisingly rocky start at the box office. The film, which also stars Diego Luna and Tonatiuh, is currently projected to land among some of the lowest-performing debuts in Hollywood history.
According to Deadline, as of Saturday morning, the Bill Condon-directed film is on track to wrap up its opening three-day weekend with a domestic total of just $ million. While a million-dollar debut might sound okay on paper, the math behind the screens tells a much different story.
Playing in , theaters across the country, that total gives the film a per-screen average of roughly $. If these numbers hold through Sunday night, the film will officially land as the th worst debut per-screen average of all time.
Social media has been quick to react to the news, with fans on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok debating whether the musical genre or the film’s niche subject matter is to blame for the low turnout. “J.Lo gave such a powerhouse performance at Sundance, it’s heartbreaking to see the seats empty,” one fan lamented on Instagram.
To put the numbers into perspective, the $ average puts Kiss of the Spider Woman just below the $ average of Gerard Butler’s flick Copshop. It’s also teetering dangerously close to the territory of the Zac Efron flop We Are Your Friends, which averaged $.
What makes these figures particularly stinging for the “On the Floor” singer is that the chart is typically populated by re-releases of older films. When you strip away th-anniversary screenings of classics like Brokeback Mountain or When Harry Met Sally…, J.Lo’s latest would sink even further, potentially becoming the th worst debut for an original release.
The struggle is even more apparent when considering the timing. Many of the films currently on the “lowest-ever” list were released in and , a period when the box office was still grappling with the heavy impact of the COVID- pandemic.
Despite the numbers, critics haven’t soured on the project. After its premiere at Sundance in January, the film—which adapts the stage musical and the novel—was hailed as a potential Oscar contender for Lopez.
The star has been vocal about her passion for the project, which sees her taking on a complex, multi-layered role. While the box office might be cold, the talent on screen remains undeniable.
Industry experts are watching closely to see if the film can find a second life through word-of-mouth or if this “Spider Woman” will have to wait for a streaming debut to find its web.
Would you head to the theater to support J.Lo’s latest? Let us know your thoughts!
