Beetlejuice sequel soars as 'The Killer's Game' flops at box office

For some, it's joy; for others, it's sadness. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is breaking popularity records in the US. Meanwhile, the premiere title, "The Killer's Game," suffered a devastating defeat. An American critic noted that while Bautista is clearly shedding pounds, audiences' interest in his films also seems to be diminishing.

"The Killer's Game" was marketed as "John Wick" with Dave Bautista in the lead role. The actor, known for "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Dune," plays Joe Flood, a professional assassin who only eliminates those who deserve it. One day, the man learns that he is terminally ill and has only a few months to live. In light of this diagnosis, Flood decides to shorten his dying process and opens a contract on himself. From that moment, assassins from around the world will be hunting him.

However, "The Killer's Game" was conceived as a comedic version of "John Wick," so a plot twist soon occurs. There was a mistake in the lab; the protagonist is perfectly healthy, and now he will try to undo the situation. "This movie should never have been released in theatres. In the old days, such productions would have gone straight to the video market or the DVD bins at supermarkets," one viewer briefly summed up.

Weak reviews are not the film's biggest problem, though. The production, which cost around €28 million, earned only €2 million in American theatres during its opening weekend. The average revenue per theatre was €901 (a dozen or so people per screening) and was the lowest this year among titles that went into wide distribution.

Dave Bautista, who has not yet experienced such a significant failure in his acting career, recently surprised viewers with his new look. However, he will have to rebuild his popularity after losing over 30 kilograms (it appears he was in the process of doing so during the filming of "The Killer's Game"). A critic from "Decider" observed that although Bautista is noticeably slimming down, the appeal of his film characters appears to be fading. According to the critic, many fans would prefer to see him reprise his role as Drax in "Guardians of the Galaxy."

"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" remains the leader of the American box office (earning €47 million during its second weekend), enjoying enormous popularity in theatres across the ocean. The film's first part in 1988 grossed €68 million in theatres (10th place for the season), which, after adjusting for inflation, amounts to around €186 million. The sequel is set to become an even bigger hit in the US. It currently has €175 million to its name. "Dune: Part Two" grossed €124 million during the same period.