Latest
Saudi-backed ‘Desert Warrior’ grosses just $472K on a $150M budget in historic box office disaster
Well, the good news for Disney is that after the disastrous failure of “Snow White” and “The Marvels,” they finally have some competition for the biggest flop in Hollywood history. And boy oh boy, has an already rough week for Saudi-backed projects gotten much, much worse.
One of the strategies guiding the country’s trillion-dollar Public Investment Fund has been to invest in entertainment and sports properties in order to diversify their economy and future development. The PIF has made heavy financial investments into Formula 1, backed the creation of the Qiddiya City region and associated theme park, and of course, funded LIV Golf. And created major movies.
Until this week, that is.
TOM CRUISE IS REPORTEDLY GOING TO MAKE AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TOP GUN 3
Amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, the Saudis have signaled that their investment process is shifting. Uncertainties in the Middle East have seemingly led to looking for better return on their money.
That’s meant LIV will have to look for other funding sources or shut down entirely. And after they see the box office results of their first big movie release, those film investments might be shutting down too.
The failure of “Snow White” and “The Marvels” has been extensively covered. The Rachel Zegler-starring live action remake of the Disney animated classic lost the studio an astonishing $170 million.
“The Marvels” cost an estimated $270 million to make, and millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars, more to market. Given that studios only get back half of a film’s theatrical gross, it’s $206 million worldwide total was an unmitigated disaster.
But both of those pale in comparison to the unfolding crisis of “Desert Warrior.”
SON OF ‘SNOW WHITE’ PRODUCER CRITICIZES ‘IMMATURE’ STAR RACHEL ZEGLER FOR HURTING FILM
You likely haven’t heard of “Desert Warrior.” And based on its opening week box office grosses, it’s a near-guarantee you haven’t seen it either.
“Desert Warrior” is described as being set in seventh-century Arabia, a desert epic that tangentially evokes “Lawrence of Arabia.” A princess, played by Aiysha Hart, refuses to become a concubine to an elderly, “ruthless” Emperor, played by Ben Kingsley. She runs away into the desert, hunted by an army and forced to ally with a “legendary bandit” played by Anthony Mackie. Yes, Captain America Anthony Mackie. The princess then “unites warring tribes for a final stand,” described as a “clash that will change history forever.”
The film had a production budget of an estimated $150 million, no wonder given the scale and scope of the story and a cast with established stars like Anthony Mackie and Ben Kingsley.
It’s opening weekend brought in an astonishing $472,111. Not $400 million. Not $40 million. Not $4 million. $472,111. Playing in 1,010 theaters in North America, that corresponds to a per-theater average of $467. Assuming tickets cost an average of $17.50, that’s roughly 26-27 total tickets sold per theater. For an entire day’s worth of showings.
But that’s just North America. Perhaps it’s found better success internationally. Well, bad news there too. Worldwide box office thus far is $517,508. On a $150 million budget, it’s grossed $517,508 in almost a week. Disastrous.
Some reviewers have praised the film’s production value, but it has just a 29% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and a 2.1/10 rating on iMDb. It’s also impossible for there to be good word of mouth because, well, nobody’s seen it to tell their friends.
Assuming David Ellison and Paramount’s purchase of Warner Bros. Studios is approved by regulators, the PIF will have a significant equity stake in the combined company. Given the results of “Desert Warrior,” that’s probably a better path forward to make inroads in Hollywood.
Latest
Shakira, Madonna and BTS co-headline first-ever World Cup Final halftime show
The world’s largest sporting event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is just a few weeks away, returning to North America and the United States for the first time since 1994.
FIFA announced their first ever halftime show for the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In a post on X, featuring Elmo, Coldplay announced that the halftime show would be curated by lead singer Chris Martin and feature BTS, Madonna and Shakira. Shakira is set to release the official song of the World Cup, “Dai Dai,” later Thursday.
The show will also “raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” dedicated to “improving access to quality education and football for children around the world.”
FOX broadcasts the entire tournament, with opening matches kicking off on June 11 in Mexico. El Tri hosts South Africa in Mexico City, while South Korea takes on Croatia in Guadalajara.
Then the next day, the other two hosts play their first group stage matches. Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto in Group B. Then the US Men’s National Team, coming off a rocky past few months of friendlies, plays its first match against Paraguay in Los Angeles. They then head to Seattle to play Australia on June 19, before closing out the group stage against Turkey back in LA on June 25.
Unsurprisingly, given the scale and scope of the tournament, and the stage hosting in the US offers, FIFA is pulling out all the entertainment stops.
Already, soccer’s governing body has set up an extensive list of entertainment to kick off the tournament in the host countries. An opening ceremony in Los Angeles on June 12 will feature music acts like Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla.
“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture, while showcasing the power of music to bring people together across the country.”
That ceremony will kick off 90 minutes before the start of the US match, and will complement two additional opening ceremonies in Canada and Mexico. The opening match in Toronto will feature performances by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
In Mexico, opening ceremony headliners include Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
Prior performers at World Cup finals include stars like Carlos Santana and Wycleaf Jean at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Will Smith was among those who sang at the 2018 finale in Russia, and Davido, Aisha, Ozuna were part of the 2022 closing ceremony in Qatar.
Over 100 matches. 16 cities hosting in three countries. Over a month’s worth of action, culminating in a momentous finale in New Jersey. The World Cup never fails to deliver.
Latest
ESPN Attempting To Stop 24-Team College Football Playoff Expansion: REPORT
Latest
China rolls out red carpet for Trump as Xi meeting tests trade, Taiwan tensions
-
Latest4 weeks agoVance Leaves Meeting, Looks Straight Into Camera, Announces Stunning Arrest
-
News4 weeks agoAdam Schiff Facing 30 Years In Prison After Bank Records Leak
-
Latest4 weeks agoSupreme Curt Sides With Trump — He Can Remove The All
-
News1 month agoAll Hell Breaks Loose On Fox When Jesse Watters Asks Fetterman One Question
-
News4 weeks agoNBC Stops LIVE Broadcast — Breaks Big Trump News
-
News4 weeks agoSwalwell Facing Jail Time After Sickening New Video Leaks
-
Latest4 weeks agoTrump Pulls Off Miracle Of A Lifetime — It’s Permanently Open
-
Latest4 weeks agoUT Judge Drops Bombshell In Charlie Kirk Killer Case
