One of the most anticipated films in recent memory may not perform so well at the box office.

Current metrics show Francis Ford Coppola’s $120 million self-financed sci-fi project ‘Megalopolis’ tracking to a disheartening $5 million box office debut.

‘Megalopolis’ has been in the works for over two decades, due to its scope and ambitious nature, and this isn’t exactly the result Coppola or Lionsgate expected. The film will play in 1700 North American theaters on opening weekend.

Coppola, now 85, has masterfully crafted some of the greatest films ever made; the likes of ‘The Godfather,’ ‘The Godfather Part II,’ and ‘Apocalypse Now.’ The director’s reputation has been part of Lionsgate’s marketing campaign to show how Coppola has always been “ahead of his time,” as ‘Megalopolis’ ended up with horrid critic reviews after it’s initial premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

The film currently sits at 51% from 116 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film is also shrouded in controversy — most recent revealings included fabricated quotes in a past ‘Megalopolis’ trailer to show how the director’s past works (now iconic) were hammered by critics (false), and video evidence of Coppola’s unprofessional on-set behaviour toward extras.

The film stars Adam Driver, as architect Cesar Catilina in the city of New Rome. He’s in favor of a utopian future, but Mayor Franklyn Cicero acts against him to stay committed to a regressive status quo. The theme of the film is humanity, embodied in the character of socialite Julia Cicero, the mayor's daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her morals and loyalties.

Giancarlo Esposito stars as Mayor Franklyn Cicero and Nathalie Emmanuel as Julia Cicero. Alongside the main trio is Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman.

The film releases September 27, 2024.

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