Blade Runner 2049’s failure could cost producers $80m…

Despite all the anticipation, acclaim and A-list stars, it seems that Blade Runner 2049 couldn’t quite cut it at the box office.

The film has earned $240.6m (£183m) at the worldwide box office – far below what producers were expecting, having cost $155m (£118m) to make before marketing.

It is now being reported that producers Alcon Entertainment and its investors could lose as much as $80m (£61m) on the movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While it is a disappointing turn for such an acclaimed movie, it is not entirely surprising considering the cult status of the Blade Runner franchise.

It seems that the movie did not really appeal beyond its core fan base – after all, it’s a slow-paced, near-three-hour film, and the original movie didn’t exactly set the box office alight.

Director Denis Villeneuve recently addressed Blade Runner 2049‘s poor box office, explaining: “As a filmmaker, I’m not arrogant.”

“People put a lot of money in the movie to allow me to make something like Blade Runner. They trusted me, and they gave me a lot of freedom, and they are friends.

“So of course I want the movie to be a success at the end of the day. It’s a long journey, but I want them not to lose money.”

While some critics suggested that his reluctance to reveal details about the movie beforehand could have scuppered its appeal beyond the core fan base, Villeneuve defended his secrecy.

“I liked the idea that you were supposed to learn it as the movie goes on,” he insisted.

“As a cinephile, one of my best experiences was when I was on a film festival jury. I had to watch 20 movies without knowing anything about them. You don’t know the genre, you don’t know the country, you don’t know the story.”

It is a shame that the film didn’t achieve the success that it merited. If you haven’t gone and watched the film yet, go. It’s a sharp, polished, stylized film of -our- future! Blade Runner 2049 is in cinemas now.