Oprah Winfrey’s much-hyped remake of “The Color Purple” is facing a harsh reality at the box office, faltering significantly after a promising start over the Christmas holiday. Despite an initial surge with an $18.5 million opening, as reported by the New York Times, the film’s appeal seems to have dwindled rapidly.
“The Color Purple,” which cost at least $90 million to make and $40 million to market, struggled at the box office in its second weekend, selling less than $5 million in tickets in its second weekend after nearly setting a record when it opened on Dec. 25. https://t.co/DAVbfeeu4I
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 7, 2024
Produced by Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, the Broadway musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel, starring Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, and Danielle Brooks, has not maintained its initial momentum. While Winfrey expressed overwhelming gratitude on Instagram for the initial response, the numbers tell a different story.
The movie’s performance over the New Year’s holiday was underwhelming, garnering only $47.2 million domestically against a production and marketing budget totaling at least $130 million, as per the New York Times. This marks a steep 62% drop in sales from its opening, with the film currently trailing in 7th place, behind George Clooney’s “The Boys in the Boat,” according to FrontPage Magazine. To date, it has earned just $55 million.
In stark contrast, Spielberg’s original 1985 version, starring Whoopi Goldberg, was a box office hit, nearly reaching $100 million. One notable deviation in the remake was its emphasis on certain elements of Walker’s story, especially the lesbian relationship, which may have influenced its reception, as noted by FrontPage Magazine.
The New York Times suggests that the film’s struggle is partly due to its limited appeal beyond a “specialty audience.” Despite being well-received by Black moviegoers, it has failed to attract a broader demographic crucial for box office success. Opening weekend demographics, as reported by PostTrak, showed a predominantly Black audience, with less representation from other racial groups.
Jeff Goldstein, Warner’s president of domestic distribution, remains hopeful but acknowledges the slow response from older audiences. He told the Times that it’s too early to label the film a box office failure, banking on word-of-mouth and accolades from awards groups to boost its performance.
However, the reality remains that “The Color Purple” remake has not resonated with a wide audience, casting doubt on its success in the competitive box office landscape. This raises questions about the current strategy of remaking classic films and the importance of aligning content with audience preferences.
