Disney and 20th Century Studios had spent US$100 million dollars on ‘West Side Story’ which seems to be forfeited unless the film makes a mark in the holidays and Oscar season. ‘West Side Story’ is a remake of a classic musical depicting the infamous rivalry between the jets and the sharks. The modern remake of the Shakespearean love story didn’t appeal to the audience as of now. It might attract attention later but it’s quite a bad start for such a critically acclaimed film that is directed by one of the most commercially successful filmmakers of Hollywood.
In the post-Covid-19 situation, the fact that musicals are not connecting with the audience is worrisome for traditional cinema. While it is true that cinemas in theatres have seen a downturn, there is hope that the graph will change after the release of Sony’s comic book sequel ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’.
‘West Side Story’ seems to be a blockbuster when compared to the other weekend releases such as STX’s athletic drama ‘National Champions’. It starred Stephan James and JK Simmons and flopped in its debut which was embarrassing even as a post-Covid-19 release. Universal’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ adaptation earned less than ‘West Side Story’ but both the movies can’t be compared as there is a huge difference in the production cost too. ‘West Side Story’ needs to connect to international and domestic audiences in order to have a good return.
