Sony is making a bold move by attempting to cater to the underserved female moviegoing audience with the release of Apple Original Films’ $100M romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon” this weekend. The film, directed by Greg Berlanti and written by Rose Gilroy, stars popular actors Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson. The story follows a confident ad executive (played by Johansson) who is recruited by the U.S. government to devise a contingency plan for NASA’s 1969 moon landing. Along the way, she forms a connection with a launch director portrayed by Tatum.
Despite its strong appeal to women over 25, “Fly Me to the Moon” is projected to have an opening weekend gross of $12M, slightly trailing behind the George Clooney-Julia Roberts film “Ticket to Paradise,” which debuted with $16.5M in the fall of 2022. Reviews for the film are currently favorable, with a 71% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Sony is aiming to capitalize on the buzz surrounding the movie to attract more viewers to theaters.
“Fly Me to the Moon” is part of a larger strategy by Sony to secure distribution rights for several high-profile films from Apple. This includes movies like last Thanksgiving’s “Napoleon” and the upcoming George Clooney-Brad Pitt thriller “Wolfs.” By acquiring these films, Sony aims to create event-like experiences for audiences before the movies are available on streaming services.
Despite Sony’s efforts, “Fly Me to the Moon” faces stiff competition at the box office. Illumination/Universal’s “Despicable Me 4” is expected to dominate the weekend with a projected $33M in its second weekend, a 55% drop from its opening. Additionally, Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” is forecasted to outperform “Fly Me to the Moon” with an estimated $18M in its fifth weekend. The animated sequel has been a massive success, grossing over $537.9M domestically and $1.23 billion globally.
In addition to the big studio releases, Neon is entering the market with the R-rated genre film “Longlegs,” directed and written by Oz Perkins. Starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe, the film is generating buzz with its intriguing marketing campaign and positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. With a storyline involving an unsolved serial killer case and supernatural elements, “Longlegs” has the potential to surprise audiences despite its modest theater count of 2,500.
Sony’s attempt to attract female moviegoers with “Fly Me to the Moon” is a bold but challenging endeavor. While the film has strong reviews and star power, it faces tough competition at the box office from established franchises and successful sequels. However, with a strategic marketing plan and targeted audience engagement, “Fly Me to the Moon” could still find success and resonate with viewers looking for a fresh and entertaining cinematic experience.