### Disappointing Debut Looms for Coppola's "Megalopolis" Amid Fierce Box Office Competition

Francis Ford Coppola’s much-anticipated sci-fi epic "Megalopolis," a film no less significant for being self-funded by the legendary director, is projected to open to an underwhelming box office return of just $5 million to $7 million. The movie, distributed by Lionsgate, will be shown in approximately 1,700 theaters across North America in its opening weekend. Such a single-digit debut would be disappointing for a film that had a hefty production budget exceeding $100 million.

For Coppola, the 85-year-old filmmaker behind classics like "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now," "Megalopolis" represents a significant personal investment. The director financed the $120 million project independently after Lionsgate agreed to handle its release and marketing in exchange for a distribution fee post its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Set in a futuristic America, "Megalopolis" features Adam Driver as an architect clashing with the corrupt mayor, played by Giancarlo Esposito, over the reconstruction of the metropolis New Rome following a catastrophic event. Reviews have been polarizing, evidenced by the film's 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which could either dampen or fuel audience interest.

Interestingly, Lionsgate sought to leverage the mixed reviews by creating a trailer that quoted famous critics who originally dismissed Coppola's now-classic movies. However, it was revealed by Vulture magazine that some of those quotes were either fabricated or computer-generated, leading Lionsgate to pull the advertisement.

Meanwhile, Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s new release “The Wild Robot” is positioned for a far more favorable debut, with ticket sales expected to range between $24 million and $30 million across 3,900 venues. Industry analysts forecast that the animated adventure could even exceed the $30 million mark, despite caution stemming from last weekend when the new release "Transformers One" garnered a slightly disappointing $24.6 million.

Given these projections, "The Wild Robot," which has received positive reviews and costs $78 million to produce, is likely to dethrone Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," which has held the No. 1 spot at the box office for three consecutive weeks. Currently in its fourth weekend, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" aims to earn between $13 million and $15 million. "Transformers One," in its second weekend, is expected to add another $12 million to $14 million to its box office total.

“The Wild Robot” has already begun its international rollout, collecting $8 million from markets abroad. The film, featuring the voice of Lupita Nyong'o as Roz, a robot stranded on a deserted island, showcases a stellar cast including Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O'Hara as the island's animals. Variety's chief film critic Peter Debruge praised the movie, calling it "a gorgeous computer-generated cartoon with a human heart beating beneath its sleek, state-of-the-art surface."

As "Megalopolis" grapples with a struggling start, "The Wild Robot" appears set to dominate the box office, capturing the hearts of audiences and possibly securing a strong foothold in the market for weeks to come.