News culture A terrible flop in the West, this $160 million fantasy film was saved by China. The epic failure was very close!
Published on 06/22/2024 at 11:20
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In 2016, a fantastic film was released in theaters supported by a budget of 160 million dollars and the hopes of global success. Adapted from a famous video game universe, it had to conquer the hearts of fans and ordinary spectators. But against all expectations, it had a mixed reception in the West, ending in a flop at the box office. Fortunately, China saved the day.
A failure in the United States / a success in China
Warcraft only grossed $47.3 million in North America, a figure well below expectations. Critics pointed to a simplistic storyline, poorly developed characters and a lack of originality. The public was not there either, perhaps bored by the cinematographic adaptations of video games which tended to disappoint well before The Last of Us, Cyberpunk: Edgerunner, etc. Warcraft had a very different fate in the rest of the world and ended its theatrical run with 439 million US dollars at the box office, including 391 million outside its borders.
In China, the film was a huge success, grossing over US$221 million. These results allowed Warcraft to save the furniture and become the most profitable video game adaptation of all time at the time. Several factors explain the success of Warcraft in China. First of all, the original video game is very popular there, with a massive and engaged community of players. Additionally, the film benefited from a major marketing campaign targeting Chinese audiences. Finally, Chinese culture is fond of fantasy films and epic stories, which worked in Warcraft’s favor.
An imperfect film that found its audience
If Warcraft: The Beginning is not a cinematic masterpiece, it remains entertaining with its spectacular special effects and grandiose action scenes. Its success in China proves that the public is sometimes ready to ignore negative criticism and form its own opinion. The history of Warcraft reminds us that tastes and successes are not universal. A film that may be a flop in one country may be a huge success in another. This is the magic of cinema, capable of reaching different audiences in unexpected ways.
