Marlon Wayans is not going to let critics shake him! His latest movie, Him, a sports horror, has been met with harsh reviews and a weak rating of 27% on the Tomatometer (via Rotten Tomatoes). But Wayans has fired back with passion through an Instagram post, essentially arguing that a reviewer’s opinion isn’t everything, and even if they disapprove of the movie, there’s a chance it might be hailed as a classic in the future.
A post shared by Marlon Wayans (@marlonwayans)
He cited some of his previous movies as an example and urged the audience to watch the film for themselves, without being influenced by a pundit’s opinion. So, let’s look at how Him is performing at the box office after critics shunned it, and whether or not Wayans is right about the feature joining his slate of classics.
Box Office Standing of Marlon Wayans’ Him Post Weak Critical Reception
Him is directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele, who has made quite a name for himself in the horror genre. Marlon Wayans stars alongside Tyriq Withers, playing a legendary quarterback who guides the latter’s character.
The movie’s weekend projections were estimated to be around $15 million; however, it slightly missed the mark and landed with a domestic box office figure of $13.5 million (via The Hollywood Reporter). With only $362,000 made from the overseas market, international numbers aren’t looking great either (via The Numbers).
That brings the worldwide total to $13.8 million, still a long way from its budget of $27 million. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1 is giving a tough competition to all releases, holding the number one spot and raking in more than $500 million, so Him will have a hard time even reaching break-even figures.
Can Him Become Another One of Marlon Wayans’ Classics?
The big question is whether Him will truly follow the same trajectory as other films like White Chicks and Scary Movie, which were dismissed in their time but later embraced. Audience tastes do evolve, and movies that once struggled gain cult status when rediscovered.
The horror genre in particular has a history of such polarizing debuts, but with Jordan Peele’s name attached to it, Him may eventually have people’s attention for being a risk-taking film. After being recognized for his sketch comedy, Peele had a surprising run of features that terrified and entertained viewers.
Here’s an overview of movies that Peele contributed to:
For now, Him’s box office numbers and reviews have put it in a tough spot, and there are no signs of immediate success. But with an audience score of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems like people are willing to give it a chance, and will show up through word of mouth publicity, and if stars like Marlon Wayans keep backing the movie.
But what’s your prediction? Will it go down as another one of Wayan’s classics, or will it crumble under its own ambition?
Him is currently playing in theaters (USA).
