Until Dawn Movie Fails to Impress at the Box Office and Sparks PlayStation Productions Concerns

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Summary

  • Until Dawn’s film adaptation barely broke even at the box office, with a 2.5x multiplier.
  • PlayStation Productions faces criticism for deviating from source material in film adaptations.
  • Until Dawn may have fared better as a limited TV series, prioritizing authenticity over changes.

It’s been long enough to provide a commercial assessment for the movie adaptation of Until Dawn. While labeling it as a flop when discussing its commercial success would be misleading, calling it an unmitigated success might also oversimplify its performance.

As a movie enthusiast, I must confess that critics weren’t too kind with their reviews of “Until Dawn,” giving it a disappointing C+ on CinemaScore and only a 53% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Movies like these aren’t uncommon in Hollywood, but when a studio consistently delivers three lackluster performances, as PlayStation Productions has done, it can potentially spell trouble for the franchise or the studio. But remember, every film is unique and has its own merits; perhaps “Until Dawn” will find its audience despite initial criticisms.

Until Dawn‘s Box Office Run Has Stalled, And It Barely Broke Even

A 2.5x Multiplier Lies on the Edges of Profit and Loss

At present, the game titled “Until Dawn” has earned a total of $49.6 million worldwide, with $19 million coming from North America and an additional $29 million from other regions. However, its sales momentum seems to have slowed down considerably after the release of popular titles like “Final Destination” and “Lilo and Stitch“.

Based on a 2.5 times multiplier at home and a slightly higher 2.9 times multiplier abroad, the movie “Until Dawn” has achieved break-even financially. Taking into account a 3.3 times return on its production costs, the film just manages to meet the standards of financial success as defined by Hollywood’s accounting calculations.

In the world of Hollywood movie making, a film is typically considered profitable when it recoups at least double its production cost, taking into account additional expenses like marketing and various other unaccounted-for costs.

Until Dawn Is a Concerning Trend for PlayStation Productions

Previous Films Share a Similar Story

Previously, PlayStation Productions has witnessed similar outcomes with titles like Until Dawn. To illustrate, consider Gran Turismo. Although the 2023 movie could boast a decent 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating, an A on CinemaScore, and gross $121 million worldwide, it fell short of profitability given its $60 million production budget. Compared to Need for Speed (2014), which was deemed a box office flop with a $200 million gross against a $65 million budget (a 3.08x multiplier), Gran Turismo represents a dismal failure. The film’s disappointing $17.4 million U.S. debut in 2023, while bittersweet, cannot erase this reality. This is all the more disheartening when one considers the immense popularity of the video game series upon which it was based.

In recent times, PlayStation Productions has experienced its fair share of success with the Uncharted franchise. The 2022 movie garnered a significant return on investment, earning $407 million against a production budget of $120 million, multiplying its initial investment by 3.4 times. However, much like the films Until Dawn and Gran Turismo, it didn’t receive overwhelming approval from both critics and fans alike.

Tweaking The Heart of the Source Material Hurts More Than It Helps

There’s More Than One Example Of Why

When modifying any original content, you often find yourself in a tricky situation where criticism can come from either direction. If you stay too faithful to the original, some might argue that you’re not being creative enough. But if you make changes, die-hard fans might feel disappointed and believe you should have stayed truer to the source. In the realm of video game adaptations into films, it seems wiser to adhere closely to the source material while introducing a touch of novelty rather than doing the opposite. This means history suggests that it’s usually safer to stick with the original and introduce change sparingly.

Regrettably, the titles from PlayStation Productions are struggling to find the right equilibrium. For example, the movie adaptation of Uncharted, disappointingly, strays far from the original four-game series. It lacks the series’ distinctive mysteries, puzzles, and story arcs. To add insult to injury, there’s no Elena character at all! The writers seem to have selected dramatic moments and built a narrative around them, rather than staying true to the source material.

While not as directly criticized or seemingly without purpose as Uncharted, the adaptation by writers Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler, and director David F. Sandberg, deviated from the original material of Until Dawn. This change did not sit well with the game’s players. The core concept, involving a group of teens arriving at a secluded cabin in a snowy wilderness, remains consistent. However, there’s a greater focus on the intricate decision-making and outcome dynamics.

In my opinion, introducing a respawn mechanic in the “Until Dawn” movie, considering that the original game centers around the permanence of death and the significance of player decisions, was a misstep from the beginning. Furthermore, transforming Dr. Hill from Josh’s hallucination into a superficial main monster antagonist was an even more regrettable choice.

Until Dawn Would Have Benefited From a Small Screen Format

Until Dawn might have been more suited to a limited television series instead of a movie release. An eight-episode miniseries (similar in length to the game) could have offered a deeper investigation into the game’s key features, such as player choice and its impact on events. It would also provide the actors with ample opportunity for character growth and relationship complexity.

The most significant triumph for PlayStation Productions has been on television, largely due to one key factor: authenticity. Shows like “The Last of Us” closely mirror their original video game counterparts, making it a benchmark for future video game adaptations.

Future Projects Should Prioritize Authenticity

It’s important to note that straying from the original source isn’t always a recipe for disaster. For instance, future adaptations such as Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, and the Resident Evil reboot should be willing to innovate but not forget what made them popular in the first place. Ghost of Tsushima, with its cultural undertones reminiscent of Kurosawa, necessitates a culturally authentic and visually respectful treatment, much like the classic Shogun did. A fresh Resident Evil film focusing on slow-building survival horror would resonate more with the gaming community than previous action-oriented adaptations did.

Meaningful adaptation isn’t about copying but about capturing the spirit. Until Dawn did neither.

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2025-05-26 17:09