In its fourth weekend of release, A24’s romantic drama Materialists has exceeded the global box office total of Celine Song’s critically acclaimed Past Lives. The film, featuring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, has reached $45 million worldwide by combining $33 million domestically with $12 million in international markets. Despite this achievement, the movie has received a mixed reception from audiences and critics alike.
Box Office Performance and Production Context
Materialists was produced with a reported budget of $20 million and represents A24’s ongoing effort to break into larger commercial territory. Although it has underperformed relative to the star power of its leading cast, the film’s $45 million global haul surpasses Past Lives’s lifetime worldwide earnings of $42 million. Released earlier in 2023, Song’s drama gained critical acclaim, earning a Best Original Screenplay nomination and a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Within A24’s recent slate, Materialists has outpaced the domestic grosses of mid-budget hits such as Heretic, Babygirl, and We Live in Time, and has now earned more than the 2016 Best Picture winner Moonlight in North America. On a global scale, it has eclipsed several notable A24 titles, including The Witch, Ex Machina, and Room. Despite these successes, A24 has experienced difficulties this year with a series of underperforming releases like Death of a Unicorn and Warfare.
Looking ahead, A24 anticipates new releases including The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, and the high-budget Marty Supreme featuring Timothée Chalamet, which reportedly has a $70 million production budget.
Mixed Critical and Audience Reactions to ‘Materialists’
The reception for Materialists has been divided. The film currently holds a 67% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, illustrating a more lukewarm response from viewers, potentially due to its unconventional approach to romantic comedy themes. Critically, it has fared better, with an 80% approval rating.
“A mature deconstruction of the conventional rom-com, Materialists provides its trio of swoon-worthy stars some of their meatiest material yet while reaffirming Celine Song as a modern master of relationship dramas.”
— Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
This critical perspective highlights the film’s ambition to challenge genre norms while showcasing strong performances from its leading cast. Moviegoers can currently watch Materialists in theaters as it continues its run at the box office.
