Despite his Oscar win and a well-established position in Hollywood, Joaquin Phoenix has encountered a challenging run with consecutive box office disappointments, including his latest film, Eddington. Released just weeks ago, this black comedy Western has suffered steep declines in theater counts and ticket sales, marking the actor’s fifth straight box office underperformer. Industry watchers hoped Phoenix’s role in the Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, would revive his commercial appeal, but that effort did not resonate with viewers.
Eddington’s domestic showing has been particularly poor, with the number of theaters screening the film dropping from over 2,000 at launch to about 500 by its third weekend. This decline led to a nearly 70% reduction in box office revenue during that period. At that point, the movie had earned just under $500,000 over the weekend and accumulated a total domestic gross near $9.5 million. Given a budget estimated to be up to $50 million, the film is likely to end its run grossing only around $10 million, a financial disappointment for director Ari Aster.
Financial Disappoints Continue to Mount for Phoenix and Collaborators
This recent setback follows other recent underperformances for Phoenix. Prior to Eddington, director Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon, Phoenix’s first project following Joker, earned only about $4 million, falling short of its $8 million budget. Additionally, Phoenix starred in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, an epic historical drama that barely managed to break even internationally with roughly $200 million in revenue against a reported $200 million cost. These figures extend Phoenix’s streak of failed box office expectations, stirring concern over whether the actor is facing a career slump at a pivotal time.
Eddington’s financial woes are further exacerbated when compared to Aster’s previous work with Phoenix. The surreal film Beau Is Afraid, released a couple of years ago, grossed similarly to Eddington with about $10 million domestically but had a lower production budget near $30 million, making Eddington’s losses more severe in relative terms.
Cast and Creative Team Behind Eddington
Eddington is a Western comedy-horror movie written and directed by Ari Aster. Set in Eddington, New Mexico, a dispute between the local sheriff and mayor escalated into a community-wide conflict in May 2020, fracturing local relationships and dividing residents into opposing sides. The film features a notable ensemble cast beyond Phoenix, including Pedro Pascal as Ted Garcia, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler.
Mixed Reactions to Eddington and Upcoming Projects
Critics have responded with mixed reviews to Eddington, reflected in its 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus notes the film’s strong cast and fearless direction but criticizes its tonal inconsistencies, which may have alienated some viewers.
“Eddington carries a stellar cast, fearless direction by Ari Aster and an off-kilter story, but its tonal misdirection will often leave viewers wanting.”
—Critics’ Consensus, Rotten Tomatoes
While Eddington’s reception is tepid, Phoenix has two upcoming projects that also involve his wife, Rooney Mara: Lynne Ramsay’s Polaris and Paweł Pawlikowski’s The Island. Fans and industry followers are closely watching these films as they represent key opportunities for Phoenix to reverse his recent string of underwhelming box office results.
Implications of Consecutive Commercial Failures for Phoenix’s Career
The repeated box office disappointments come at a critical moment for Phoenix, who reportedly commands substantial salaries but is now facing doubts about his box office draw. There are also reports of Phoenix hesitating or stepping back from projects at the final stages, complicating his professional momentum. Given his considerable talent and previous acclaim, the industry is closely observing how these recent failures will affect his ability to secure leading roles in high-profile productions moving forward.
For director Ari Aster, Eddington’s poor performance represents a setback, especially contrasted with his previous success despite financial constraints. The film’s struggle to attract audiences raises questions about the commercial viability of ambitious genre-blending projects in today’s market.
