Why the 2019 Charlie's Angels reboot became one of the year's biggest box-office disappointments
In short: Directed by Elizabeth Banks, the 2019 Charlie's Angels was intended to revitalize a classic franchise. Despite a star-studded soundtrack and a global marketing push, the film struggled to find its audience, ultimately grossing $73.3 million worldwide against a production budget of up to $55 million and significant advertising costs.
The 2019 film serves as a standalone sequel to the original television series and the two previous theatrical installments from 2000 and 2003. Development began in September 2015, with Elizabeth Banks eventually taking on the roles of director, producer, and writer. The plot follows a new generation of Angels—played by Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska—as they attempt to stop the weaponization of a dangerous energy device called Calisto.
The production was ambitious, with filming taking place in Germany and Turkey throughout late 2018. However, the release faced challenges from the start. Originally scheduled for November 1, 2019, the date was shifted to November 15 to avoid competition with Terminator: Dark Fate. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, holding a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It debuted to a disappointing $8.4 million in the United States and Canada, failing to attract both older demographics and its target audience of younger females.
Industry analysts, including those at Deadline Hollywood, attributed the underperformance to a lack of public interest in the franchise and the lukewarm critical reception. Sony Pictures, which had initially planned to spend $100 million on promotion, ultimately scaled back to approximately $50 million. Despite the financial struggle, the film features a notable connection to the past, with Jaclyn Smith reprising her role as Kelly Garrett in a mid-credits scene, and the voice of Charlie Townsend provided by Robert Clotworthy, who replaced the late John Forsythe.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Charlie's Angels (2019 film)
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