How a high-budget action thriller set a record for the worst box office decline
In short: The 2016 film Collide, featuring a star-studded cast including Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley, was intended to be a high-octane thriller. Instead, it became a cautionary tale of production delays and distribution woes, ultimately setting a dubious industry record for the largest second-weekend drop in box office history.
Originally titled Autobahn, the project was first announced in May 2013 with Zac Efron and Amber Heard attached to lead. By May 2014, the production had pivoted, replacing the original stars with Nicholas Hoult and Felicity Jones. Principal photography commenced shortly thereafter, but the film soon faced significant turbulence behind the scenes. The production company, Relativity Media, filed for bankruptcy, forcing the film to be pulled from the market and eventually sold to Open Road Films. This transition triggered a series of release date shifts, pushing the premiere from October 2015 all the way to February 2017.
When Collide finally hit theaters in North America, it faced a brutal reception. Opening against films like Get Out, it debuted in 2,045 theaters but earned only $1.5 million, marking the sixth-worst opening for a film with such a wide release. The situation deteriorated rapidly in its second weekend. The film was pulled from over 1,000 theaters and saw its revenue plummet by 88.5%. This performance shattered the previous record for a second-week decline, which had been held by the 2005 film Undiscovered at 86.4%.
Critics were largely unimpressed by the final product, which holds a 23% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some reviewers found charm in the performances of veterans like Kingsley and Hopkins, many felt the script was undermined by illogical plot points and uninspired dialogue. The film ultimately grossed $6.8 million worldwide against a $21.5 million budget. Despite the efforts of director Eran Creevy to stage high-energy vehicular sequences, the project struggled to resonate with audiences, resulting in a CinemaScore grade of C+ and cementing its reputation as a commercial misfire.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Collide (2016 film)
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