Why did a high-budget crime drama become one of Hollywood's biggest box-office bombs?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Ben Affleck’s 2016 action drama Live by Night was a major studio project that failed to find its footing. Despite an impressive cast and a $65 million budget, the film grossed only $22.7 million worldwide, resulting in a staggering estimated loss of $75 million for Warner Bros. Pictures.

Adapted from the 2012 novel by Dennis Lehane, Live by Night follows the rise of Joe Coughlin, a Boston bootlegger turned gangster. The production journey was extensive, beginning in April 2012 when Warner Bros. acquired the rights. Initially intended as a starring vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio, the project shifted in October 2012 when Ben Affleck signed on to direct, write, and star. Filming was delayed multiple times due to Affleck’s commitments to other major projects, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

When production finally commenced in October 2015, the crew utilized locations across Georgia, Massachusetts, and California. Despite the high-profile nature of the film, the release strategy was tumultuous. The premiere date was shifted repeatedly, eventually landing on a limited release in December 2016 followed by a wide release in January 2017. Critics were largely unimpressed, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 35% approval rating and Metacritic assigning a score of 49 out of 100. Reviewers noted that while the film possessed visual style, it lacked the narrative depth of previous Affleck projects.

The film’s commercial performance was particularly disastrous. During its third week of wide release, it was pulled from 94.1% of its theaters, setting a record at the time for the largest third-week theater drop in history. Deadline Hollywood attributed the poor reception to a crowded release window and a lack of critical buzz. Ultimately, the film serves as a cautionary tale in Hollywood, where even a seasoned director and a star-studded cast cannot guarantee success when the final product fails to resonate with audiences or critics.

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