You might not have realised from his complete omission from all marketing, but AFTER EARTH is an M. Night Shymalan film; everyone’s favourite shaman of failed potential, creepy children and crushed dreams.

His latest, the sci-fi dystopia vehicle for Will Smith’s theological madness AFTER EARTH, has stayed resolutely true to form. 

Despite a projected opening weekend of $35-40 million in the States, the $130 million film slumped to a $10 million opening on Friday, with a renewed forecast of $25 million-plus this weekend.

Whoops. 

That’s a lot of numbers, but they all add up to make one clear message: the going ain’t good. As it stands, AFTER EARTH is set to become the first Will Smith film to fail to break the $100 million gross barrier.

You can’t help but feel sorry for Shymalan. Once upon a time he was a twice-nominated Oscar contender, and now production companies won’t even attach his name to his own projects.

Elsewhere, Louis Leterrier’s newest film NOW YOU SEE ME launched to an impressive $20 million weekend projection while Universal’s FAST & FURIOUS 6 continued to flex its greasy muscles, hitting the number 1 box-office spot with an estimated $40-50 million week.

AFTER EARTH will release on our fair islands on June 7th. Despite the damning initial reaction, let’s keep the fingers crossed eh? 

It can’t possible be worse than THE LAST AIRBENDER after all.

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