THE BIG PICTURE
Sony’s flick, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story, has zoomed past the $50 million revenue mark in worldwide cinemas. On home soil, it has garnered $17.3 million, while making a splash internationally with an additional $36 million. The movie’s offbeat release approach—including pre-release screenings and a staggered global premiere—has certainly played a role in its financial windfall.
The film, which delves into the real-life experience of a young gamer turned professional racer, boasts a robust A CinemaScore, though critics have given it lukewarm reviews, reflected by its borderline “fresh” 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Unpacking the Numbers
The film had a multi-pronged launch strategy, debuting overseas two weeks before hitting U.S. theaters—a move that was unexpectedly delayed. In a departure from the norm, Sony also facilitated sneak previews across a two-week period, in addition to the traditional Thursday sneak peek.
This layered release strategy added a cool $3.9 million to the film’s domestic kitty, supplementing the $1.4 million earned during Thursday previews. While this made the movie the box office champ of its opening weekend, there is contention. Warner Bros. argues that without the extra dough, Gran Turismo would lag behind their continuing success, Barbie. As of now, Gran Turismo is in the lead, but just by a hair—approximately $200,000. But buckle up, because these numbers could shift gears with the results from National Cinema Day dropping anytime now.
So, what’s the upshot? The movie has raked in $17.3 million in the U.S. and another $36 million internationally, for a grand total of $53 million. Sony’s faith in Gran Turismo seems to have partially paid off; it orchestrated pre-release screenings to drum up hype, and that gamble has so far been vindicated. While audiences have largely given it a thumbs-up, critics are more cautious. FilmSweep’s Ross Bonaime didn’t mince words, saying the movie “transforms into a highway pileup of clichés, lackluster direction, and an unimpressive narrative.”
Budget and Star Power
Sony played it smart with the film’s budget. Gran Turismo was made for a conservative $60 million, a far cry from their last PlayStation adaptation, Uncharted, which reportedly cost twice as much. The movie centers on the inspirational true story of Jann Mardenborough, portrayed by Archie Madekwe, who won a Gran Turismo video game contest and subsequently found himself behind the wheel at the Dubai 23 Hour Race in 2011.
This film also represents a comeback trail for director Neill Blomkamp. Blomkamp became a household name with the 2009 sci-fi blockbuster District 9, but hit a roadblock with the underwhelming 2015 release, Chappie. Though he directed the 2021 low-budget horror film Demonic, Gran Turismo is his first major studio project since his anticipated Alien sequel went kaput. The film’s supporting cast boasts names like David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou. For more dish, you can check out our exclusive interview with Harbour, and keep your engines running for more updates from FilmSweep.
