Not So Fast There, Power Rangers!

A few weeks ago I reviewed the dreadful new Power Rangers movie, noting that producer Haim Saban and Lionsgate Studios had high hopes for the film. They honestly expected the movie to be a massive hit, and were planning on leveraging it into a lucrative SIX film franchise (!).

In my review I pointed out that the film wasn't exactly burning up the box office, and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on Power Rangers 2 - 6.

How frighteningly prescient of me. After a little over a month in theaters, the $100 million dollar film only managed to scrape up a disappointing $85 million here in the states. Ouch! Oddly enough it's done even worse overseas, where it grossed an anemic $54 million, for a worldwide total of $140 million.

Lionsgate was banking on the Chinese market to save the film, but they didn't want anything to do with it either. Power Rangers could only manage an embarrassing $3.3 million in its opening weekend in China! Double ouch! Meanwhile, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 raked in almost $50 million in its Chinese debut!

Lionsgate's hoping the Japanese market can save the film, especially since it's based on the Super Sentai TV series there. I don't see any way that's gonna happen. Why would the Japanese go see a movie based on a pale imitation of one of their own shows?

So say goodbye to the Power Rangers Cinematic Universe!

If it sounds like I'm gloating here, it's because I am. I resented sitting through every second of this dreary film's bloated 124 minute runtime. Look, I know Power Rangers isn't Shakespeare. But it's a silly proper about superpowered teens who ride around in robotic dinosaurs. How the hell can you make an insane concept like that boring? The last thing a Power Rangers movie should ever be is dull. There's no reason Lionsgate couldn't have made a fun movie like Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.

Note that Warner Bros. had similar plans for their recent King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword film, as it was designed to be the first of a six film series as well. And just like Power Rangers, it tanked at the box office, dashing all hopes of any follow up films. 

Hey, movie studios, here's an idea for you! Instead of foolishly betting your company's future on a series with no chance in hell of ever becoming a reality, maybe make one movie and see how that goes. If it's a hit, THEN go ahead with plans for a franchise. It's simple common sense, guys.