The box office numbers for Paramount’ 2017 Ghost in the Shell film have been released and the results are less than stellar.
In its opening weekend, Ghost in the Shell grossed an estimate of 19 million dollars in domestic markets, making up a little over thirty percent of its revenue. The movie fared better in foreign markets where it made an extra $40 million, covering nearly seventy percent of the total revenue. Ghost in the Shell was developed with a budget of $110 million, meaning the film underperformed. In comparison, Fox’s animated film, The Boss Baby, released the same weekend and grossed over $100 million in worldwide sales.
Ghost in the Shell is an American live-action sci-fi action film, adapted from the popular Japanese media franchise of the same name. Set in the near future where humans and robots co-exist, the plot follows a woman who hopes to regain her past after her brain is placed in a cyborg body to become the perfect soldier. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as the main character, Major Motoko Kusanagi. Notably cast is “Beat” Takeshi Kitano, a famous Japanese comedian and actor as Chief Daisuke Aramaki. Critical response for the film has been negative since its release with many criticizing the movie’s plot.
Since the announcement of Scarlet Johansson being cast as the film’s lead role, the Ghost in the Shell film has been accused of “whitewashing.” Rupert Sander, the film’s director, addressed the controversy surrounding Johansson’s casting, defending the decision. During development, claims were made that CGI tests were done in an attempt to make white actors appear more Asian, spurring the outrage of fans of the series. Paramount admitted to the CGI testing but stated that it was only done for a single background character and that no edits were made to Scarlet Johansson.
