Sony Pictures has reportedly pulled the plug on the planned Spanish theatrical release of Klara and the Sun, the science fiction drama starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams and directed by Taika Waititi, following an extraordinarily disappointing debut at the North American box office.
The film, an adaptation of the acclaimed 2021 novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, opened in American theaters on October 23. Despite its recognizable cast, prestigious source material, and Academy Award-winning director, audiences have shown remarkably little interest.
According to Collider and Spanish outlet Artículo 14, Sony has removed the film from its Spanish release calendar, where it had been scheduled to debut on October 30.
No replacement date has been announced, leaving the film’s future in that market uncertain.
Klara and the Sun Suffers a Disastrous Opening Weekend
The box office numbers explain why Sony might be reconsidering its distribution strategy.
According to Box Office Mojo, Klara and the Sun generated just $701,059 during its opening weekend across 880 North American theaters.
That translates to an average of approximately $797 per theater, an exceptionally weak result for a film featuring two recognizable Hollywood actresses.
By October 28, the movie had earned approximately $972,531 domestically, with its worldwide total standing at just $1.64 million.
Klara and the Sun – Sony
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The disappointing performance followed reports that Sony had already dramatically reduced its planned theatrical rollout. The studio reportedly intended to release the film in approximately 1,900 North American theaters before scaling that number back to 880.
The film’s reported $40 million production budget, cited by CinemaBlend, makes those results particularly concerning. Marketing and distribution expenses would add to the financial burden.
Although international releases and eventual home entertainment revenue could offset some of those costs, the film’s theatrical prospects currently appear bleak.
Importantly, the reported Spanish cancellation doesn’t mean Sony has abandoned the film throughout Europe. Klara and the Sun has already opened in several international territories, including France and Italy.
Critics Reject Taika Waititi’s Adaptation
Commercial difficulties are only part of the problem.
Klara and the Sun has also received a remarkably negative response from professional critics, earning a 25% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film follows Klara, played by Ortega, an artificial companion designed to provide friendship and emotional support. She eventually becomes involved with a troubled family, including a young girl named Josie, played by Mia Tharia, and her mother, portrayed by Adams.
The original novel explores artificial intelligence, human relationships, grief, and the meaning of love through Ishiguro’s restrained and contemplative storytelling.
Taika Waititi on the set of THE MANDALORIAN – Lucasfilm
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However, several reviewers have criticized Waititi’s adaptation for struggling to balance its emotional subject matter with the director’s familiar comedic style.
As reported by Artículo 14, The Guardian awarded the film just one star out of five, while Variety questioned whether Waititi’s eccentric humor was compatible with the novel’s melancholy tone.
The adaptation has also faced criticism for simplifying the original story’s philosophical themes.
That reception is particularly disappointing considering the considerable literary reputation of its source material.
Another Disappointment for Waititi and a Setback for Ortega
For Waititi, the commercial failure represents another troubling chapter in a career that once appeared nearly unstoppable.
The filmmaker earned widespread acclaim for Jojo Rabbit and delivered a major Marvel success with Thor: Ragnarok. However, his subsequent Thor: Love and Thunder proved considerably more divisive, while his 2023 sports comedy Next Goal Wins struggled with critics and audiences.
Klara and the Sun now adds another disappointment to that record.
For Ortega, the situation is somewhat different. The actress remains enormously popular thanks to Netflix’s Wednesday and the successful Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Nevertheless, her involvement has apparently been insufficient to generate meaningful theatrical interest in this particular project.
Klara and the Sun – Sony
The film had also attracted early awards-season speculation, making its reception all the more surprising.
Hollywood frequently relies on recognizable stars, established intellectual properties, and prestigious creative talent to attract moviegoers. Yet Klara and the Sun demonstrates that even combining all three offers no guarantee of success.
With its theatrical earnings struggling, critics largely unimpressed, and Sony reportedly withdrawing its Spanish release, the film faces an uncertain commercial future.
Whether it eventually finds an audience through streaming remains to be seen. For now, Klara and the Sun is another reminder that Hollywood prestige does not necessarily translate into ticket sales.
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