It seems like a not-so-good year for Ben Affleck’s career as his latest project is expected to emerge as another box-office flop. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Hypnotic stars Affleck as Danny Rourke, a detective on the lookout for a sinister criminal who possesses the ability to manipulate minds.
The cast includes Alice Braga, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeff Fahey, and William Fichtner. As per Deadline, the production reportedly cost around $70 million, and unfortunately, experts predict only a meager opening weekend profit of $2.5 million by the end of Sunday.
Ben Affleck Hits Two Box-Office Flops In A Row This 2023
Hypnotic is not the first Affleck project to fail at the box office, as April’s Air only managed to earn $85.5 million against a budget of $90 million. However, the film was originally made as a Prime Video exclusive, and the profit it gained from the box office was still considered a win for Amazon Studios.
The latest movie’s case seems already hopeless as new reviews continue to criticize the franchise. Hypnotic is certified rotten with a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This puts the actor’s career in a critical situation, as his last two projects, The Last Duel and Deep Water, were also poorly received by fans.
Meanwhile, Affleck’s wife, Jennifer Lopez, stars in a new thriller movie entitled Mother, which premiered on Netflix over the weekend. The singer-actress portrayed an ex-special forces parent and reclusive assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her daughter from danger.
The responses were a mixed bag of fair reviews, although critics and fans compliment Lopez for personifying a strong character. Her presence in the movie is evidently what attracted global attention.
Affleck’s next appearance will be in The Flash starring Ezra Miller which will premiere next month. The film has been peppered with controversy following the lead star’s erratic behavior. Affleck will reprise his role as the iconic Batman, together with Michael Keaton, who will portray another version of the famed superhero.
Could DC’s The Flash Save Ben Affleck’s Career?
It might not be the worst year for Ben Affleck despite two of his projects failing to perform at the box office. The Flash could be his redeeming chance as the DC film becomes one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2023. It has a budget of around $220 million, with a possibility of crossing the $1 billion mark due to its rigorous marketing and star-studded cast.
Hopefully, the upcoming DC film won’t suffer the same fate that happened to 2017’s Justice League. The Flash has a relatively smaller budget and is not going up against any major competing franchises. If the movie emerges victorious at the global box office arena, it will save Affleck’s year from the ashes of Air and Hypnotic.
The Flash arrives in theaters on June 16, 2023.
Source: Deadline
