Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy seems to have had a rough run at the box office. Based on the TV show of the same name, the film followed Gosling as a stuntman who gets involved in a conspiracy involving the lead actor of a film directed by his ex-girlfriend, played by Emily Blunt. The action comedy was directed by David Leitch, who last helmed Bullet Train.
Gosling’s film reportedly only earned a meager $145 million against a $127 million budget, making it a box office bomb. While the film received positive responses from fans and critics, author Stephen King seemed to have had a mixed reaction to the film. He reportedly disagreed with a review of the film that called it ‘great fun’.
Stephen King Gets Flak For Being Unimpressed With Ryan Gosling’s Film
Horror author Stephen King has crafted many masterpieces in his day that have been adapted into acclaimed films. The writer is the man behind classics such as The Shining, The Dead Zone, It, Misery, and Carrie, all of which have been turned into movies. King has been closely associated with the film industry for quite some time due to these adaptations.
King has also been vocal about his opinion of films that are not his adaptations. He released a list of his favorite films which included Steven Spielberg’s Duel, Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak, and Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River among others (via BFI). The author has also given his opinion on the latest films through his social media account.
His latest review, however, seems to have received a lot of flack. The author reportedly gave a mixed review for Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy. In response to a review by novelist Linwood Barclay, the author reposted on his X (formerly Twitter) account and said, “Yes, definitely fun, but great fun? Perhaps not”. This has reportedly led to backlash from fans of Gosling.
This the same guy who said the flash was great 😂 🤡
— Trizzydri (@Trizzydri186) May 28, 2024
If Stephen King isn't a fan it must be good
— Melee Games (@MeleeGames) May 28, 2024
Stephen stick to writing Plz
— Andrew 🤩 (@BatKingAte) May 28, 2024
The fall guy is not even a movie genre Stephen King has interest in. It is like asking Martin Scorsese how he feels about the marvel films. So of course he is not going to like it.
— Nick J. (@NickJ_Awesome) May 28, 2024
While Ryan Gosling’s film has been received well by fans, it received mixed reactions from critics and was also a box office bomb.
Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy Suffers Huge Losses
The Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt starrer The Fall Guy was positioned as a big Summer blockbuster that had plenty of action and comedy. The film featured the two stars along with a host of supporting actors such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke, and Stephanie Hsu. It was also based on a popular ‘80s TV show.
However, the stuntman saga did not seem to have attracted big numbers at the box office, as it only earned $127 million globally. The film reportedly had a less-than-stellar opening of $28 million, which was less than the projected $30-35 million opening weekend collections (via Deadline). The film dropped in subsequent weeks after the release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The film’s quick digital release can also be a factor in its reduced box office performance. The Fall Guy was available on PVOD and digitally on May 21, a mere 18 days after its theatrical release. The reason for the quick release might be Universal Studios wanting to earn back the losses quickly after the low opening weekend.
The Fall Guy is available for rent on Apple TV. It is also currently playing in cinemas.
