Zachary Levi was well on his way to becoming one of the A-listers of Hollywood after starring in the widely successful Shazam! However, his career seems to have peaked with that DC film as his films since have consistently been underwhelming or downright box-office disasters.
His latest film, Harold and the Purple Crayon, will reportedly debut on streaming this week, barely a month after its theatrical release. The film reportedly earned $23 million at the global box office, against a $40 million budget. With Shazam! Fury of the Gods also being a disaster, Levi’s career might just be over.
Zachary Levi’s Harold and the Purple Crayon Lost Money At The Box Office
Zachary Levi had his breakthrough when he had a leading role in the spy comedy TV series Chuck. The actor then went on to gain worldwide fame for his voice role as Flynn Rider in the Disney animated film Tangled. The actor’s performance and singing were praised by audiences and critics alike.
Levi was then tapped to play the role of Billy Batson a.k.a Shazam in the DCU. The first film was a commercial success, prompting a sequel to be greenlit immediately. However, the sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which was released in 2023, turned out to be a box office disaster, earning only $134 million against a $125 million budget (via Box Office Mojo).
His next release Harold and the Purple Crayon, which opened to cinemas earlier this month was also a box office bomb. Earning only $23 million against a $40 million budget, the film will reportedly debut on streaming this week, less than a month after its release. The film had a terrible opening of $6 million domestically.
Harold and the Purple Crayon faced stiff competition from big releases like Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2, both of which have turned out to be some of the highest-grossing films of the year. Levi’s film reportedly did not impress critics as well, receiving a score of 26% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans Feel Sorry For Zachary Levi After His Second Consecutive Disaster
Zachary Levi was on a steady road to Hollywood glory when he was cast as Shazam in the DCU. The film was a runaway success and his performance as the titular superhero was praised by fans and critics alike. However, the actor’s career seemed to have peaked there as he has yet to recreate the success of the film.
While his next solo film American Underdog was a moderate success, his other releases such as Spy Kids: Armageddon and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget went straight to streaming. Shazam! Fury of the Gods was a box office disaster, and with the recent Harold and the Purple Crayon, his career seems to be in shambles.
Fans were surprised to find that the film had been released and those who did manage to watch it, criticized it. Many even commented about Levi’s career.
While the film’s audience score on Rotten Tomatoes ranks at a whopping 92%, the film might still have a chance at finding a new lease of life on streaming.
Harold and the Purple Crayon is currently in cinemas.
