As we reported over the weekend, Blade Runner 2049 has made a poor showing on its opening weekend at the box office.

The final figures are still coming through, but it looks like the film is performing better - not much better, but better - overseas and is expected to take the No.1 spot in 43 countries, with a global total so far of $81,725,000. In the face of universally positive reviews, two audience-drawing stars and a relatively empty weekend, Blade Runner 2049 hugely underperformed.

Here's a couple of reasons why we think it happened.

 

6. IT'S NEARLY THREE HOURS LONG

It's simple maths, folks. The longer the film, the fewer screenings a cinema is able to schedule. Blade Runner 2049 runs for two hours and forty-three minutes, and most movies nowadays come in and around two hours, maybe two hours twenty at the very most. A film that's fifteen minutes shy of three hours is a big ask. Not only that, the average punter is likely to balk at a film that long.

 

5. IT'S A SCI-FI FILM IN A TIME WHEN EVERYONE WANTS HORRORS

We're not just talking about the fact that it's the start of October, but the fact that It - yes, the film It that was released a month ago - is still showing in a lot of cinemas and people are still going to see it. There's also the fact that, yes, it's October and you're showing a sci-fi film when most people want cheap scares from their cinema experience.

 

4. THE GOOD REVIEWS PUT PEOPLE OFF

Yes, it happens. If you're reading this, there's a better-than-average chance that you're into your films. You care about them enough to read an article conjecturing on box office figures, like. Most people aren't you. Most people don't care if a film redefines the cinematic landscape and defies conventions of genre. Most people just want something entertaining. As beautiful and all as Blade Runner 2049 is, there's no denying that it is a slow, steady film that isn't what you'd call conventionally entertaining. Moreover, some people are put off when they see a film that has universally positive reviews. They think it's either too dense to get on board with, or think that there's a catch.

 

3. IT'S A SEQUEL AND PEOPLE HATE SEQUELS

Sequel fatigue is a thing, and the average punter might see that this is a sequel and think, "I haven't seen the original, I'm not watching this." Anyone who's seen the film will tell you that you don't need to have seen the first one to enjoy it, but there's no denying that it definitely enhances the experience.

 

2. IT'S RATED R AND THAT MEANS LESS PEOPLE

Well, sort of. Compared to any comic-book blockbuster you can name, yes, Blade Runner 2049 has a smaller window of opportunity to reach audiences. In Ireland, Blade Runner 2049 was rated 15A and rated R in the US. Even still, this doesn't really make any sense because It is rated R and that's made - and continues to make - an obscene amount of money.

 

1. MAYBE IT'S JUST NOT AS GOOD AS PEOPLE ARE SAYING?

Critical accolades aside, word-of-mouth is what will really sell a film and Blade Runner 2049 is getting wildly varying audience reactions. While it did get an A- from CinemaScore, an overview of Twitter reactions about the film have it as misogynistic, boring, too long, riddled with plotholes (reviewers were specifically asked not to reveal the story, by the way) and not all that necessary considering the first one was so good. Who knows. While there's every chance that the film will have legs and hold on in some cinemas, it's not all that likely. With the coming of audience-friendly blockbusters like Thor Ragnarok, Justice League and The Last Jedi in the next month, don't be in the least bit surprised if you find it harder and harder to catch a screening of Blade Runner 2049.