Well, wasn’t it Aristotle who mused, “Excellence is never an accident”? He probably wasn’t talking about Dave Bautista’s career, but the shoe sure fits the metaphorical wrestling boot here. After hanging up his wrestling tights, Bautista could’ve settled for easy & explosion-laden blockbusters, but instead, he’s chosen a less traveled path, flexed his acting chops, and proved he’s more than just a muscle-bound action star.
Last year, Bautista made headlines for hanging up his Drax role and stepping away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, what’s next after Marvel for him? We recently witnessed the grand spectacle of his latest film, The Killer’s Game. But rather than delivering a hit, the film ended up taking a nosedive at the box office, hitting a low note no one saw coming.
Dave Bautista’s The Killer’s Game Hits a Sour Note at Box Office?
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but sometimes, you can definitely judge a movie by its box office numbers. Dave Bautista recently took a gamble with his latest action-comedy, The Killer’s Game.
Lionsgate’s action-comedy flick had a rocky start at the box office. According to Deadline, The Killer’s Game stumbled out of the gate, raking in a modest $2.6 million over its opening weekend. This figure set a rather unflattering record for Bautista as the lowest-grossing theatrical film of his career, eclipsing the $3.2 million earned by Hotel Artemis in 2018.
Early reviews are also underwhelming (39% on Rotten Tomatoes). The film’s reception has polarized audiences and critics alike, leaving viewers wondering if they missed the memo. Apparently, its theatrical release was so low-key that it seemed to slip under the radar of even the most dedicated moviegoers, impacting its first-weekend earnings in a big way.
In contrast, the box office was alive and kicking elsewhere. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice stole the spotlight, earning a hefty $51.6 million over the same weekend, bringing its domestic total to a robust $188 million (via Deadline’s report).
Meanwhile, other top contenders included The Forge with $2.01 million, It Ends With Us at $2.02 million, Alien: Romulus pulling in $2.4 million, and Reagan at $2.96 million. The Killer’s Game found itself in sixth place overall, and third among the weekend’s new releases, falling behind Speak No Evil with $11.5 million and Am I Racist at $4.75 million.
In The Killer’s Game, Bautista teams up with his Guardians of the Galaxy co-star Pom Klementieff, alongside a stellar lineup that includes Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, and Ben Kingsley.
Dave Bautista: From Green Giant to Romantic Lead
Having hung up his Drax the Destroyer character, Dave Bautista didn’t just take a sidestep into the world of acting—he launched himself into a whole new galaxy of roles. The former Marvel star boldly declared he wanted to pivot from action hero to romantic leading man, and let’s just say, he’s truly walked the walk (via EW):
A lot of people didn’t know I was interested and probably didn’t know or care if I had been getting offers.
After bidding farewell to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he’s been looking back on his post-MCU career with a touch of bewilderment.
I’ve always just kind of put certain pieces of the puzzle together—maybe one day I’ll have the puzzle put together, but right now, it’s always just little pieces.
These “little pieces” include a quest for roles that pique his interest, particularly romantic comedies and leading parts.
He also revealed he’s not exactly a fan of action movies. That’s why Bautista is particularly proud of The Killer’s Game. This film marks his foray into the romantic lead territory. The actor stated:
This movie is very much my way to break into the romance genre, allowing the audience to see a new side of me while also delivering the action they expect. This is my vehicle; this is my segue, absolutely.
So, while Bautista may be piecing together his career puzzle one role at a time, it’s clear that he’s aiming to make his mark across the board. Here’s to hoping his next venture is a recipe for success & that he continues to find the right ingredients to spice up his acting career.
The Killer’s Game is now showing in theaters.
