"The Wild Robot" soars to top box office, while "Megalopolis" collapses

Universal and DreamWorks Animation's "The Wild Robot" soared to the top of the box office charts, taking flight with a robust $35 million opening weekend. This family-friendly animated film, which follows a robot marooned on an island, captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike, earning a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

In stark contrast, Francis Ford Coppola's highly anticipated sci-fi epic "Megalopolis" crashed and burned. Despite a star-studded cast and a $120 million budget, the film failed to resonate with audiences, collecting a paltry $4 million in its opening weekend. This dismal performance marked a significant setback for Coppola, who had personally funded the project.

The film's poor reception was evident in its "D+" CinemaScore rating and mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the film's ambitious vision, others found it confusing and difficult to follow. The failure of "Megalopolis" serves as a stark reminder that even the most well-intentioned projects can struggle to find an audience.

Meanwhile, other films continued to perform well at the box office. Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" remained in second place, while Paramount's animated "Transformers One" held onto the third spot. The Indian Telugu-language action film "Devara: Part 1" made a strong debut in fourth place.

As the fall movie season continues, it remains to be seen which films will emerge as winners and losers. However, the success of "The Wild Robot" and the failure of "Megalopolis" demonstrate the unpredictable nature of the box office.