Chris Hemsworth’s ‘Crime 101’ Stumbles at Box Office Despite High Production Cost
Chris Hemsworth’s latest film, Crime 101, is facing significant challenges at the box office during its opening weekend. The crime drama, which features Hemsworth alongside fellow Marvel stars Mark Ruffalo and Barry Keoghan, as well as Halle Berry, is derived from Don Winslow’s novella released in 2020. The film had a hefty production budget of $90 million and was acquired through a competitive bidding process by Amazon in 2023.
Box Office Performance
Despite receiving solid reviews, boasting an 86% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, Crime 101 is projected to earn only $11.8 million during its three-day domestic launch. Over the extended President’s Day holiday weekend, the film’s total earnings may reach around $13.8 million. If these estimates hold true, this would mark Crime 101 as Chris Hemsworth’s fifth-worst wide release domestic debut and his lowest since 2018.
Historical Context of Hemsworth’s Releases
Here’s a comparison of some of Hemsworth’s previous films and their box office performances:
| Title | 3-Day Domestic Debut | Theaters | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cabin in the Woods (2012) | $14.74 million | 3,411 | $70.7 million |
| Vacation (2015) | $14.68 million | 2,811 | $104.9 million |
| Red Dawn (2012) | $14.3 million | 2,725 | $48.2 million |
| Crime 101 (2026) | ~$11.8 million | 3,161 | TBD |
| In the Heart of the Sea (2015) | $11 million | 3,103 | $94.3 million |
| Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) | $7.1 million | 2,808 | $31.2 million |
| A Perfect Getaway (2009) | $5.9 million | 2,159 | $22.8 million |
| Blackhat (2015) | $3.9 million | 2,567 | $19.7 million |
Break-Even Analysis
To achieve profitability, films typically need to earn at least 2.5 times their production costs. For Crime 101, this means it must generate around $225 million to break even. This figure appears daunting, especially considering the historical performance of Hemsworth’s films. For instance, the lowest domestic debut that surpassed the $225 million mark was the $30 million opening weekend of “Men In Black: International.”
Streaming Potential
Despite its struggles at the box office, the outlook may not be entirely bleak for Crime 101. As a release from Amazon MGM Studios in the U.S. and Canada, its success will likely be measured by its streaming performance on Prime Video. Audience reception has been decent, with a Popcornmeter score of 84% and a CinemaScore of B.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, Crime 101 faces competition from other releases, notably Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, which is benefitting from the Valentine’s Day holiday. However, the lack of new major wide releases in the upcoming weeks may provide the film an opportunity to recover its footing and attract more viewers.
