"I'm not too surprised"- Fans blame marketing as Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken opens with record low for Dreamworks

A still from Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (Image via Dreamworks)

Dreamworks, the renowned animation studio, is accustomed to basking in the adoration of viewers worldwide. However, the reception for its latest animated feature, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, has been far from enthusiastic. Dreamworks' latest adventure film, helmed by Kirk DeMicco, has unfortunately fallen short of captivating fans, marking a departure from the studio's usual streak of guaranteed successes.

Opening to a record low for the company, the film managed to rake in a mere $5.2 million domestically.

Dreamworks' latest film has sparked a range of opinions among critics, with some praising its merits while others remain unimpressed. However, despite the varying reviews, it is clear that this film falls short of being labeled as Dreamworks' ultimate box office disappointment.

In a recent development, "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" has garnered a 65% rating on the renowned review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes. While this rating positions the film as a weaker entry, it falls short of being labeled as the weakest in its genre.

A tweet reply to Discussing Film's post about Dreamworks' lowest opening weekend (Image via Twitter)

Fans came forward to discuss how the marketing team, an unimpressive trailer, and Dreamworks' poor scheduling contributed to this massive loss. Many also claimed that the film was underwhelming, but this was most likely due to poor marketing, as opening day or weekend earnings are typically dependent on the initial impression.

Fans single out the terrible trailer as the reason for Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken's box office failure

Discussing Film's post about Dreamworks' lowest opening weekend (Image via Twitter)

There were many theories and claims on Twitter about Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken's unforeseen failure, but it seems the trailer is one of the primary reasons for this. When a trailer fails to captivate viewers, it is bound to disengage fans from the story.

The marketing for the film was also not top-notch, leaving a lot to be desired from the team for promotions.

Many also reasoned that the timing of the release was not the most ideal, given that this is an exceptionally busy season for movie theatres.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. It premiered globally on June 30, 2023, after an initial premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

It is currently playing in theatres.

About the author

Sourav is an entertainment writer at SK POP, who is informed by his Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and Master's degree in Film Studies. Having penned scripts in the television and OTT, he has valuable experience and expertise that lay a strong foundation for his journey in the world of popular culture.

Sourav strives to produce accurate and informative articles and does so by looking for relevant and verified sources. He also enjoys writing explainers and features so he can give readers an in-depth understanding of the topic at hand while steering clear of misinformation.

Sourav admires Martin Scorsese and attributes his work to his affinity for cinema. He also looks up to Bob Dylan and appreciates the honesty with which he pens lyrics while combining the same with a social message. He is also a fan of Jimmy Page's skills as a guitarist.

If he could travel back in time, he would love to attend the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair to experience its magic in person. When he's not busy writing and researching about the latest developments in the industry, he plays the guitar and composes music. He enjoys watching art films and TV shows and also immerses himself in poetry. He additionally loves football and tries to carve out some time at least twice a week for a game.

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Edited by Vinay Agrawal