Part 2/7:
When Dark Fate hit theaters, expectations were cautiously optimistic. The franchise, once a blockbuster juggernaut, was trying to reinvent itself with fresh characters and a purported new direction. However, the marketing campaign was marred by controversy, notably director Tim Miller's confrontational attitude toward the fanbase. Miller publicly dismissed fans who criticized the film, labeling them misogynistic trolls—a move that only intensified negative perceptions.
Crucially, Dark Fate underperformed financially, earning around $250 million on a nearly $200 million budget. When all costs, including marketing and distribution cuts, were accounted for, the film was estimated to have lost between $150 and $200 million—a colossal failure in Hollywood terms.