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These high-budget projects highlight a broader issue within the film industry: the challenge of recouping massive production costs through box office performance. In both cases, the expectation isn't necessarily to dominate the box office but to generate enough revenue through initial sales, second-week legs, and ancillary markets to justify the enormous investments.
The concern is compounded by the fact that such high costs demand exceptional word of mouth and audience retention. Without strong critical reception and audience enthusiasm, the drop-off in ticket sales in subsequent weeks can be steep, preventing the studio from hitting profitability.