CHILD 44

Child 44

Child 44 was originally set up at FOX 2000 which won the novel’s bidding rights back in 2007 and Ridley Scott was set to direct. Scott eventually backed out of directing duties and FOX dropped the project. Summit/Lionsgate eventually took control of the property. Child 44 was co-financed by Summit Entertainment, Worldview Entertainment and the China based Hunan for $50 million and Lionsgate, which absolved Summit back in 2012, pre-sold the film well to overseas distributors. Pre-sales covered 70% of the expenses and Lionsgate’s exposure to the budget was a reported $4 million to $5 million, with the rest spread across Worldview and Hunan. Worldview Entertainment’s main backer, billionaire Sarah Johnson has filed suit against Worldview for fraud and mismanagement and is one of four cases of litigation against the company which has since stopped operating.

In an early 2015 quarter financial investor relations report by Lionsgate, Child 44 was being pushed as part of their aggressive franchise expansion model and had ambitious plans for the film which is based on a trilogy of books. Initially planned as a wide release in the US, Lionsgate dumped the film with blink and you miss it marketing and all of 80 national TV ad spots. Child 44 opened in only 510 theaters to a dismal $621,812 opening weekend with a $1,219 per screen average. It sank 67.2% in its second frame to $203,649 and Child 44 was pulled from all, but 24 theaters going in its third weekend. The film closed its domestic run after its fourth week with just $1,224,330.

Overseas, Child 44 pulled in a poor $11.7 million across numerous distributors, who overpaid for this turkey, with a weak $2 million from the UK as the highest overseas gross. Child 44 joined Mortdecai, American Ultra and The Last Witch Hunter as failed Lionsgate franchises in 2015.