| Otter said: The films decline has nothing to do with Johnny Depp, just as Crimes of Grinderwald declined and underperformed despite him being front and center of marketing. The Fantastic Beast films just don't have draw as a franchise, no.2 killed most remaining interest and the focus is too confused and Newt is shoehorned into the narrative. They need to condense 4/5 into one movie, then focus on the Wizarding World on TV and games. |
I think that no matter how well the film did, people were going to use its performance as proof of what the "silent majority" were doing and thinking. Had it done well, it would have been proof that the silent majority were supporting the film because they agreed with Rowling's gender-critical views. And had it done poorly, it would have been (and seemingly is being treated as) proof that the silent majority were boycotting the film in protest of Johnny Depp's firing.
But yeah, the second film earned about $200m less than the first, so it doesn't seem like Depp brought in some huge legion of fans who've now deserted the franchise.
