Transcendence opened to a low $11 million at the box office this past weekend. This is now the third film in a row that has featured Johnny Depp in the leading role that has not done well at the box office. Films like Dark Shadows and The Lone Ranger have not had the box office pull that Depp is known for and studios hope for.
Is it that audiences are tired of seeing Depp put on makeup and transform into a unique, quirky character? This move worked wonders when he became the now iconic character Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but that technique might have run its course with audiences.
If this is the case, it posses another question, why did Transcendence not work at the box office? The film had an all-star cast, which included, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman, Kate Mara, Rebecca Hall and Cillian Murphy and had been heavily promoted by the studios via a variety of marketing avenues. This film also featured Depp without any makeup or odd character quirks. Yet, it still was not enough to draw audience members into theater seats.
Could it be that audiences are just tired out from Depp in general, or could it be that having an actor staring in a major motion picture is no longer enough to draw audiences into the seats?
Without a doubt Depp is one of the best actors that is currently working in the industry but it might be time for Depp to take a few steps back and work on smaller projects that really allow him to show off his acting skills; maybe even in more supporting roles.
In the end, Depp might have to figure out which characters really appeal to audiences and if it is time to take off the makeup. If all else fails, it would be a sure bet for Depp to return to Captain Jack Sparrow for the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean that is a character that audiences never seem to tire of.
Watch the trailer for Transcendence here: