Cats to Prove Costly for Universal

Some predict a $100M loss for studio
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 31, 2019 7:11 AM CST
Cats to Prove Costly for Universal
Taylor Swift as Bombalurina in a scene from "Cats."   (Universal Pictures via AP)

Universal Pictures could be out $100 million thanks to its horribly received holiday film, Cats. The star-studded musical has drawn only $38.3 million globally, and $17.8 million in the US and Canada, since its Dec. 20 release, reports the Los Angeles Times. And though studio executives expect those numbers to keep climbing—domestic box-office sales are predicted to reach $30 million—the total is unlikely to match the $100 million spent to make the film. Rival studio executives say Universal, which spent another $100 million to market Cats, could be out as much as $100 million, per the CBC, while a source close to the project puts the potential loss at about $70 million, per the Times. Cats has already been pulled from awards consideration while Universal focuses on its Jan. 10 release, 1917, which has much better reviews. (More movies stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X