The Crow remake hasn’t soared as expected. Debuting in theaters on Friday, Aug. 23, the 2024 remake of the 1994 classic garnered $4.6 million during its first weekend. The film’s production budget is said to have been around $50 million.
Despite the underwhelming box office numbers, one person who isn’t disheartened is Alex Proyas, the original director of The Crow. Proyas has been a vocal critic of the remake, which was directed by Rupert Sanders.
Proyas, now 60, addressed the new film’s debut on his Facebook page, writing, “I thought the remake was a cynical cash-grab. Not much cash to grab, it seems,” on Sunday, Aug. 25.
He has also shared several YouTube reviews of the remake, including one titled “The Crow – The Worst Movie Of The Year.”
In response, Proyas commented, “The review we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a bit like flogging a dead horse now, so I think I’ll stop after this… until another funny one comes along!”
In another post, Proyas suggested, “Maybe they can lend their DCPs [Digital Cinema Package] to film schools for classes on how NOT to make a movie? The theatres sure won’t need ’em after next weekend.”
This isn’t the first time Proyas has spoken out against the remake. When the trailer was released in March, he expressed his disapproval in a now-deleted Facebook post.
As reported, Proyas wrote that while he doesn’t take pleasure in criticizing another filmmaker’s work, he believes The Crow should not have been remade.
“The Crow is not just a movie. Brandon Lee died making it, and it was finished as a testament to his lost brilliance and tragic loss. It is his legacy. That’s how it should remain.”
Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, starred as Eric Draven in the original 1994 film. He tragically died at the age of 28 following an accidental shooting on set in 1993. In the remake, Bill Skarsgård steps into the role of Draven.
Earlier this year, after Proyas’ comments, the remake’s producer, Molly Hassell, responded.
She expressed surprise that the new film hadn’t made the original filmmakers proud, stating, “It’s a step in a different direction, but it’s a necessary step to deal with the age-old themes of love and loss.
I hope everyone walks away from this film just reinvested in the people they love and care about.”
Rupert Sanders, the director of the remake, told Vanity Fair in February that Brandon Lee’s “soul is very much alive in this film,” adding that the “terrible tragedy” was always on their minds during the making of the movie.
At the premiere, Bill Skarsgård, 34, shared that taking on Lee’s iconic role of Eric Draven was “daunting.” He also mentioned that the remake is “so different” from the original that Lee’s portrayal did not influence his approach.
