coppola Forced to Sell Assets After ‘Megalopolis‘ Box Office Disaster
Francis Ford Coppola is facing severe financial repercussions following the underperformance of his passion project,Megalopolis.The film, a decades-long dream for the director, has flopped at the box office, leading Coppola to liquidate personal assets, including a Caribbean island and a collection of luxury watches.
Megalopolis, released in late 2024, cost a reported $120 million to produce but grossed only $14.4 million worldwide. The film’s poor reception, coupled with it’s high production costs, has created a significant financial strain for Coppola, who reportedly funded a substantial portion of the film himself. This situation highlights the increasing risks self-reliant filmmakers take when pursuing ambitious, large-scale projects outside of the traditional studio system, and underscores the challenges of securing financing for auteur-driven visions.
According to the british newspaper The independent, Coppola has relinquished the lease on a Caribbean island he had rented for nine years, a property valued at $2.2 million. A spokesperson stated, “Mr. Coppola was very sad when his lease expired.He cherished his time on this island paradise and it was a special place for him.”
Further compounding his financial difficulties, The New York Times reports that Coppola will auction off seven high-value watches, some estimated to be worth up to $1 million each.
Despite the film’s commercial failure, Coppola remains committed to Megalopolis. He announced in July plans for a re-release, signaling his continued belief in the project. Megalopolis stars Adam driver as Cesar, a brilliant architect striving to build a utopian city, alongside Giancarlo Esposito, nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, and Jon Voight.
