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Ethan Hawke's New Film Plummets at Box Office
21 Sep
Summary
- The Weight set to achieve second-lowest debut for Ethan Hawke.
- Movie's production budget is $2 million; break-even point potentially under $5 million.
- Hawke's 1991 film Mystery Date had a lower adjusted debut.
"The Weight," a historical epic starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, has opened to a disappointing $2.3 million as of Sunday morning, September 21, 2026. This figure positions it to be the second-lowest domestic debut for an Ethan Hawke movie released in wide distribution.
The film, which premiered at Sundance in January 2026, follows a man's attempt to smuggle gold across dangerous terrain for early release from prison. Its low debut is particularly notable given Hawke's extensive filmography.
While "The Weight" earned more in its opening weekend than Hawke's 1991 film "Mystery Date" ($1.9 million), the inflation-adjusted earnings of "Mystery Date" ($4.7 million) place it lower on the adjusted chart. The production budget for "The Weight" is reported at $2 million, suggesting a break-even point of $5 million or less.
This could allow the film to become profitable despite its low opening, a stark contrast to many of Hawke's previous wide releases, which often debuted in earlier decades. For comparison, "Mystery Date" earned $6.2 million worldwide on a budget of $1.9 million.
