Audiences, critics diverge on ‘Logan Lucky,’ ‘Bodyguard’
Critics loved “Logan Lucky” and gave a big collective shrug to “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” but when it came to the test of the marketplace, audiences went their own way.
The two action flicks faced off this weekend, and “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” emerged the victor with a chart-topping $21.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, while “Logan Lucky” sputtered on arrival with $8.1 million.
Both have notable stars; “Logan Lucky” has Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig, while “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” boasts Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, both were opening in more than 3,000 theaters and both cost around $30 million to produce. Also, both were targeted toward adults, although one was R-rated (“Hitman’s Bodyguard”) and one PG-13 (“Logan Lucky”).
But when it came to reviews, critics vastly preferred “Logan Lucky,” which boasts a “fresh” 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, while “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” rests at a “rotten” 39 percent. And yet, when presented with the choice, audiences on the whole put their dollars toward “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” Even the CinemaScore was flipped with “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” earning a B+ and “Logan Lucky” aB — neither of which, it should be noted, is particularly promising for future word of mouth.
“It was a battle of the action ensemble cast movies. Audiences looked at these two action movies in the marketplace and made a decision,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for comScore. It (“The Hitman’s Bodyguard”) provided a perfect escape.”