Perhaps one of the most misunderstood movies to come out in the 2000s, Kerry Conran’s Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was a disappointment at the box office.The film grossed $37.8 million in North America and around $20.1 million internationally, off of a budget of $70 million. Its failure at the box office was also unique in that the movie saw great success in its opening week at $15.6 million but saw a 57.3% drop in its second weekend and a further 50.8% decline in its third. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was also initially met with mixed reception, with many touting its special effects but feeling that the story was a letdown.
Yet, the movie has been seen in a different light in the years to come, with its ‘soft’ approach to visual effects and cinematography now considered revolutionary for the period; its dieselpunk/steampunk sci-fi elements also gaining the film respect when looking at its timeframe. Moreover, the film has garnered appreciation for its plot and approach to the action, with some drawing comparisons to its focus and capturing a sense of adventure similar to stand-outs like Raiders of the Lost Ark.
In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, originally released on Sept. 17, 2004, there has been some introspection as to its legacy, and director Kerry Conran has come out and shed more light on his experience with the movie and its financial troubles.
Looking Back at Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow 20 Years Later
In an extended interview with Variety, Kerry Conran spoke a bit more about the films’ legacy and where he felt he was misguided in his approach; “I think with my approach, you’re watching visually and it’s striking for that time period but it maybe prevents you from fully grabbing onto the characters and following them.” He also added that the perceived pacing issues came from his approach “The pacing was an issue even back then. I was so fixated on the imagery.” Despite accepting its faults and looking at it in retrospect, Conran also mentioned his original vision was a small indie film on a smaller budget, a film he could “take to Sundance.”
Discussing the movies’ budget, Conran also reflected on how the numbers became inflated. Perhaps the biggest revelation was that the movie did not have to exist as the box office flop that it ultimately became if it was not rushed:
“…when we first started making it, our budget went from $3 million to $10 million, in that range. The film ultimately cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $12 million or something like that. That additional money wasn’t from me, it was making it color. Also, Paramount had a “Mission: Impossible” film that wasn’t going to be ready, so they needed something for their winter release. I didn’t promise it because at the time it was simple math to tell you how long it was going to take us, because our little meager render farm could generate only so many frames per hour. So that’s when additional money came online to kind of buy more computers.”
It is hard to deny the actual outcome at the box office and the loss that was incurred, regardless of the circumstances behind it. In another scenario, the movie could have easily been considered a success, but the end result is always what matters. At the same time, the movie also came out when subsequent DVD sales could help recoup losses, so while this information is unavailable, time in finances and impressions have been much more kind to Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. You can stream Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow on Pluto TV and Hoopla or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, or YouTube.
