Director of 1994'sThe CrowPokes Fun at Remake's Poor Box Office: 'Not Much Cash to Grab It Seems'

Mar. 15, 2025

Bill Skarsgård and FKA twigs in 2024’s ‘The Crow.'.Photo:Larry Horricks for Lionsgate

Larry Horricks for Lionsgate

The Crowhasn’t quite taken flight.

The remake of the 1994 film premiered in theaters on Friday, Aug. 23, with a box office of $4.6 million on its first weekend. According toVariety, its production budget was reportedly $50 million.

Proyas, 60, acknowledged the new film’s recent opening on hisFacebookpage. “I thought the remake was a cynical cash-grab. Not much cash to grab it seems,” he wrote on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Along with sharing his own posts, he’s also reposted several YouTube reviews of the film. One titled, “The Crow - The Worst Movie Of The Year,” where headded: “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! 😉.”

“Maybe they can lend their DCPs [Digital Cinema Package] to film schools for classes on how NOT to make a movie?” hewrotein another post. Adding, “The theatres sure won’t need ‘em after next weekend. 😂.”

Director Alex Proyas on February 24, 2016 in New York City.Jim Spellman/WireImage

Jim Spellman/WireImage

This isn’t the first time Proyas criticized the new film. After the remake’strailer was released in March, he wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post that he doesn’t “get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmakers work,” but the film should not be remade, perIndieWire.

“The Crowis 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.”

Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee, starred as Eric Draven in the original 1994 film. He died following an accidental shooting on set in 1993 at age 28.Bill Skarsgårdassumed the role of Draven in the new film.

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Brandon Lee in “The Crow.".Pressman/Most/Kobal/Shutterstock

“I’m surprised it hasn’t made the original filmmakers more proud, because 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,” Hassell told the outlet. “I hope everyone walks away from this film just reinvested in the people they love and care about. "

Sanders toldVanity Fairin February that Lee’s “soul is very much alive in this film,” and that the “terrible tragedy” was “definitely something that we’ve always had in mind through the making of the film.”

At the premiere,Skarsgård, 34, exclusively told PEOPLEthat stepping into Lee’s role of Eric Draven was “daunting.”  Skarsgård added the remake is “so different” from the original that Lee’s portrayal did not play a part in his approach.

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The Crowis currently in theaters.

source: people.com