Francis Ford Coppola’s Divisive Megalopolis Lands U.S. and Canada Release with Lionsgate

Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, the acclaimed director’s passion project decades in the making, has found a distributor. Lionsgate will release the sci-fi epic throughout the U.S. and Canada this Fall (via IndieWire). Although Coppola is a renowned Academy Award-winning filmmaker, and Megalopolis boasts a talented cast that includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, and others, the film received mixed reactions at its Cannes release, raising questions about its wider release.

In a statement, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson shared:

“Francis is a legend. For many of us, his gifts to cinema were one of the inspirations to devote our own careers to film. It is a true privilege to work with him, and to bring this incredible, audacious, and utterly unique movie to theatrical audiences. At Lionsgate, we strive to be a home for bold and daring artists, and ‘Megalopolis’ proves there is no one more bold or daring than the maestro, Francis Ford Coppola.”

Coppola Shared His Delight To Collaborate with Lionsgate

Coppola, whose notable projects include Patton, The Godfather, The Godfather II, and Apocalypse Now, conceived the idea for Megalopolis in the 1970s. He notably financed the film, reportedly selling part of his namesake winery to bring the project to fruition. Regarding Lionsgate’s connection to the project, Coppola shared:

“One rule of business I’ve always followed and prioritized (to my benefit) is to continue working with companies and teams who over time have proven to be good friends as well as great collaborators,” Coppola said in a statement. “This is why I am thrilled to have Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios release’ Megalopolis.’ I am confident they will apply the same tender love and care given to ‘Apocalypse Now,’ which is currently in its 45th year of astounding revenue and appreciation.”

Lionsgate previously distributed some of Coppola’s films, including Apocalypse Now Final Cut and The Conversation, for home entertainment; the studio will also distribute Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.

Megalopolis Receives a Divided Reception

Megalopolis centers around a clash of visions for the future following a disaster that destroys a futuristic New York City. Driver stars as Cesar Catalina, a visionary architect who wants to build a sustainable utopia. He is up against Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Esposito), who represents the status quo. The Mayor’s daughter, Julia (Emmanuel), comes between the two. Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, and Laurence Fishburne round out the ensemble cast.

Early reception for Megalopolis has been divided. On the upside, the sci-fi epic received a seven-minute standing ovation during its Cannes premiere. However, it reportedly received a lukewarm reception from studio heads at a private meeting and some critics have given scathing reviews of the film. The Toronto Star’s Peter Howell slammed the film’s screenplay, casting and direction, writing:

“It’s hard to believe the same brilliant director who made ‘The Godfather,’ ‘The Conversation’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’ also birthed this monstrosity, which is wrong in so many ways, from its insipid screenplay and terrible direction to its bizarre casting.”

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Aubrey Plaza Calls Megalopolis a ‘Beautiful Nightmare,’ Francis Ford Coppola Disagrees

Aubrey Plaza, who portrays Wow Platinum in Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, says her initial reaction to the film was refuted by the director.

Megalopolis currently boasts a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so not all is lost: one review even calls the film a masterpiece. Others seem torn, noting that while the film is not one of Coppola’s better attempts, Megalopolis will keep audiences engaged with a captivating and unique premise. Perhaps Driver put it best when he called the film “undefinable.”