Taika Waititi is pushing back against the negative reception surrounding his latest directorial effort, Klara and the Sun. Starring Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, and Mia Tharia, the feature debuted alongside competing titles like Wildwood and Clayface. General audiences gravitated toward rival films, leaving Waititi's project to pull in a modest $1.7 million during its opening stretch and prompting Sony to scale back its theatrical rollout, including a cancellation of its planned release in Spain.
Facing the steepest box office stumble of his career, the director took to Instagram to address the backlash. Waititi shared that he has avoided reading critical reviews for roughly 15 years, choosing instead to focus on audience sentiment. He highlighted a favorable viewer score on social media while dismissing professional critics entirely, describing them as out-of-touch individuals who failed to achieve their own artistic ambitions.
This sharp reaction highlights ongoing tensions between Hollywood creators and film reviewers, particularly when high-profile projects underperform commercially. While Waititi previously secured critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Jojo Rabbit, his recent slate of films has encountered more polarized responses from the press. Despite the disappointing box office numbers and negative notices, the director continues to lean on positive fan engagement to weather the current industry storm.
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