Following a dismal domestic opening weekend and sliding critical reviews, director Taika Waititi lashed out at reviewers on Instagram over Halloween weekend, calling them obsolete and out of touch while contrasting the film’s negative critical reception with its higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The dystopian adaptation Klara and the Sun reached North American theaters on October 23, 2026, with a runtime of 116 minutes, after premiering at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2026. Directed by Taika Waititi and based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 Booker Prize-longlisted novel, the film is written by Dahvi Waller and Taika Waititi, with David Heyman, Garrett Basch, and Taika Waititi serving as producers. The story follows Klara, played by Jenna Ortega, who gives an authentic, excellent performance as an outdated B-1 companion android designed to provide companionship to children. She acts alongside Amy Adams as Chrissie and Mia Tharia as Josie, a young girl undergoing a procedure to vastly enhance her own intelligence at a great cost. Despite high-profile casting and a sophisticated pedigree, the theatrical rollout faltered immediately.
Box Office Struggles and Scaled-Back Screen Counts
The film debuted domestically with just $701,000 across 880 locations, resulting in a per-theater average of under $800. Sony Pictures subsequently reduced the release from wide to moderate on Rentrak, and Spanish outlet Hobby Consolas reported that the Spain release was cancelled entirely. By its second weekend, global box office figures sat at approximately $1.7 million, and industry sources anticipate the Culver City studio will lose money in the single-digit millions after all ancillaries. Industry observers noted that the movie was booked alongside counter-programming like Wildwood and Clayface, while theatergoers also gravitated toward surprise hit You Can See Everything.
Taika Waititi’s ‘KLARA AND THE SUN’ debuts with 20% on Rotten Tomatoes.Starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. pic.twitter.com/vvRkliL0sP
I haven’t read a review of anything aimed at me or my peers in almost 15 years. But I do listen to the people.
Taika Waititi, Director, via Hollywood Reporter
The filmmaker added that critics were irrelevant. Out of touch. Obsolete. In the bin
and claimed they were the same people who disliked his 2019 feature Jojo Rabbit, though trade reporting noted that earlier film earned an 81 percent certified fresh rating, grossed $93 million worldwide, and won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay.
Creative Shifts and Test Screening Adjustments
Behind-the-scenes reporting indicates that the production underwent significant tonal adjustments before release. The book itself was championed by Sony-based 3000 Pictures producer Elizabeth Gabler back in 2023 after Waititi discovered the novel in an airport bookstore and was wowed. According to Deadline, a source close to testing described the original ending as a somber conclusion more faithful to Ishiguro’s novel. Studio insiders reported that test screening scores rose from 83 percent positive to 87 percent following the changes.
Marketing sources noted that because the book is not widely read, there was no massive appeal for the intellectual property, which provided more liberties for Waititi and co-writer Dahvi Waller in adapting the story. The project’s timeline also faced scheduling complexities. While studio insiders discussed submitting the film to Cannes in May, production commitments on Season 3 of Netflix’s Wednesday kept Ortega busy from late February through September 30. Marketing materials were crafted in collaboration with the star, with Ortega suggesting the light blue background featured on the one-sheet poster.
Critical Divide Over Source Material Adaptation
Reviewers pointed to a fundamental tension between Ishiguro’s minimalist, existential prose and Waititi’s trademark whimsy. Critics from outlets including Vulture labeled the adaptation emotionally manipulative
and meandering, arguing that the film simplified complex dilemmas regarding artificial intelligence, human relationships, and artificial friend obsolescence into overt sentimentality. Other reviewers praised Ortega’s physical performance as the solar-powered android, noting her wide and expressive eyes that are warm and inviting, and her face alive with joyful exuberance.
| Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Domestic Opening Weekend | $701K |
| Opening Theater Count | 880 locations |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.7 million |
| Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score | 25 percent |
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 78 percent |
Netflix serves as the primary United States streaming home for Sony’s theatrical slate, determining where the title will land following its truncated theatrical run.