John Malkovich is a recognizable face in Hollywood and has starred in many successful movies, but his most recent film, , has failed to achieve box office success or critical acclaim. John Malkovich has had many great roles throughout his career, and he is arguably the best part of Opus, but his eccentric performance could not save the movie on its own. Malkovich portrays Moretti, a reclusive pop star who comes out of retirement and hosts an alarming listening party for his upcoming album, which turns into a killer trap for Moretti's carefully selected guests.

While Opus's ending sees Moretti get one last laugh, the movie's similarity to previous horror comedies has not left audiences enthused. Instead, the A24 movie has struggled to make an impression in a genre that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Moretti's ridiculous songs and flamboyant costumes are by far the highlight of the film, since Malkovich seems to be the only person willing to commit to the bizarre nature of the film. Though Opus did not give John Malkovich the hit he deserved, there is no doubt that his next movie of 2025 will be a success.

After its mid-March release, Opus quickly became one of A24's worst-received movies of all time. The movie has earned a 42% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with audience approval coming in at a slightly higher 59%, though that is still certainly not great. While a low critics' score does not always spell a movie's doom, in the case of Opus it was a harbinger of bad box office results to come.

Opus had one of the worst wide-release opening weekends ever, landing it among other low-grossing films that were quickly forgotten. Opus opened in over 1,700 theaters, but its opening weekend total was just over $1 million and its current total worldwide box office is just shy of $2 million (via The Numbers). The film had a modest $10 million budget, meaning that its break-even point is likely around $25 million. With its current low earnings,

Sadly, this means that Opus joins A24's recent streak of poorly received horror movies. While Heretic was a critical and commercial success, A24's Y2K and The Front Room failed to find their audience. This could in part be due to the differences in the level of marketing that the films received, as . Beyond its significance for A24, Opus also ranks among John Malkovich's lowest-grossing films, including those with much smaller releases (via The Numbers).

While Opus may not have been a massive hit with audiences, John Malkovich's next film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, certainly will be. The Fantastic Four: First Steps' cast will be led by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the titular family with a great supporting cast. While it was announced in May 2024 that John Malkovich would be joining the production, , though naturally fans have several good theories.

The Fantastic Four have appeared in several films in the past, both in stand-alone films and in smaller roles in recent MCU movies, but The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks the debut of this cast. The movie also marks the beginning of the MCU's Phase Six, which will later see the characters appear again in Avengers: Doomsday. Based on The Fantastic Four's trailer, the movie will be set in an alternative version of the 1960s, giving it an entirely different look than Marvel's past movies. .

While The Fantastic Four movies have had mixed success in the past, the group's official introduction to the MCU means that John Malkovich will definitely rebound quickly from Opus's lackluster results. Realistically, Opus's genre and themes were never going to make it a massive blockbuster, but The Fantastic Four: First Steps is entirely the opposite. Marvel Comics in general and The Fantastic Four more specifically have been massively popular for decades, so .

The new Marvel movie has a great cast and an intriguing plot, and its overall connection to the rest of the MCU will be interesting to see unfold. Even though John Malkovich's role has not been officially announced yet, the theories surrounding his character show that he is already a great addition. Though Malkovich's time as Moretti in will likely not be remembered as one of his more popular roles, his next movie is guaranteed to turn things around.

: Rotten Tomatoes, The Numbers, The Numbers