Gerard Butler's 'Greenland 2: Migration' Stumbles at Box Office, Barely Recouping Budget

Published 19 hours ago3 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Gerard Butler's 'Greenland 2: Migration' Stumbles at Box Office, Barely Recouping Budget

Gerard Butler’s latest disaster epic, "Greenland 2: Migration," is facing significant financial challenges at the box office, quickly becoming one of the year’s most notable flops. Lionsgate reportedly invested between $90 million and $100 million in the film's production. However, after its first full week in theaters, "Greenland 2" has only managed to collect an estimated $10-11 million globally. Considering a budget of $90 million, the film's break-even point is roughly $180 million, indicating a substantial distance from profitability.

The sequel is projected to struggle to pass the $20 million mark at the domestic box office during its entire run, meaning its success hinges heavily on international markets to avoid being a complete financial torpedo. This performance mirrors, and in some aspects underperforms, other recent action movie disappointments. For instance, its global earnings are currently only about a fifth of Jason Statham's "Expend4bles," which was released in 2023 and is widely considered an infamous flop, having grossed just over $15 million domestically and $50 million globally on a $100 million budget. Coincidentally, both "Greenland 2" and "Expend4bles" debuted with similar domestic box office figures of $8 million and were directed by brothers: Ric Roman Waugh for "Greenland 2" and Scott Waugh for "Expend4bles."

The original 2020 film, "Greenland," also experienced difficulties at the box office, grossing $52 million globally against a $35 million budget, falling short of the customary double-production-budget needed for profitability. This prior struggle left many fans puzzled by Lionsgate's decision to greenlight a sequel, a move that now appears to have been a miscalculation. While critics' reviews for "Greenland 2" (currently at 49% on Rotten Tomatoes) are significantly better than those for "Expend4bles" (14%), they still fall short of the "certified fresh" 78% score achieved by the first "Greenland."

"Greenland 2: Migration," released on January 9, 2026, with a runtime of 98 minutes, sees Gerard Butler reprise his role as John Garrity alongside Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Chris Sparling and Mitchell LaFortune, the film follows the Garrity family as they leave the safety of a Greenland bunker to navigate a post-apocalyptic European landscape. The film's theatrical run will face increasing competition from upcoming releases, including "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," "Mercy" starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, and Jason Statham’s "Shelter," all scheduled to arrive in theaters soon.

Despite the box office woes of "Greenland 2," Gerard Butler has promising projects on the horizon. He is set to star in "How to Train Your Dragon 2," a live-action adaptation and direct sequel to the highly successful original film that grossed over $600 million. This sequel is anticipated to be a significant financial hit upon its release on June 11, 2027. Additionally, Butler will reprise his role as Big Nick in a third "Den of Thieves" movie, with production slated to begin soon and a likely release in 2027.

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