Anaconda, the latest meta-sequel featuring fans recreating the original 1997 movie deep in the Amazon, is surpassing The Dark Tower as it approaches the $100 million mark at the global box office. The Stephen King movie adaptation, known for underperforming in 2017, is now being edged out both in terms of audience engagement and overall reception by Anaconda’s surprising commercial momentum.
Box Office Performance Sets ‘Anaconda’ Apart
Produced for a reported $45 million, Anaconda has attained a $50 million domestic total, giving it an edge over The Dark Tower, which struggled critically and financially. The film, starring Jack Black as Doug McCallister and Paul Rudd as Ronald Griffen ‘Griff’ Jr., follows two passionate fans who, disappointed by previous adaptations like The Dark Tower, decide to create their own version. The Dark Tower adaptation, despite headliners Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey and direction by Oscar-nominated Danish filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel, failed to impress both new viewers and long-standing fans of King’s series.
The production of The Dark Tower was hampered by significant difficulties, resulting in poor box office performance and a wave of negative reviews. Mike Flanagan—recognized for several King adaptations—is currently rebooting the property. Arcel has also moved on to direct The Promised Land, a critically acclaimed film boasting a near-perfect 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, highlighting the ongoing interest in Arcel’s work despite previous setbacks.
Critical Response to ‘Anaconda’ and Its Place Among King Adaptations
Rotten Tomatoes ranks The Dark Tower among the lowest-rated Stephen King movie adaptations, higher only than a few entries like certain Children of the Corn films, Cell, and the Firestarter remake. The Dark Tower sits at a low 16% on the site, with critics writing:
Go then, there are other Stephen King adaptations than these.
Audience and reviewer sentiment about Anaconda is more divided. The film holds a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, yet viewers have delivered a far more positive consensus, shaped by the comedic energies of its cast.
The audience consensus, as stated, is:
Anaconda is a worthwhile expedition thanks to the buoyant charisma of Black, Rudd, and Zahn, who make this a meta comedy as delightfully ridiculous as it is tongue-in-snake.
This enthusiastic response suggests that, despite mixed critical reviews, the film has connected with regular moviegoers, possibly due to its self-aware humor and strong lead performances.
Upcoming Projects and the Broader King Adaptation Landscape
Fans of Stephen King adaptations continue to look forward to a packed slate, including projects like The Long Walk, The Running Man, The Life of Chuck, and new shows such as It: Welcome to Derry. In the near future, audiences will also see Mike Flanagan’s Carrie and a rebooted version of The Exorcist. This ongoing wave of adaptations keeps Stephen King’s influence central to popular culture—even as some projects, like The Dark Tower, fall short while others, including Anaconda, find success with novel approaches.
In summary, Anaconda’s unexpected triumph highlights shifting audience tastes and the unpredictable fortunes of movie adaptations, even those connected to major literary properties. As filmmakers continue to draw from the works of Stephen King, industry observers will watch closely to see which projects resonate and which become cautionary tales for future adaptations.
