Ella McCay Bombed At The Box Office, But There’s One Thing About It That Still Resonated With Me

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Spoilers for Ella McCay, which is now playing in theaters, lie ahead.

After a 15-year hiatus, acclaimed writer and director James L. Brooks—known for classics like Terms of Endearment and As Good As It Gets (a standout film from the 90s)—has a new movie in theaters: Ella McCay. Unfortunately, the film hasn’t been a hit with audiences or critics, and its box office numbers have been disappointing. However, despite the negative reception, there was one part of the movie that really resonated with me.

A Relationship Between Two Ella McCay Characters Really Speaks To My Personal Life

In Brooks’ new dramedy, we quickly learn about the complex relationships in Ella’s life, particularly with her younger brother, Casey. Throughout their childhood, and especially during their parents’ difficult marriage, Ella has always been fiercely protective of Casey. After their mother’s death when they were young, that bond deepened. However, in the present day, Casey is struggling with a tough breakup, and Ella’s overprotective nature is starting to push him away.

I really connected with the relationship between Ella and Casey, especially because I have a younger sister of my own. While my relationship with my sister is different – we don’t have the same dynamic of one needing space and the other being overly involved – I understood how important it was for the McKays to have each other. The scene where Casey asks Ella to talk about his breakup felt like a conversation I could easily have with my own sister – a moment of real support and openness.

My sister and I have never actually used drugs together, as far as I can recall. But we’ve definitely had long, rambling conversations, just like Casey and Ella had after Ella accidentally ate something containing marijuana. Overall, even though I didn’t love everything about the movie, it does a really nice job of showing how siblings interact – it’s a bit unusual, but sweet.

How Has Ella McCay Performed At The Box Office Thus Far?

More on Ella McCay

I wasn’t expecting Ella McCay’s story to have such an interesting alien connection – involving Romulus, no less! – but it’s a really heartwarming tale.

Ella McCay isn’t performing well at the box office or gaining much attention. It earned just $2.1 million domestically during its opening weekend – a weekend that also saw a drop in sales for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. As of now, the film has made around $3 million worldwide. Considering its $35 million production budget and backing by Searchlight Pictures (a Disney company), this is one of the lowest opening weekend totals for a Disney film in the US in recent years.

Critics haven’t been kind to the political comedy, pointing out problems with the story, writing, overall feel, and other aspects of the film. One reviewer even joked that it should come with a warning about being overly sweet or saccharine.

I agree with most of the criticism surrounding Ella McCay, and I understand the box office numbers are disappointing. However, even with its flaws and poor performance, I still enjoyed the movie’s portrayal of the relationship between siblings. If you’re interested in seeing it for yourself, it’s still playing in theaters as part of the 2025 film lineup.

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2025-12-20 01:41