Pedro Pascal Movie Bombs: Is His Star Power Fading?

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In contrast to the summer movie scene filled with revivals and follow-ups, the offbeat neo-Western satire titled Eddington, produced by A24 and helmed by Ari Aster, has had a rocky start despite its star-studded cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler.

On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the movie, which was set during the 2020 lockdowns and delved into small-town power struggles, only managed to gross $625,000 in previews – significantly less than anticipated for a film featuring such esteemed talent. This disappointing start predicts a meager $5 million opening weekend, contrasted with its reported budget of $35 million. This could spell financial trouble for the independent distributor.

Pedro Pascal, who takes on the role of Ted Garcia (a fictitious mayor) in promotional videos for the movie, has been highlighted as a major attraction in marketing materials. This brings up debates about Pascal’s ability to draw audiences and whether his participation had any substantial impact on box office sales at all.

Critics have commented on the frequent appearances of Pascal in Hollywood, with roles in various productions such as “Materialists”, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, and now “Eddington”. This high frequency has led to debates about whether his charm extends beyond established franchises like “The Mandalorian” or “The Last of Us”, where the success is usually tied to the intellectual property rather than the actor’s individual appeal.

Mixed Critical Reception and Eddington Box Office Context

At its premiere during Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, Eddington received mixed reactions with a 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the lowest for any film directed by Ari Aster so far. Some audience members admired its portrayal of societal fractures during lockdowns, but others labeled it as “deceitful at its core” and overly dependent on increasing implausibilities. In contrast, the horror release I Know What You Did Last Summer earned $2.2 million within the same preview period, indicating that Eddington may have fallen short of expectations compared to this competing film.

In simpler terms, Pascal’s success in movies outside of franchises tends to be unpredictable. Online discussions on forums like Reddit suggest that although he’s well-known due to his television triumphs and box office smashes, his solo films typically don’t create much excitement at the box office.

In another example, just mentioning Pascal might not be enough to draw an audience, particularly for a specialized genre movie, according to Eddington’s findings.

Emerging Controversies Surrounding Pascal

Lately, Pascal has been involved in multiple public events that have attracted negative attention. At a San Diego Comic-Con panel for The Fantastic Four in 2024, a video clip circulated widely where Pascal was seen touching co-star Vanessa Kirby’s arm, which she later moved to a handhold.

Critics online alleged that he was excessively touchy-feely, some even calling it uncomfortable and suggesting it might be a means to deal with anxiety or something far from appropriate. Later, Kirby attempted to justify the interaction, but the debate continued as critics noted a recurring trend of physical intimacy with female cast members.

In interviews for the show Materialists, Dakota Johnson, Pascal’s co-star, disclosed that Pascal often borrows and wears her clothes due to his habit of showing up underdressed. This habit, according to Johnson, is a regular occurrence. Furthermore, Pascal reportedly suggested Johnson create an adult subscription page to make some money by “waggling a toe.” Although Johnson presented this story as a light-hearted anecdote, it drew criticism for its potentially insensitive tone.

These narratives have sparked claims of questionable boundaries, as certain internet users have collated examples of Pascal’s perceived overly familiar demeanor during interviews.

Actor Pedro Pascal is more focused on advocating for gender issues and child welfare, rather than promoting his latest Marvel film.

Liberal Hollywood’s deranged obsession with preying on children is just getting worse.

It needs to stop.

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 10, 2025

Apart from criticism for his artistic work, Pascal has been subject to debate over his political views, particularly his stance on gender politics. This includes his public criticisms of authors like J.K. Rowling, whom he recently referred to as a “disgraceful failure” and a bully. At a recent Marvel event in Berlin, his comments about “gender equality” sparked criticism from fans who believed he should concentrate more on promoting the film rather than expressing such opinions.

Signs of “Pedro Fatigue” in Public Sentiment

Social media indicates a growing sense of weariness towards the ubiquity of Pedro Pascal. Frequent posts on platform X mention “Pedro Pascal burnout,” attributing it to his numerous roles in films such as Gladiator II, The Last of Us, The Wild Robot, and upcoming projects, which are felt to be too much.

🤔 None of the stars interest me 😞Despite a promising premise!

I’m tired of Pedro Pascal, so overexposed!

Dakota Johnson -Fifty Shades & Black Mass were solid. Otherwise meh 🤷‍♂️

Chris Evans is hot. But outside of F4 & Captain American, he has flopped

All Marvel actors 🥱

— Fantastic Beasts ▕⃝⃤ (@_Potter_Head_7_) June 9, 2025

People are expressing the opinion that Pedro Pascal is appearing too frequently, as one user put it, “I’m just fed up with seeing Pedro Pascal everywhere!” This viewpoint reflects a broader concern about Hollywood’s tendency to rely heavily on a limited group of actors, which could lessen their allure over time.

Potential Ripple Effects for Disney’s Slate

Disney has made significant investments in actor Pascal, assigning him the role of Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, with future appearances planned in “Avengers” movies. Additionally, he stars as the lead character in both “The Mandalorian & Grogu“, marking the first theatrically released “Star Wars” film since 2019.

In a nutshell, it can be implied that a significant portion of Disney’s box office income relies on the performance of Pedro Pascal.

Eddington’s stumble may intensify worries about his solo venture, should audience exhaustion continue. Already, fan criticism towards his off-target comments and casting decisions – some labeling him as “miscast” or devoid of “heroic qualities” – has emerged. There’s been grumbling over perceived “woke” themes in promotional materials. Given the vast financial investment in Marvel’s Phase 6, a decrease in Pascal’s popularity could spell trouble, although devotion to the franchise may lessen immediate effects.

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2025-07-18 20:58