{"id":2091408,"date":"2025-10-14T22:18:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T22:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2091408"},"modified":"2025-10-14T22:18:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T22:18:13","slug":"eternals-director-chloe-zhao-talks-about-intense-financial-pressure-to-not-lose-other-peoples-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/eternals-director-chloe-zhao-talks-about-intense-financial-pressure-to-not-lose-other-peoples-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Eternals Director Chlo\u00e9 Zhao Talks About Intense Financial Pressure To Not Lose Other People&#8217;s Money"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Marvel Studios<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Known for her successful indie flicks, Chlo\u00e9 Zhao took on her first big-budget film in the form of Marvel\u2019s <em>Eternals<\/em>. Unfortunately, it earned a modest box office haul and made history as the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/superheroes\/wow-eternals-has-the-lowest-rotten-tomatoes-score-for-an-mcu-movie-ever\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:studio\u2019s lowest Rotten Tomatoes-scoring movie;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">studio\u2019s lowest Rotten Tomatoes-scoring movie<\/a>. After <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/eternals-director-took-four-break-021500052.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:returning to directing after a four-year break;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">returning to directing after a four-year break<\/a> for <em>Hamnet<\/em>, Zhao is getting real about the intense pressure that comes with not wanting to lose other people\u2019s money.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">At the London Film Festival (via <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/festivals\/chloe-zhao-hollywood-money-neurodivergence-superpower-1236545532\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Variety;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Variety<\/a>), Chlo\u00e9 Zhao was honest about how \u201cfactual and reasonable\u201d stories are favored more than ambiguous ones for the box office. Even though the Beijing native said a movie\u2019s financial success is not a priority to her, she said she still understands why box office returns are important:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"mb-4 border-l-2 pl-5 italic text-tertiary\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Maybe it\u2019s because I\u2019m Chinese, I don\u2019t know what is it, but I\u2019m so afraid of owing people money. I don\u2019t like it. I don\u2019t like being in debt. I want the people who put the money into my films to get the money back. I don\u2019t believe that my vision and whatever importance of my film should make people lose money. It\u2019s just not for me. I try really hard to get financiers or studios to say, how much are you comfortable giving me so that you can survive as a company, please. And then I\u2019ll do it within that. So I think it\u2019s really helpful because limitations, I promise, are your best friend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I completely understand where the award-winning director is coming from. I would have incredible anxiety about my movie not breaking even at the box office, especially considering who put their money into it. Filmmaking is always a gamble as, even with something that&#8217;s believed to be a &#8220;sure thing,&#8221; it might not hit expectations. But, at the end of the day, not every defines success by financial receipts (though they are incredibly important).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Interestingly enough, though, Chlo\u00e9 Zhao has proven that \u201creasonable\u201d stories aren\u2019t always box office dough. For instance, you would think that <em>Eternals <\/em>would have been a sure thing since Marvel has made plenty of hit films before its release, including several that <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/news\/2469372\/all-the-marvel-movies-that-have-made-1-billion\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:have made over $1 billion at the box office;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">have made over $1 billion at the box office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Still, Zhao&#8217;s lone entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe made $402.1 million worldwide against reported a budget of $236.2 million. While it would be easy to blame the COVID-19 pandemic, MCU movies like <em>Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings<\/em> and <em>Black Widow<\/em> were both released during that time and broke box office records. Despite <em>Eternals <\/em>being a Marvel movie and one of the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/news\/2487471\/the-10-most-anticipated-movies-of-2020-according-to-fandango-users\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:most anticipated films of 2020;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">most anticipated films of 2020<\/a>, it didn\u2019t exceed box office expectations, which proves that what seems safe is not exactly a guaranteed hit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">However, Chlo\u00e9 Zhao&#8217;s past films, which utilize the \u201clanguage of ambiguity,&#8221; are <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/32-movies-small-budgets-became-143451835.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:small-budgeted that turned into big hits;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">small-budgeted that turned into big hits<\/a>. <em>The Rider<\/em> had an \u201cambiguous\u201d plot of a rodeo cowboy searching for his new identity after suffering a near-fatal head injury. The contemporary Western movie made $4.2 million globally and was apparently produced on a budget of $80,000!<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Zhao\u2019s next movie, <em>Nomadland, <\/em>also had a general plot about a widow who lives in her van. The Best Picture winner was also a box office success, as it grossed $39 million worldwide on a budget of $5 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">All in all, it&#8217;s natural for Chlo\u00e9 Zhao to be nervous when it comes to wanting to bring money back to studios that invest in her movies. But, I\u2019d like to believe her upcoming <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/movies\/hamnet-movie-adaptation-everything-we-know-so-far\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:movie adaptation of Maggie O\u2019Farrell\u2019s Hamnet;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">movie adaptation of Maggie O\u2019Farrell\u2019s <em>Hamnet<\/em><\/a> will bring in big box office money. Thus far, the film has also received serious awards buzz, and the emotional performances of lead actors Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley have been praised. Hopefully, the Oscar winner will to continue utilize her natural indie flair for poetic, character-driven storytelling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">We&#8217;ll see if <em>Hamnet<\/em> makes a strong impression at the box office when it opens in theaters on November 27th amid the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/upcoming-movies-2025-movie-release-130453990.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:2025 movie schedule;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">2025 movie schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Marvel Studios Known for her successful indie flicks, Chlo\u00e9 Zhao took on her first big-budget film in the form of Marvel\u2019s Eternals. Unfortunately, it earned a modest box office haul and made history as the studio\u2019s lowest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2091409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[34204,352727,352728],"class_list":["post-2091408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-box-office","tag-chloe-zhao","tag-eternals"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Eternals-Director-Chloe-Zhao-Talks-About-Intense-Financial-Pressure-To.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2091408"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2091410,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091408\/revisions\/2091410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2091409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2091408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2091408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2091408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}