- Disney cancels the French theatrical release of Ella McCay two weeks before its planned bow.
- The James L. Brooks film earned just $1.8M on a 2,500+ screen U.S. opening and has grossed ~$3M against a $35M budget.
- Ella McCay holds low critic scores (24% on Rotten Tomatoes, 39 on Metacritic) and suffered an 84% Friday-to-Friday drop.
Disney Pulls Ella McCay in France
Disney has canceled the January 7 French theatrical release of Ella McCay, just two weeks before it was due to open. The studio provided no formal explanation; industry observers point to weak box office returns and negative word-of-mouth in the U.S. as the likely reasons.
U.S. Box Office Collapse
Ella McCay opened nationwide on more than 2,500 screens but grossed only $1.8 million in its wide debut — one of the worst wide-release openings in recent U.S. history. The next weekend the film suffered an 84% drop on Friday receipts. So far the film has earned roughly $3 million domestically against a reported $35 million budget.
These numbers place heavy pressure on international rollouts. With such a steep domestic collapse, distributors frequently reconsider foreign release plans to limit further losses.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
Critics have largely dismissed Ella McCay. The film holds a 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 39 on Metacritic. Early audience reaction and social media chatter amplified the poor critical response, damaging the film’s potential to find a second life overseas.
James L. Brooks, the film’s writer-director, is a veteran of acclaimed works including Terms of Endearment and As Good as It Gets. Ella McCay marks his return to directing after a long hiatus and stars Emma Mackey as a rising politician balancing career and family.
The cast also includes Rebecca Hall, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Ayo Edebiri, Albert Brooks, Kumail Nanjiani, Jack Lowden and Spike Fearn.
Why France Matters
France is a key market for adult-driven comedies and prestige directors. A positive French reception can boost a film’s international revenue and awards visibility. Conversely, canceling a release there signals a lack of confidence from the distributor and can shorten a title’s global theatrical window.
What’s Next for Ella McCay?
With theaters delivering poor returns, Ella McCay will likely head to digital and streaming platforms sooner than planned. Studios often accelerate home release windows when theatrical runs fail to recoup production and marketing costs.
For James L. Brooks and the film’s cast, the cancellation is an abrupt setback for what the director likely hoped would be a comeback. The commercial outlook suggests Ella McCay will be remembered this season more for its box-office collapse than for awards or critical redemption.
Where to Find Reviews
Readers can view aggregated reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic to see critics’ takes and the current scores as the film continues its troubled rollout.
Image Referance: https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/22/ella-mccay-release-canceled-in-france-two-weeks-before
