J. Lo’s Film Faces Trouble

Jennifer Lopez’s latest movie, *Kiss of the Spider-Woman*, is projected to earn only around $2 million over the holiday weekend.

That’s, well, pretty disappointing. It’s a staggering letdown, really.

This film, which is based on the Broadway musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb, had a production budget of $30 million, not to mention the additional millions spent on marketing.

Lopez, 56, has been promoting the film extensively on television and podcasts, playing the role of Ingrid Luna, a fictional movie star.

There’s a significant reason for her constant visibility. Since its debut at Sundance in January, she’s been in the Oscar conversation, but it’s her co-star, newcomer Tonatiu, who’s been garnering more praise.

I actually witnessed her receiving a standing ovation at the Eccles Theater in Park City, Utah, where she became emotional and teary-eyed on stage.

Fast forward to now, and it seems likely that *Spider-Woman* won’t be in the running for Golden Globes—simply because it’s not drawing in an audience.

So, what went wrong? Here’s a closer look.

After the box-office hit of *Hustlers* in 2019, which, to be fair, had its critics at the Academy Awards, Lopez’s career has hit some bumps.

Most of her recent films, albums, and concert tours have flopped, and it’s clear that people aren’t rushing to watch or buy whatever she’s involved with anymore.

One of the more awkward moments was when she decided to cancel her entire *This Is Me… Live* tour for 2024 because she wanted to be with family. But let’s be honest—ticket sales weren’t strong, and reports claimed the tour was getting scrapped anyway. Her comeback album, *This Is Me… Now*, didn’t live up to expectations either.

Lopez also starred in Netflix’s unexciting sci-fi film *Atlas*, playing a rather far-fetched scientist piloting a giant robot. It managed a mere 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is, well, not great.

On the other hand, I actually found Amazon’s emotional sports film *Unstoppable*, about Anthony Robles, an NCAA wrestling champion born with one leg, quite moving. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and created quite a buzz before its quiet release on Prime Video. You might not have heard much about it, though.

In contrast, Lopez remains in the headlines, despite her series of career disappointments.

Her tumultuous love life has kept her in the news as well, from breaking off her engagement to Alex Rodriguez to marrying and quickly divorcing Ben Affleck.

Interestingly, the biggest news related to *Spider-Woman* was her recent appearance with Affleck on the red carpet in New York. This raised eyebrows since he was an executive producer on the film.

That’s unfortunate. While I’ve detailed her struggles, I actually have a soft spot for her. She’s relatable, funny, and candid, with an infectious spirit. It’s rare to find someone with all those qualities together. I hope to see her achieve another solid success.

Still, overcoming negative perceptions is a tough battle.

Lopez first stole hearts in the ’80s with romantic comedies like *The Wedding Planner*, *Made in Manhattan*, and *Monster-in-Law*, where audiences knew what to expect.

Now, two decades later, her name is often associated with less-than-stellar films.

Audiences certainly know what they’re getting—or not getting—this time around.