Ben Affleck's new gangster movie is a mega-flop

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January 27, 2017 5:01 PM

The gangster movie was a passion project for him but has turned into a big sore spot for Warner Bros.

"Live by Night."

It looks as if Ben Affleck has finally hit a major speed bump as a director.

After three critically acclaimed feature-directing efforts — "Gone Baby Gone," "The Town," and "Argo" (the last of which won an Oscar for best picture) — his latest, "Live by Night," has turned out to be a critical and box-office failure. The movie is looking at a $75 million loss.

According to Variety, the gangster movie set in the Prohibition-era underworld that Affleck produced, wrote, directed, and stars in was a passion project for him but has turned into a big sore spot for Warner Bros.

The movie had a budget of $65 million (and probably at least another $10 million for advertising), and it looks as if the only way the studio can salvage the release is through a big spike in home-video and streaming sales later this year.

But with only a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and $16.5 million to date at the worldwide box office, there isn't much that can save this one.

Thing don't get any easier for Affleck behind the camera. His next directing effort is supposed to be his standalone Batman movie, "The Batman," which he's writing.

Warner Bros. had no comment when contacted by Business Insider.

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