The Huntsman flopping at the Box Office, could 'lose Universal $70 million'

The film currently holds a 17% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Emily Blunt stars as Freya, The Ice Queen and Charlize Theron plays her evil sister Ravenna (© Universal Pictures)

Even with an all-star cast including Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain and Chris Hemsworth (plus Liam Neeson narrating), The Huntsman: Winter’s War hasn’t impressed critics.

The Snow White prequel currently holds a 17% ‘rotten’ rating on aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, while also sporting 35% on Metacritic.

With cinema goers, the film has been received a little better, having achieved a CinemaScore of B+ (the same as Grimsby, but worse than Eddie the Eagle, London Has Fallen and Race).

Unfortunately, when it comes to box office receipts, the film just isn’t bringing in the numbers, with Variety estimating Universal could lose them up to $70 million.

According to their sources, the film should finish having made just over $200 million worldwide before all costs are subtracted. With a budget of $115 million (plus advertising costs which Universal has not released), analysts predict a drastic loss overall.

The studio was likely expecting big things from the film, as Snow White and the Huntsman made $396 million in its theatrical run - almost double what is expected from the prequel.

The Huntsman had a slightly bumpy road to cinemas: Walking Dead director Frank Darabont , who was originally attached to the project, left the film over ‘creative differences’, with Snow White’s visual effects supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troyan acting as his replacement.

Kristen Stewart was at one stage going to appear in a sequel, but following her and Rupert Sanders’ affair the studio backed out. The prequel/spin-off was later announced, with Universal hoping to expand their Snow White cinematic universe - a plan that is likely being abandoned.