> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://spyglass.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Buy Me to the Moon - URL: https://spyglass.org/fly-me-to-the-moon-apple/ - Published: 2024-12-21T23:10:54.000Z - Updated: 2025-01-07T14:44:10.000Z - Description: Apple, we have a movie problem - Author: M.G. Siegler - Tags: film, apple tv+, apple, entertainment ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/2024/12/20240711T0900-MOVIE-REVIEW-FLY-ME-MOON-1779031-scaled-1.jpg) At first, [I thought](https://spyglass.org/twisters-box-office/) Apple had a marketing problem. After all, *Fly Me to the Moon* had two bankable movie stars working with historical events in an era they could have fun with. Think: *Mad Men* meets the Space Race.[1](#one) So when the movie bombed at the box office, I assume it was simply because no one knew about it. It's really strange, but as good as Apple is at marketing their products – many would say *the best in the world* – they're not great at getting the word out there about their content. It's almost as if they don't know how. So yeah, that's a problem. But it's not *the* problem here. The problem here is that [*Fly Me to the Moon* is bad](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bqdtwrjvjqldbquxyezad735/post/3ldttnusapk2p?ref=spyglass.org). I finally got around to watching the movie this weekend – on Apple TV+, naturally – and I can now confidently say that the reason [it bombed](https://www.slashfilm.com/1622141/fly-me-to-the-moon-opening-weekend-box-office/?ref=spyglass.org) is because it *deserved* to bomb. This movie should not have been released as-is. It's a lethal combination of poor plot mixed with the wrong stars with bad chemistry mixed with sub-par acting mixed with... honestly, nothing works. It doesn't even *look* particularly good. It looks like a staged version of 1969\. And no one is believable in that world. Anyway, who cares? Well, Apple probably does. By most accounts, it's the movie that led them to [re-think they're entire theatrical strategy](https://spyglass.org/apple-tv-plus-wolfs/). That, in turn, led to the pulling of *Wolfs* out of theaters and the pissing off of the [even bigger stars involved](https://spyglass.org/clooney-pitt-wolfs-apple-theaters/) in that movie. That movie, it must be noted, [also wasn't great](https://spyglass.org/apple-wolfs-review/). Not nearly as bad as *Fly Me to the Moon*, but just okay. And so it probably *shouldn't have* gone to theaters because it also would have bombed. So perhaps we can cut Apple some slack there for making a call they should have made with *Moon*. Of course, [the way they handled *Wolfs* was stupid](https://spyglass.org/apple-hollywood-seppuku/), but maybe *Moon* just got in their head *that* much. But both of these, and Apple's general under-performance in movies – certainly relative to their television content, [much of which is really strong](https://spyglass.org/its-not-tv-its-apple-tv-plus/) – makes you wonder what is going on here? On the surface, they seemingly have a pretty big starfucker problem. That is, they just seem to greenlight anything and everything as long as the right acting talent is attached. They often have to *bid* for such projects and as everyone in Hollywood is well aware, keep paying top dollar. But that move keeps blowing up in their faces. So presumably the theatrical pull-back is just as big of a signal to Hollywood itself that Apple's time [as the over-paying sucker is over](https://spyglass.org/apple-tv-plus-minus/).[2](#two) Maybe. But again, if they really re-worked their strategy simply on the heels of *this movie's* performance, well, that was dumb. There's not much to take from *Fly Me to the Moon* other than that the path to box office success is not often paved by bad movies. Look, [I'm still hopeful for *F1*](https://spyglass.org/f1-apple/). That's the type of movie [meant for the big screen](https://spyglass.org/movie-theaters-are-dying/) – and actually, *the biggest screen*, [in the form of IMAX](https://spyglass.org/imax/). But I'm going to look at every other film project from Apple now differently. I'm just not sure those running the studio are actually minding the shop. *Fly Me to the Moon* is that bad. And obviously so. And Apple still released it – in theaters, no less. They ruined [a goddamn perfect Frank Sinatra song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEcqHA7dbwM&ab%5Fchannel=FrankSinatra-Topic&ref=spyglass.org). [Apple Made the Right Call and a Stupid Decision with ‘Wolfs’The movie would have flopped in theaters but still…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-264.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/wolfs-teaser-trailer-052924-22cd578455d94219999905f3ac2ac14e-2.jpg)](https://spyglass.org/apple-wolfs-review/) [The Apple Car May Have Flopped, Apple’s Car Movie Should NotIt’s just a teaser trailer, but ‘F1’ looks great.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-266.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2024-07-07-at-9.28.22-PM-1.png)](https://spyglass.org/f1-apple/) [Apple Pisses Off HollywoodDid their self-own with “Wolfs” just torch their film division?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-265.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/1wolfs-1-6.webp)](https://spyglass.org/apple-hollywood-seppuku/) [Tech Figures Out the Theatrical Strategy Before HollywoodBig Tech pulls back from most wide releases; this isn’t a bad thing, it’s a realistic thing…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-267.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/npr.brightspotcdn-1-5.jpg)](https://spyglass.org/big-tech-hollywood-releases/) --- 1 This is all made more strange by the fact that *For All Mankind*, one of the first Apple TV+ shows, which happens to be in a similar vein, is great. 2 More generally, I do think it aligns Apple better [with the right strategy for their films](https://spyglass.org/big-tech-hollywood-releases/). But again, first and foremost, they have to actually be *good*.[3](#three) Apple simply hasn't proven their marketing prowess enough in theatrical to be able to write off stinkers [as lead gen for their streamer](https://spyglass.org/streaming-saves-christmas-and-a-stinker/). 3 And don't give me *Coda* here. Apple [full-on acquired that one for a zillion dollars](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/apple-coda-sundance-25-million-international-rights-1234621432/?ref=spyglass.org) specifically to plant a flag and win awards (which worked!). You know where that strategy didn't work? *Killers of the Flower Moon* and *Napoleon*.