Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterIn 1961, “West Side Story” dominated the box office and swept the Oscars.Now, six decades later, Steven Spielberg’s long-delayed remake of the beloved musical, in theaters on Friday, looks to also find itself in the awards race after receiving rapturous reviews.
But the film’s commercial prospects may be less certain.On paper, the latest take on the oft-adapted Shakespearean love story is primed to be a smash because it’s based on one of the most cherished musicals in theater history and emanates from Hollywood’s most successful filmmaker in Spielberg.
But “West Side Story” is returning to cinemas at a time when audiences have been hostile to movie musicals — even the well-received ones.
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