Moviegoers hoping to catch Taika Waititi's latest directorial effort, Klara and the Sun, on the big screen might find their options limited. The film, which stars Wednesday breakout Jenna Ortega, alongside Academy Award-nominee Amy Adams, has reportedly opened in just 880 theaters across North America. This figure marks a drastic reduction from the 1,900 locations initially projected by industry tracker The Numbers, as reported by Collider.

The scaled-back release comes amidst a challenging critical reception for the sci-fi adaptation. Klara and the Sun currently holds a low 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling a tough road ahead for its box office performance. Critics have pointed to a perceived tonal imbalance, suggesting that Waititi's signature quirky style clashes with the emotional depth required by the source material.

This marks an unexpected turn for Waititi, who has enjoyed considerable success with projects like the Marvel blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok and the Oscar-winning World War II satire Jojo Rabbit. While his upcoming Star Wars project has reportedly been put on hold, many anticipated Klara and the Sun to be a return to the kind of heartfelt storytelling that garnered him critical acclaim. However, the early buzz suggests the film struggles to find its footing.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun introduces audiences to Klara (Jenna Ortega), an Artificial Friend designed to provide companionship. Her journey begins when she is chosen by a young girl named Josie (Mia Tharia), who has a complex relationship with her mother (Amy Adams) following a family tragedy. Klara's innocent perspective and unwavering loyalty gradually begin to mend the family's fractured world, offering a poignant exploration of humanity, loss, and connection. The cast also includes Aran Murphy and Steve Buscemi.

The substantial reduction in its theatrical footprint will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge for Klara and the Sun to attract a broad audience and achieve commercial success during its opening weekend. The film's struggle highlights the increasing pressure on mid-budget dramas, even those with high-profile talent attached, to resonate with critics and audiences in a competitive cinematic landscape.