Jennifer Lopez’s push to be seen as a serious actress hit a significant roadblock this month.
Her film Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Bill Condon, was expected to be one of her most crucial career pivots yet. Instead, according to Variety, the movie collapsed at the box office.
After opening on October 10, the musical took in just $1.6 million in two weeks, and by late October, daily grosses had fallen to $22,000. The film has already disappeared from most theaters.
Roger Friedman of Showbiz411 noted that distributor Roadside Attractions “completely screwed up the release,” calling it “Roadkill” instead. While Lopez spent the past month on the publicity circuit, the reality was that her film was already dead in the water.
The fallout was immediate for her festival season run. Lopez had been scheduled to appear at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival on November 1, where she was set to receive the Virtuoso Award. SCAD also planned a screening of Kiss of the Spider Woman, followed by a live taping of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast. Those plans are now scrapped.
A notice on the festival’s official site confirmed the cancellation: “We regret to announce that Jennifer Lopez will no longer be able to attend the SCAD Savannah Film Festival due to unforeseen circumstances. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. All Kiss of the Spider Woman ticket holders will be refunded by the SCAD Box Office.”
When Lopez was initally announced as an honoree, the reaction from students and alumni on social media was swift — and brutal. On Facebook, the festival’s announcement thread filled with comments mocking Lopez. “Omg! She will have the whole town shut down including I-16 so no one can approach her 🥱,” one wrote. Another asked, “OH MY GOD… WHO THE HELL CARRRRRES,” while a third jabbed, “She must have been aware of what went on at the white parties,” a reference to past controversies tied to Diddy.
Still, Lopez’s absence hasn’t slowed SCAD’s momentum. The festival, which runs October 25 through November 1, remains stacked with premieres, panels, and celebrity guests. The lineup includes Oscar Isaac, Regina Hall, Spike Lee, Sydney Sweeney, Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, and Daniel Craig, alongside screenings of Eternity, Song Sung Blue, and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
Founded in 1997, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival has become the largest university-run film festival in the world, blending student showcases with high-profile industry events. Even without Lopez, this year’s edition is drawing Hollywood heavyweights — and proving the festival’s impact reaches far beyond a single star.