The legendary director spent his own money on this 138-minute epic—earning its status as the most ambitious, messiest movie of the year.

Mr. Coppola has spent $120 million on his new movie, “Megalopolis.” Most box office analysts predict that he’ll get far less in return.

Godfather” director Francis Ford Coppola waited 40 years to make his passion project. After seeing it, the Monitor’s film critic wonders, “What in tarnation has he wrought?”