Coppola Auctions Watches to Recoup Megalopolis Losses

Francis Ford Coppola, 86, will auction seven watches from his collection through Phillips in New York on Dec. 6–7, including Patek Philippe, Blancpain, IWC and a one‑of‑a‑kind F.P. Journe FFC Prototype. The FFC Prototype, a custom collaboration with François‑Paul Journe featuring a black‑titanium case and an articulated human‑hand hour automaton, is expected to start near $1 million; commercial versions retail around $1 million and a prototype previously sold for nearly $5 million at Only Watch. Coppola says he needs the proceeds to “keep the ship afloat” after self‑financing his 2024 film Megalopolis, which reportedly cost roughly $100–$120 million and grossed about $14.3–$14.4 million worldwide. He has sold wine holdings to help fund the project and has been candid about the film’s financial strain. Observers say the watch sale is unlikely to erase the film’s losses, and Coppola has resisted licensing Megalopolis to streamers, insisting it be seen theatrically.