The Flash has finally arrived in theaters, nine years after it was initially announced, and is racing ahead of the box office competition. However, the DC Studios film does not match the superhero’s lightning-fast speed.
The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Christina Hodson, is the first solo feature on the superhero, starring actor Ezra Miller. The Flash debuted in the same category as DC productions—Black Adam (2022) and Aquaman (2018), both of which grossed $67 million on their debut weekends, and a total box office collection (worldwide) of $393 million and $1.150 billion respectively. Aquaman proved to have significant staying power with its Christmas season debut, grossing $335 million in North America alone.
Read more: “We blame James Gunn”: The Flash Gets Lower CinemaScore Rating Than Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam
The Flash – Premise, and Payday
It all starts with Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) defying Bruce Wayne’s (Ben Affleck) cautions and using his superpowers to travel back in time to save his family. As a result, the future is swiftly altered, and the titular speedster is stranded in a universe in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned and Earth faces catastrophe with Superman nowhere in sight. That reality’s last hope may be to deploy a very different Batman (Michael Keaton), and a troubled Supergirl (Sasha Calle), who are considerably different from the Kryptonian refugee we’re used to. Of course, numerous Barrys will be going around, most likely wreaking havoc for our protagonist.
On opening day, the Warner Bros. film grossed $24.5 million from 4,234 theaters, including $9.7 million from Thursday previews. The estimated opening weekend box office collection of the film currently stands at $60 million.
Black Adam – Premise and Payday
Black Adam is about a godlike creature who reawakens after 5,000 years. And he’s enraged. The Justice Society of America tries to calm him down. Along with Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge plays Hawkman, Pierce Brosnan plays Doctor Fate, Noah Centineo plays Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell plays Cyclone. Black Adam is a film produced by New Line Cinema, Seven Bucks Productions, Flynn Picture Company, and DC Films.
Black Adam primarily received negative reviews, with a 30% approval rating from top reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has an improved but still subpar 41% approval rating among a larger group of authorized critics. The Dwayne Johnson starrer grossed $26.8 million on its first day, including $7.6 million in Thursday previews. The opening weekend box office collection of the film was $67 million.
Winner takes all
In the realm of superhero films, opening day earnings often serve as a barometer of a film’s initial success. In this comparison between The Flash (2023) and Black Adam (2022), it is evident that the Scarlet Speedster struggled to keep pace with the electrifying box office performance of Black Adam.
However, it is essential to note that opening day earnings do not determine a film’s overall success. There is, however, some hope for The Flash still—with a loyal fanbase and the opportunity to generate positive word-of-mouth in the long run. As superhero films often rely on sustained momentum, The Flash may find its footing and establish a steady box office presence.
Only time will tell how these two iconic characters will fare in the history of superhero cinema, as they continue to be a part of the evergreen DC universe.
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