Despite widespread anticipation, the superhero movie The Flash, starring Ezra Miller, has disappointed with a $55 million opening weekend. The film’s future is in doubt after such a poor opening, and it may struggle to compete with the recent DC movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Black Adam.
Both films failed to generate the anticipated box office revenue during the summer and are now proving expensive flops for their studio.
The Flash Doesn’t Live Up to The Hype
In The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti, Ezra Miller plays Barry Allen/The Flash, and the plot revolves around his attempt to stop his mother’s murder and, in doing so, unleash the DC Multiverse.
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Execs at Warner Bros. had been touting it as “one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” so naturally, people were excited to see it. However, the film’s opening weekend audiences were unimpressed, giving it a below-average “B” CinemaScore.
Since other highly anticipated summer movies like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Desitny, Mission: Impossible 7, and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer are about to hit theaters, The Flash’s chances of returning in the coming weeks are dim.
With a $55 million opening weekend, The Flash joins the ranks of other superhero movies that failed to make a significant financial impact. Similar films like Ant-Man and Aquaman had slow starts but eventually became huge hits at the box office.
The experts do not share that optimistic outlook for The Flash. Globally, it earned $139 million from the box office, with only $75 million coming from outside the United States. Unless things turn around, The Flash risks going the way of Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam, which opened to $67 million but failed to reach $400 million worldwide and ultimately lost money.
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The Reason For The Flash Not Doing Well
The low ratings for The Flash can be traced back to several reasons. The lackluster response from audiences has been a major factor in the film’s inability to attract new audiences. Ezra Miller‘s controversial public image also hindered the film’s promotion.
Miller’s recent history with the law and assault allegations have made it difficult to create a positive buzz and engage in standard publicity activities for a film of this magnitude. Miller made a rare public appearance at the premiere, but avoiding the press hurt the movie’s promotion even more.
In addition, The Flash is in a tough spot because it is one of the last films set in the current DC universe before the studio reboots under new management. As a result of the impending course correction and the generally negative reception of prior DC films like Shazam: Fury of the Gods, it has proven difficult to keep fans invested in a shared universe that will soon be discarded in favor of new superheroes.
With Blue Beetle releasing later this year, the disappointing box office returns are giving DC a tough time getting back on track. The underwhelming debuts and cool reception from audiences have sparked concerns about their future success at the box office.
Both movies must beat the odds and receive positive word of mouth to turn things around. Time will tell if they can make a lasting impact in the highly competitive world of superhero and animated films despite their lackluster beginnings.
The Flash is now in theatres
Source: Variety
