Some boring numbers for you to take in, I will refrain for using anything else that facts to paint you a picture. Then i will speculate a bit, so we can see possible outcomes for the future of DC FIlms, just for fun.
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Aquaman is hitting cinemas this month worldwide and in the US at different dates, finally we have 6 movies to form an imaginary phase 1 to look over vs the MCU phase 1.
Aquaman was released in China over the past weekend and managed to grab 105 Million opening weekend [which is updated an hour ago Monday so far included] , which is a record for DC over there [China] currently. Now, the movie is yet to open in different countries and markets and we can only guess what the final numbers for Aquaman will be, but as of now DCEU phase 1 [6 movies in a row] has managed to surpass MCU phase 1 already by bringing the total of the franchise to a 3.867 Billion total. To be descriptive to the teeth, at the same stage MCU phase 1 had reached a total box office of 3.811 Billion. Yes, I am aware 56 Million isn’t a big thing for a movie franchise, but hear me out fellow Marvel fans.
has been called
flop,
in-need-of-a-reboot and many other descriptions connected to
failure, once
Aquaman wraps up in
China, its total there might go up to 280 Million. Now imagine this amount being added to a nice Wonder Woman-like performance in the states and a similar International box office, the
DCEU phase 1 [
imaginary phase of 6 movies] might be adding another 600-800 Million more to its total, we don’t know yet. One thing we do know is,
DC is proving they do not need to have constant Avengers-like movies to make bank. Many
MCU obsessed dudes here [
and other Marvel obsessed sites and media] however will now say, yeah but its 2018 and Iron Man came on 2008, there is inflation to ticket prices, ok, you will be right to assume that.
So, based on the release of each movie and the ticket price in that year, the
MCU has sold 491 Million seats, and the DCEU has sold 446 Million seats, so you see Aquaman needs to sell as much as the first Thor movie in seats around 55 Million to tie in with the MCU phase 1. What do you all think? Can the mighty Thor fall? I am pretty sure he will!
This is not to say money equals success of a movie, because honestly my favorite movies aren’t known for killing it in the box office, this is for all them MCU fanboys in the comment section of every media publication claiming some sort of
Victory every time DC is mentioned because of money. And just for your information, MCU
phase 2 has grossed
5.2 Billion [ that’s IM3, TWS, TTDW, GOTG, A2, AM] I think I can safely assume DC will gross a total that combined with DC phase 1 will still be on par, so let’s just stop throwing box office numbers and other data like Rotten Tomatoes to prove a point.
Rotten Tomatoes is nothing more than an aggregate score of the same 400 publications in which the opinion of individuals is being calculated on a very unreliable principle and I can't take it seriously after seeing incredible movies being downvoted and trash movies being considered amazing [ I swear
Sharkanado is bad from whatever angle its being viewed* comedy, parody or any other genre]. And for your information prior to the release of Aquaman and Infinity War, the average score from critics for all MCU movies was 6.9 and DC was at 5.8, and no that is not the huge flashy number on top showing the % of critics voting one way or another. That is the actual score awarded from 1/10 or 1/5. Also comparing Infinity War box office to Aquaman, i mean doesnt make much sense does it ? Or comparing
End game to Aquaman ? One has
67 characters and is the end of a
22 + movie arc, the other is the 3rd solo origin movie in a row. But i guess you guys always choose your battles carefully, so the conversation leads in the direction of Marvel. Sure, but facts are DCU P1 vs MCU P1 in sold seats is about to go more in DC's favor even with negative scores and so will monetary wise, now imagine DC with good scores and word of mouth.
With
Aquaman still left to open in the states, and rest of the world, i can estimate that the current number will only go up by at least
600 Million, so expect this movie to top Wonder Woman and BVS DOJ worldwide by its end in the cinemas.
Also, enjoy DC greenlighting 2-3 movies in 2019 thanks to Aquaman, enjoy DC doing a shared universe being focused on solo adventures rather than constant crossovers to stay afloat, enjoy different tones and directors styles, and one off stories that do not lead to sequels like Joker and are focused on acting rather than FX. This is called variety and will only make the brand stronger, since people want diversity and everyone is looking for different things DC is in a position to offer this to its fans.
I invite the usual defenders of the just cause of shilling Disney to start throwing memes and reasons why BVS DOJ sucks, a movie that came out in 2016 still more relevant as a discussion than any MCU movie that came out this year. You dont see DC fans discussing Black Panther 24/7 or Iron Man 2, do you ?
And remember the hardest falls are from the highest places. Soon "End Game" will be in theaters, the main cast will be gone and the reputation of the MCU will be held by Spider-man, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Black Panther and Ant-man and the Wasp. Those will be your main players. DC is making
The Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman 84, Suicide Squad 2, Shazam, Black Adam, Green Lantern Corps, Supergirl, Batgirl, Bird of Prey, Blue Bettle, Plastic Man, Deathstroke, Nightwing, Superman, to save some time, i am talking about the core DC characters, all of these can have sequels and exist in the same universe and in a few years time, when we know them all [
by a few years i mean minimum 6/7] , and they all have movies or at least half of them, DC can create a cross over and aim for that super box office numbers like 2 Billlion, for now we do not need to repeat what has been done.