Warner Bros. has been in a mess for a couple of years now. Before being acquired by Discovery, the studio made the controversial decision to release its 2021 slate day-and-date in theaters and on HBO Max, a move that infuriated Hollywood and cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.
The company also shifted focus to its streaming service with mixed results, and Discovery has since made some big changes, deciding against releasing movies on the platform (which is why the near-finished Batgirl was scrapped).
When it comes to the DC Universe, new CEO David Zaslav hopes to finally make a success out of the DCEU, hence why Peter Safran and James Gunn have been tasked with overseeing the DCU reboot for the newly formed DC Studios. Before we get there, however, we still have four DCEU-era movies left.
2023 kicks off with Shazam! Fury of the Gods, a sequel that's being released four years after its predecessor following multiple delays. Warner Bros. didn't have the money to market it last year, something that's evident from a mediocre build-up to its release which has seen the entire plot - and a massive cameo - spoiled in advance.
As we write this, the Shazam! sequel has a disappointing 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and will likely limp to no more than $30 million (and possibly less) at the domestic box office this weekend.
The DCEU is on its last legs and we're hoping it goes out with a bang rather than a fizzle. Shazam! Fury of the Gods doesn't appear to be a great start to the year, but it's also hard to escape the feeling many critics are being a little too harsh.
In the poll below, you can cast your vote and choose the score you feel Shazam! Fury of the Gods most deserves. By the time all is said and done, we'll hopefully have a better idea of how you all feel about a movie that's clearly splitting opinions.
Check back here later this week for the results.