Yesterday, we brought you the news that Shazam! Fury of the Gods is on track to debut with one of the DCEU's worst opening weekends in North America.
While initial estimates suggested the movie is eyeing up a debut between $43 million and $52 million, The Hollywood Reporter has since weighed in with a dismal $35 million to $40 million projection. That's still above Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, but numbers like these really don't bode well for 2023's first DCEU movie.
It is a fairly conservative estimate, though we find it hard to imagine too much changing between now and March 17. Since the pandemic, many movies haver opened either well below or above early guesses from pundits, and Warner Bros. will no doubt be hoping the Shazam! sequel overperforms.
The marketing campaign for this one hasn't been good, with the latest trailer basically giving away the entire plot. The movie looks fine, but like its predecessor, probably won't break any records.
In 2019, Shazam! debuted with a solid $53.5 million, and with a budget of only $100 million, it was deemed a hit with an eventual $366 million haul. $43.8 million of that came from China and Shazam! Fury of the Gods will also debut in the Middle Kingdom; however, Hollywood blockbusters have been underperforming badly in recent months.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!," is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.
Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy - aka Shazam - and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set to be released on March 17, 2023.