As per usual, Warner Bros. has yet to share specific streaming viewership numbers for The Suicide Squad (and is unlikely to do so based on past experience), but HBO Max boss Andy Forssell has shared some details with The Hollywood Reporter. Apparently, the DC Comics adaptation was the second most-viewed opening of any movie that's gone day-and-date on the streamer.
Mortal Kombat reportedly remains #1, though it is surprising that drew a higher audience than The Suicide Squad. The video game franchise is hugely popular, but this movie boasted a popular director in Guardians of the Galaxy helmer James Gunn, a bigger name cast, and considerably better reviews with a 91% compared to Mortal Kombat's 55%.
"As the country faces new challenges due to the COVID variant, we’re happy to continue to offer fans the option of viewing movies in their homes," Forssell told the trade yesterday. "Many chose to do just that as Suicide Squad emerged as the second most viewed film over an opening weekend on HBO Max since we began day-and-date releases with theaters."
Going back to the box office, Jungle Cruise took its domestic total to $65.3 million this weekend, and earned another $15.1 million overseas to take its total to $121.8 million globally. As for Black Widow, that grossed $4 million in North America for a domestic cume of $174.4 million (its current worldwide total sits at a disappointingly low $359.8 million).
There's already speculation that Venom: Let There Be Carnage will slip into October, while some insiders seem convinced Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will head down the Premier Access route.
We'll keep you updated.