Updated figures from Thursday preview screenings for The Flash have started racing online, and the movie snagged a better-than-expected $9.7 million.
However, what initially looked like an indication of a solid opening weekend for the DC Comics adaptation may now spell disaster for the Fastest Man Alive. According to The Wrap, there's a chance The Flash will struggle to limp home to even $60 million by Sunday night.
Some current estimates point to a $70 million - $75 million debut, with a low of $68 million and a high of $80 million. The box office is incredibly unpredictable in the wake of the pandemic, making it difficult to figure out where The Flash will land.
The trade, on the other hand, believes that this front-heavy debut could lead to a rapid decline. For example, if The Flash performs like The Batman did last year ($22 million from previews for a $133 million opening weekend), then it would make only $59 million by the time this weekend is over.
For context, The Batman has 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, whereas The Flash is currently hovering around 65%.
Another interesting comparison made by the site is that when Man of Steel opened in 2013, it kicked off the DCEU with a $56 million Friday and $128 million opening weekend. The Flash, which features a classic Batman, Supergirl, and retells the events of that movie, struggling to surpass that is a far from terrific result.
The Flash was an expensive movie for Warner Bros. thanks to reshoots and an aggressive marketing campaign, but the weeks ahead will be key. Aquaman had a similarly soft opening and became a $1 billion hit, whereas Black Adam crashed and burned last Octobr.
"Far from the greatest superhero movie ever made and not quite among the worst," we said in our review, "The Flash is still another mediocre effort from the DCEU with appalling VFX and a messy story that the excellent Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle alone are unable to save."
The Flash is now playing in theaters.