To say cinemagoers have not taken to The Flash would be quite the understatement.
Coming out of its second weekend in theaters, the first solo big-screen outing for the Fastest Man Alive has taken in just $15.3 million domestically, marking a massive 73% drop. The news isn't much better overseas, where the movie amassed $26.6M from 68 markets, bringing its global total to just shy of $210 million.
Analysts predict that the divisive DC superhero adventure should finish its theatrical run somewhere between $280M-$310M. Factoring in a reported $190M budget and marketing costs, and The Flash may end up costing Warner Bros. as much as $200M.
Despite decent reviews (it's holding at 65% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a focused effort to promote the feature as "one of the greatest superhero movies of all time," audiences just don't seem to be interested in the Scarlet Speedster's story. A sign of things to come for fellow DCEU holdovers Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Blue Beetle? Early word on James Wan's sequel is not very positive, and while we have heard better things about Blue Beetle, he is a relatively obscure character.
With numerous major studios pulling out of San Diego Comic-Con, DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran would be wise to pull out all the stops to get fans hyped at the annual event.
Have you been to see The Flash yet? If so, what did you think? Let us know in the comments down below.
"Directed by Andy Muschietti, The Flash features Barry Allen traveling back in time in order to change events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to help. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian…albeit not the one he’s looking for.
Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?"
The Flash is produced by Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco, with a screenplay by Christina Hodson, and a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein and Joby Harold, based on characters from DC. Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Double Dream/a Disco Factory production of an Andy Muschietti film.