The latest box office figures are in, and The Flash has performed even worse than initial estimates suggested over the course of its opening weekend.
Despite positive, if not particularly glowing, reviews and a high audience score on Rotten Tomatoes (although that B CinemaScore tells a different story), The Scarlet Speedster's first (and likely last) solo outing has taken in just $55.1 million domestically over the 3-day weekend (from 4,234 locations). The movie's estimated 4-day weekend gross is $64.0M, which means it will fall well short of the studio's predicted $72 million.
Overseas, the movie took in $75M for a global bow of $130.1M.
The movie's disappointing debut is likely due to several factors, but whatever is contributing to the lack of interest, it seems clear that the DCEU is simply failing to resonate with general audiences on the same level as the MCU. The brand really is in dire need of a fresh coat of paint, so James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU reboot couldn't have come at a better time.
The Flash was touted as a must-see cinematic event by Gunn and others, with Warner Bros. doing everything in its power to hype up the film, likely in an effort to counteract the negative headlines generated by star Ezra Miller's recent brushes with the law. Did this ultimately work against the movie? It's entirely possible.
Reports have indicated that a sequel has been queued up (though producer Barbara Muschietti disputed claims that the script was already written), but short of a dramatic turn around at the box office, the chances of another movie seeing the light of day are very slim. It's probably also safe to assume that Miller will not be reprising the role of Barry Allen.
Did you see The Flash this weekend? Let us know in the comments.
"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.