We recently learned that The Flash's final worldwide box office total was $268 million, marking it as one of the biggest bombs in superhero movie history. However, a new report indicates that the Scarlet Speedster's solo debut cost the studio even more than initial estimates suggested.
According to THR, The Flash's budget was actually closer to $300 million (presumably before marketing costs, although they don't clarify). If accurate, this would tie the Andy Muschietti-directed film with 2017's Justice League for the most expensive film in the DCEU, and would obviously make it an even bigger flop than we'd been led to believe.
The reasons for The Flash's poor BO performance have been debated endlessly online, but taking Blue Beetle's disappointing debut into account, the major issue could well lie with the DC brand rather than any individual movie.
As DC Studios co-heads, James Gunn and Peter Safran are in the process of relaunching this shared universe as the DCU, but it's fair to say they have their work cut out to rejuvenate audience interest in this franchise.
Did you see The Flash in theatres? How about on VOD? Do you feel the movie's overall negative reception was justified? Drop us a comment 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.