Hollywood is abuzz with mixed reactions as the much-anticipated superhero movie, ‘The Flash,’ opened to a lackluster performance at the box office. The film, starring Ezra Miller as the titular character, was expected to have a three-day start of at least $70 million, but it only earned an estimated $55.1 million for the three days and projected $64 million for the four days. The film’s global opening was $130 million through Sunday, with a dismal opening of $13.8 million in China.
The disappointing performance of ‘The Flash’ has raised concerns among box office analysts, who are divided as to whether Miller’s off-screen controversies are impacting the film’s success. Miller was arrested multiple times in 2022 and was the subject of several controversies. The actor issued a statement in August of last year apologizing for their behavior and saying they would receive help for “complex mental health issues.” Miller walked the red carpet at the movie’s premiere but has otherwise been absent from doing publicity for ‘The Flash.’
DC was counting heavily on ‘The Flash’ to improve its standing after the tepid showing of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and ‘Black Adam.’ However, the film’s mediocre B CinemaScore, compared to ‘Elemental’s’ A, suggests that audiences are not impressed with the movie’s execution. Moreover, the pic currently has a 67 percent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that critics are also not thrilled with the film.
The superhero movie’s opening weekend performance is not only a disappointment for DC, but it also pales in comparison to other franchise films. For instance, ‘Black Adam’ collected $67 million in its first three days, while ‘Avengers: Endgame’ grossed a record-breaking $357 million in its opening weekend.
Meanwhile, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ also fell flat at the box office, earning an estimated $29.5 million for the three-day weekend, the lowest wide weekend debut ever for a Pixar title outside of ‘Toy Story.’ The film’s weak performance has raised concerns that original animated IP is no longer a theatrical proposition. The hope now is that ‘Elemental’ will parlay its A CinemaScore into long legs at the box office.
Despite the struggles of ‘The Flash’ and ‘Elemental,’ Hollywood is optimistic that the industry will bounce back as more theaters reopen and moviegoers return to theaters after the pandemic. The box office has already seen some significant successes in recent months, including the blockbuster hit ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and the critically acclaimed ‘Dune.’
In conclusion, the opening weekend performance of ‘The Flash’ and ‘Elemental’ may have disappointed Hollywood, but the industry remains hopeful that better days are ahead.
References
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/the-flash-inside-george-clooney-return-batman-1235517975/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-flash-ezra-miller-cinemacon-1235401610/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ezra-miller-seeking-treatment-mental-health-apology-1235199598/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-flash-ezra-miller-thanks-warners-1235513483/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-flash-michael-shannon-talks-returning-to-zod-praises-ezra-miller-1235512409/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/asteroid-city-star-jake-ryan-wes-anderson-1235516716/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pixar-elemental-disney-debuts-20-minutes-cinemacon-1235402876/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/asteroid-city-indiana-jones-red-carpet-events-1235513229/
- https://variety.com/2023/global/box-office/the-flash-international-opening-pixar-elemental-stumbles-1235648076/
- https://variety.com/2023/film/news/the-flash-box-office-disappoint-pixar-elemental-flop-1235647927/
- https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/the-flash-opening-day-elemental-disappoints-1235647105/
