Aquaman 2: Surprising Box Office Success

Aquaman 2's Box Office Success

The box office gross of Aquaman 2 has defied all predictions and proven the skeptics wrong. The sequel has outperformed several recent superhero projects, including some that were considered unassailable. This unexpected success comes after the DCEU's last movie had a shaky holiday premiere, making Aquaman 2's triumph even more remarkable.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's Poster (1)

2023 was a challenging year for the superhero movie genre, with both Marvel Studios and DC Studios experiencing disappointing performances from big-budget projects. The Marvels, in particular, was labeled as the biggest Marvel box office flop. Aquaman 2 seemed destined to fall short, given the changing landscape of the superhero movie genre since the success of the first film. Additionally, the film faced the added challenge of being part of the now-abandoned DCEU and the controversy surrounding prominent star Amber Heard.

Box Office Performance

Despite initial projections, Aquaman 2 has defied expectations by crossing the $100 million mark domestically and generating a further $200 million in international markets. This brings its current worldwide box office pull to over $300 million, surpassing the liberal budget estimate of $215 million. While this falls short of the first film's impressive billion-dollar pull, it has exceeded the disappointing box office earnings of The Marvels, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Notably, Aquaman 2's box office debut was worse than The Marvels and The Flash, with discouragingly low Thursday preview numbers. Despite this, the film has managed to outperform fellow DCEU films at the box office, showcasing its unexpected commercial success.

Critical Reception and Future Implications

While the commercial success of Aquaman 2 has been impressive, it has received negative reviews from critics and one of the lowest Rotten Tomato scores in the DCEU. However, critics have acknowledged Jason Momoa's performance and his on-screen chemistry with Patrick Wilson, as well as director James Wan's ambitious efforts. The unique facets inherent to an Aquaman story and the enjoyable duo in the lead roles may have contributed to the film's relative success despite critical hardships and failings.

The Aquaman sequel was intended to be the final bow of the DCEU before the rise of a new DCU. Its unexpected commercial success raises questions about its impact on future DC projects and whether it will be remembered for exceeding expectations or influence a potential addition to the new order.