Blue Beetle Heading Towards Blockbuster Success at the Domestic Box Office for DC and WBD
Despite concerns of DC and WBD facing another domestic box office setback with Blue Beetle, there might be a glimmer of hope for this superhero flick following The Flash's disappointment
Highlights
The upcoming Blue Beetle movie is poised to become yet another disappointment at the box office for DC movies, adding to a series of underperforming releases. Insufficient marketing efforts, a lack of actor promotion, and fan exhaustion with the superhero genre all contribute to minimal audience excitement.The potential success of Blue Beetle hinges on its status as the first film to feature a Latin American superhero, making it likely to draw a larger international audience. Additionally, its lower budget enhances the likelihood of making a profit. Despite a string of box office disappointments for DC movies, don't dismiss Blue Beetle just yet. DC films have faced challenges lately, and it appears that Blue Beetle may be the next casualty.
Black Adam may seem successful compared to other films, with $168 million earned at the domestic box office and $393 million worldwide. However, despite its high production and marketing budget, the film still ended up losing money. On the other hand, Shazam: Fury of the Gods only earned $57 million domestically and $133 million worldwide, while The Flash performed poorly at the box office, making $107 million domestically and $267 million worldwide.
According to analysts at Box Office Pro, Blue Beetle is expected to earn between $27 million and $55 million throughout its domestic run. This projected amount is lower than what Shazam: Fury of the Gods made and could even fall below the earnings of both The Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984. It is worth noting that the former was only in theaters for three days and both films were released during the Covid-19 pandemic, with simultaneous releases on HBO Max.
Blue Beetle lacks appeal at the domestic box office. It pales in comparison to renowned superheroes like The Flash and Batman. Moreover, the film suffers from a dearth of marketing and the ongoing actors' strike prohibits any promotional efforts. Adding to the challenge, the prevailing "superhero fatigue" and disappointment among fans with previous DC films have dampened the general audience's anticipation for their upcoming slate of movies.
Blue Beetle has an advantage in the box office as it is the first film featuring a Latin American superhero. While no predictions have been made, it is anticipated to perform well internationally, particularly in Latin America. With a budget of $120 million, Blue Beetle has the third lowest budget among DC films, surpassing only Birds of Prey ($82 million) and Shazam ($85 million). The film has not heavily invested in marketing, so its profitability will depend on a substantial global viewership.
However, the prospects for Blue Beetle's performance at the domestic box office do not seem promising, which could potentially impact the success of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Nevertheless, given its smaller budget and a broader international audience, the film still has a slight chance of achieving financial success.
Blue Beetle releases in theaters on August 18th, 2023
Source: Box Office Pro
