Blue Beetle Makes Buzzworthy Headlines as VOD Release Surges Ahead Amid Box Office Struggles

After a lackluster performance at the box office, Blue Beetle has announced its release on video-on-demand services as its theatrical run approaches the one-month mark. Despite barely covering its production costs, the film's future is uncertain under James Gunn and Peter Safran's new leadership.

Based on the DC character of the same name, Blue Beetle follows the story of Jaime Reyes, the successor to Ted Kord, as he becomes the chosen bearer of the Blue Beetle scarab. Jaime inadvertently receives the scarab from Jenny Kord, who stole it to prevent its use in her aunt's dangerous project, the One Man Army Corps. Together, Jaime, his family, and Jenny work to foil her aunt's sinister plans, facing losses and gaining valuable lessons along the way. Although the film initially seemed destined to join the list of domestic box office disappointments for DC and Warner Bros. Discovery, it received favorable reviews from both audiences and critics.

Despite the initial disappointment, Blue Beetle's box office performance is poised to surpass Shazam 2: Fury Of The Gods, and the film is now preparing for its release on various video-on-demand platforms like iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and more. This information comes from a report by WhenToStream. Originally intended for direct streaming release, the film is currently scheduled to become available for digital purchase on September 19th, approximately one month after its theatrical debut. This timeframe aligns with the waiting period observed for the earlier DC film, The Flash, which despite being marketed as the DCEU's reboot cornerstone, also fell short of box office expectations.

Warner Bros. may be counting on Blue Beetle to compensate for its underwhelming performance in theaters by generating strong sales through video-on-demand (VOD), just like The Flash managed to find success outside of cinemas. This could be a possibility due to the positive reviews and the family-friendly nature of the film, which may be more suitable for digital sales and home media than the traditional theatrical platform. It is worth noting that the film was originally intended for an exclusive release on streaming platforms. Regardless of the outcome, Blue Beetle's box office results can at least be seen as a success in relation to its relatively low production costs.

With the release of Blue Beetle and its soon-to-be availability on VOD, the next installment in the DCEU, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, stands as the only remaining hope for Warner Bros and DC. Unfortunately, the film has already set a negative record for the studios months in advance of its scheduled premiere. However, the time gap between its release and the planned debut of Superman: Legacy and the other films in the new DCU in 2025 might serve as an opportunity for the studio to turn its fortunes around.

Blue Beetle is currently available for viewing in theaters.

Source: WhenToStream