Spider-Verse Swings Past DC Bomb's Box Office in Record-Breaking Weekend
Spider-Man soars to new heights, leaving DC in the dust with Across The Spider-Verse's record-breaking first weekend at the box office
The opening weekend of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has already proved to be a major success, surpassing the total box office gross of a recent DC film disappointment. Starring Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, and Jason Schwartzman, the animated superhero sequel to 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has been met with widespread critical acclaim and is considered by many to be superior to its predecessor. With a current worldwide box office gross of $208.6 million since its June 2 release, it has left Shazam! Fury of the Gods in the dust, which grossed just $57.6 million domestically and a worldwide total of $133.4 million against a $125 million budget.
The Future's Bright for Spider-Man As DC's Woes Continue
DC's recent struggles at the box office have continued with the underperformance of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, marking the fourth consecutive loss for the brand's now-former DCEU. This is a concerning trend for DC, and puts significant pressure on the success of the upcoming summer blockbuster The Flash, which will be crucial for James Gunn's forthcoming DC Universe. On the other hand, the Spider-Man franchise is thriving in both animation and live-action. The success of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is expected to surpass the worldwide gross of its predecessor, which was an impressive $384.3 million. This is a testament to the growth of the property in recent years, and with confirmation of Tom Holland's involvement in Spider-Man 4 meetings, it's clear that both the live-action and animated Spider-Man movies are showing no signs of slowing down.
The ending of Across the Spider-Verse leaves viewers eagerly anticipating the sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, slated for release in 2024. While it's difficult to predict the total box office earnings for Across the Spider-Verse, it's estimated that the film could earn anywhere from $600-800 million worldwide. As for DC, the changes within the company may give it the boost it needs to compete with the MCU at the box office, but with movies like Shazam! Fury of the Gods, DC can't afford too many more disappointments.
