The Flash Shatters Box Office Records, Surpassing Green Lantern's 2011 Domestic Take

Warner Bros.' The Flash has performed worse at the box office than Ryan Reynolds' infamous Green Lantern. Despite initial hype and positive feedback from industry insiders, the movie has turned out to be a massive disappointment and flop for the DC Universe. After just a month since its premiere, Ezra Miller's solo DC film as Barry Allen is coming to an end in theaters. The Flash will finish its theatrical run with a domestic earning of only $106 million, which is $10 million less than what Green Lantern made in 2011. However, internationally, The Flash has surpassed Green Lantern, with an earning of $156.8 million, resulting in a total of $263.6 million.

Still, it's unfortunate that a superhero movie featuring one of DC's most beloved heroes and a lineup of notable guest stars only manages to earn a similar rating to the widely panned Green Lantern, a film that star Ryan Reynolds himself disowned.

Why The Flash Had No Longevity At The Box Office

Miller's portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster as a standalone endeavor was initially part of Zack Snyder's blueprint for the previous DCEU. However, due to numerous challenges in the creative process that led to multiple director changes, The Flash movie experienced significant delays. Even after Muschietti was confirmed as the director, the project encountered additional obstacles, including Miller's personal issues. Arguably, these factors contributed to the lukewarm anticipation surrounding the film.

Apart from the behind-the-scenes problems, certain aspects of The Flash have also caused division. Firstly, the CGI work in the film has stirred controversy. Muschietti attempted to justify it as a deliberate creative choice, but it falls short in remedying the poor visual effects. Secondly, relying solely on nostalgia is insufficient to attract more viewers to theaters. The Flash showcases various characters from multiple dimensions, notably Michael Keaton's Batman. While it was intended to bring together all the DC franchises, the outcome is disappointing and contrived.

In general, The Flash's failure can be attributed to a combination of unfortunate factors. Despite the intriguing concept and the promise of an enjoyable movie experience, it ultimately fails to meet the expectations. Whether a sequel will proceed within James Gunn's expanding DC Universe remains uncertain, but its lackluster performance at the box office does not bode well for its future prospects.

Source: Box Office Mojo