James Gunn and Peter Safran stepped into the DC universe during a period of significant turmoil. Their inaugural production, The Flash, was met with such catastrophic failure that it earned the unfortunate distinction of being the poorest-performing superhero film in cinematic history. The subsequent release, Blue Beetle, although not crafted under their guidance, faced a similarly challenging reception.
Astonishingly, the latest installment seems to be descending even further into the depths of disappointment, aiming to shatter an undesirable 20-year record. However, amidst this gloom, there is a faint glimmer of hope as it manages to outperform “Barbie.”
Under the helm of director Ángel Manuel Soto, Blue Beetle emerges as a groundbreaking cinematic endeavor. It marks Hollywood’s inaugural live-action superhero film with a Latino protagonist taking center stage. This pioneering project features Xolo Maridueña in the lead role and boasts an ensemble cast that includes Adriana Barraza, Damían Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Harvey Guillén, and Becky G.
As it turns out, Blue Beetle has joined the ranks of underachieving films at the box office, debuting with figures that are being described as the lowest for any DC movie in nearly the past two decades. Nevertheless, on the home turf of the domestic box office, this DCU production has successfully displaced “Barbie” from its top position, relegating it to second place after Margot Robbie’s four-week reign. Dive into the details to discover all you need to know about this development.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blue Beetle has amassed $25.4 million in its North American debut week, surpassing Barbie, which garnered $21.5 million in its fourth week. However, this appears to be the sole accomplishment for the DC film, as it fails to make any other positive impact. Internationally, the film starring Xolo Maridueña saw an opening of $18 million across 63 markets, resulting in a total of $43.4 million.
To put things in perspective, experts believe Blue Beetle’s domestic run will end at around $70 million, which is not even 25% of what Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel ($291 million) made in the domestic market.
Blue Beetle has now claimed the unenviable title of the lowest opening since 2004, when Halle Berry’s Catwoman also started with disappointing figures. Nonetheless, the road ahead appears to be a steep uphill climb for Blue Beetle as it endeavors to generate revenue for the studio. Reports suggest that the studio is already grappling with losses of approximately $200 million from The Flash.
On the other hand, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has surged ahead with a recent domestic haul of $21.5 million and an additional $26 million from international markets, solidifying its global Box Office total at a staggering $1.279 billion.
Blue Beetle is currently running in theaters.
