The Rise of Blue Beetle
Warner Bros. unveiled its latest superhero sensation, Blue Beetle, to the movie-going public, ending Barbie‘s month-long dominance atop the domestic box office. On its debut day, Blue Beetle raked in a hefty $10 million, factoring in the $3.3 million garnered during the Thursday previews. As the opening weekend projections sit at approximately $25 million, this might not seem like a meteoric rise, especially when compared to other superhero film releases. However, it’s essential to highlight the film’s relatively modest budget of $104 million.
Interestingly, Blue Beetle‘s original intent was to be a direct-to-streaming title. Now, it stands as one of the final remnants of the soon-to-be-revamped DC Extended Universe (DCEU). With James Gunn and Peter Safran taking the reins, the universe is set for a reboot, climaxing with Superman: Legacy in 2025. For fans of the current DCEU narrative, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will serve as the swan song, due later this year.
But how does Blue Beetle‘s performance stack up against its DCEU predecessors? It mirrors the numbers achieved by Birds of Prey from years past. This comparison isn’t entirely favorable, given Birds of Prey‘s perceived underperformance. Warner Bros. still remains on edge after a string of superhero movies, including Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and The Flash, failed to dazzle at the box office. Despite its economical budget, Blue Beetle might not be the remedy the studio hoped for.
Barbie’s Enigmatic Box Office Journey
Meanwhile, Barbie refuses to fade into obscurity. This weekend, it’s projected to bag a cool $20 million, positioning it right behind Blue Beetle. Come Sunday, Barbie’s domestic tally is anticipated to touch the $566 million mark, racing past The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s lifetime collection shortly after. Internationally, Barbie‘s magic seems boundless with earnings surpassing $1.2 billion.
Intriguingly, Barbie shared its release date with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which currently holds the third spot in the Friday charts.
Tagged as the “Barbenheimer” due to their joint release, both movies have considerably boosted the domestic box office scene. Oppenheimer alone is projected to pull in $11 million this weekend, inching its overall domestic collection towards the $285 million landmark and crossing the $700 million global threshold.
The Comedy Conundrum: ‘Strays’ Struggles
In the constantly shifting landscape of the box office, the raunchy comedy Strays seems to be facing some challenges in gaining traction among audiences. The film’s release came on the heels of Jennifer Lawrence’s No Hard Feelings, which had previously set a high bar for R-rated theatrical comedies. Given the rekindled interest in this genre, there was a palpable excitement and anticipation surrounding the release of Strays. Many hoped it would follow in the successful footsteps of its predecessor.
Unfortunately, Strays appears to be following a trajectory similar to Joy Ride, another comedy that didn’t quite meet box office expectations. While Strays managed to pull in a respectable $3.4 million on its inaugural day, its projected earnings for the opening weekend remain a modest figure, hovering below the $9 million mark.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s action-packed offering, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, managed to secure a spot in the top five box office hits. Demonstrating consistent performance, the film added another $2.3 million to its tally on its third Friday since release. This is testament to the enduring popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise and its appeal to both new and nostalgic fans.
For those who have been closely following the rise and reception of Blue Beetle, there’s a treat awaiting. An in-depth interview with Ángel Manuel Soto, the visionary director behind the movie, has been made available. It promises to offer insights into the making of the film and the creative choices that shaped it.
