Early Box Office Returns Fall Short

Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 DCU hit, has fallen short of expectations, with box office grosses coming in lower than projected. The film’s director, David F. Sandberg, took to Reddit to make an honest admission, stating that he knew the film would struggle to perform.

Sandberg’s upfront quips come after reports surfaced that Fury of the Gods grossed $30 million at the box office in the U.S. and Canada, falling below initial domestic projections of $35 million. The figure was also far less than what Shazam! Earned in ticket sales, with a $53.5 million opening. That means Fury of the Gods opening raked in 44% less than its predecessor.

Early Reviews Indicate Struggles

Before Fury of the Gods made its theatrical premiere, there were signs that it would struggle to garner the same success as Shazam! Early reviews of Fury of the Gods were mixed at best, with some critics saying it lacked intrigue and punch with its storytelling.

Director Denies Rumors

There were also rumors of D.C. Studios co-CEO James Gunn adding scenes and significant reshoots taking place after he and Peter Safran took over the studio last October, though Sandberg denied these claims. Fury of the Gods currently boasts a 54% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though it also has a much more respectable 85% audience score on the review aggregator website.

Social Media Controversy

Fury of the Gods also had to deal with negative press surrounding star Zachary Levi after social media activity from the actor landed him in hot water. He blasted pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer in a tweet in January, though it wasn’t clear if his comments were against their vaccine or about something else. Additionally, he reposted a satirical article in his Instagram story that appeared to mock pop legend Britney Spears’ conservatorship fight, drawing condemnations from social media corners.

The Plot of Fury of the Gods

Levi stars in Fury of the Gods alongside an ensemble cast, taking on the Daughters of Atlas (Mirren, Liu, and Zegler) as they invade Earth looking to reclaim magic stolen from long ago while threatening to use a weapon that could destroy Earth. Despite its struggles, Fury of the Gods is still a thrilling and entertaining action movie.