“The Flash”, the latest DC Comics film, released in theaters on June 16 and earned $64 million at the box office over the long weekend. The movie underperformed financially and critically, falling $6 million short of a $70 million projected gross and garnering lukewarm reactions from reviewers and general audiences alike.
In the summer of 2023, “The Flash” is an exception. Two other superhero blockbusters, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” earned $118 million and $120.5 million respectively on their opening weekends.
Despite the persistent popularity of the superhero genre, DC Comics have struggled with cinematic adaptation of their intellectual property for years. In the past 12 months, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and “Black Adam” both performed dismally at the box office and earlier releases, such as “The Suicide Squad” and “Wonder Woman 1984”, failed to produce sustained interest in the inter-connected franchise.
Recent Marvel titles have also faced criticism. While source material from Marvel Comics remains tremendously profitable, entries such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and Thor: Love and Thunder” were panned for lackluster narratives and over-reliance on CGI.
Since the early 2000’s, comic book films have dominated the box office and the cultural conversation. Three of the top ten grossing films of all time are chapters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has earned over $29 billion since its inception in 2008. As superhero fatigue sets in however, the staying power of these franchises will continue to be tested.
Anthony Bringaze 