DC Comics superhero Shazam returned to cinema screens on Thursday (16th), and despite the anticipation of many to see the character’s second film, the premiere fell short of expectations for the first weekend. According to Varietythe production only made $30.5 million at the domestic box office, when it was expected to make $35-40 million.
At the international box office, “Shazam 2” grossed $35 million in 77 markets. Globally, the film debuted to $65.5 million, which is considered abysmal for a global release for a superhero film.
“Comic book movies consistently show that without an event-level hook, it’s hard to live up to past performance,” said Shawn Robbins, lead analyst at BoxOffice Pro. Variety.
Even the reviews about the film might not help the numbers. It managed a “B+” CinemaScore, down from the first film’s “A” grade, and holds just 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, a dramatic drop from the original’s 90% average. CinemaScore and Rotten Tomatoes are popular movie rating sites. Open to the public, they usually get the popularity and quality of the right films.
Comic book movies have always been untouchable at the box office, but ‘Shazam 2’, like Marvel’s sequel ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’, is starting to show cracks and serious sequel and run-out issues.
While “Ant-Man 3” had a strong opening, its box office has plummeted in recent weeks, with many downgrading the film from its predecessors. Back at DC, “Black Adam,” for example, also disappointed, grossing just $392 million globally against its $200 million-plus budget.
Of course, this is not to say the end of the era of superhero movies: Robert Pattinson’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and Robert Pattinson’s “Batman” are there to prove it, as they entered the top 10 at the box office of the 2022 – but indicates studios should reevaluate releasing big-budget comic book adaptations in theaters, as well as study (and possibly lower) expectations for some sequels.
‘Shazam: Wrath of Gods’ focuses on the Shazam family and introduces the evil goddesses called Daughters of Atlas who are the main threat of the film.
With information from Variety
“Shazam: A Furia dos Deuses” post opens with lower than expected box office first appeared on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
