DC’s Blue Beetle didn’t just make its mark at the box office, it swooped in and stole the #1 spot from Barbie after four weeks of reigning supreme in theaters. This weekend, Blue Beetle raked in $25.4 million, marking its territory as the top contender.
However, while it’s an impressive feat, it’s worth mentioning that Blue Beetle‘s opening numbers, though strong, landed as the second lowest among the 14 films released so far in the DC Universe. The only comic book hero to score lower was Wonder Woman 1984, which pulled in $16.7 million during its Christmas Day debut in 2020, back when the pandemic had us all hesitant to see films in theaters so it was also streaming on HBO Max.
The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes who burst onto the scene in 2005 in the DC comic Infinite Crisis. Blue Beetle’s storyline revolves around this young graduate who gets chosen to host the otherworldly “Scarab.”
This ancient alien device morphs him into the formidable Blue Beetle, complete with a high-tech exoskeleton. Originally, Blue Beetle was destined for the smaller screens of HBO Max, but as the production wheels started turning, it got the upgrade to a full-fledged cinematic experience.
What makes Blue Beetle a standout is its distinction as the first-ever Latinx superhero movie. It proudly showcases a predominantly Latinx cast, sprinkling in Spanish dialogue and embracing the rich tapestry of Latinx culture. Picture Palmera City, a backdrop inspired by the vibrant border town of El Paso, Texas, where the movie premiered on August 15, 2023 . This sets the movie apart, giving it that same iconic feel as Superman‘s Metropolis or Batman’s Gotham City.
A deep dive into industry stats reveals that Latinx Americans, comprising 19% of the U.S. population, snapped up a whopping 25% of movie tickets sold at the box office by American theaters, according to a 2019 Motion Picture Association study. Yet, their presence in leading roles on the silver screen has been lacking. Warner Bros. deserves kudos for stepping up to champion this Latinx American narrative. Perhaps this commitment was a contributing factor to Blue Beetle’s victorious weekend takeover.
Blue Beetle hits the box office at a time when the superhero movie craze seems to be experiencing a slow descent, not only among devoted comic fans but also among the larger movie-loving crowd. DC Studios’ recent trio of releases all fell short of expectations, waving goodbye to significant profits in the process:
The Flash hit the box office on June 14, 2023, with domestic earnings of $108.1 million and an international take of $160.4 million, culminating in a worldwide collection of $268.5 million. The movie was produced with a budget of $200 million, resulting in a ratio of worldwide box office to production budget of 1.3. Unfortunately, the estimated loss incurred amounted to a significant $231.5 million.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods hit the box office on March 15, 2023, and made its mark with a domestic revenue of $57.6 million and an international gross of $76.2 million, contributing to a total global box office sum of $133.8 million. The production budget for the film was $100 million, resulting in a ratio of worldwide box office to production budget also at 1.3. The estimated loss for this movie tallied up to $116.2 million.
Black Adam hit the box office on October 21, 2023, and garnered a domestic intake of $168.2 million and an international haul of $225.1 million, combining for a worldwide collection of $393.3 million. The production budget for the film was $190 million, resulting in a more favorable ratio of worldwide box office to production budget at 2.1. This time, the estimated loss was a comparatively modest $81.7 million.
After an impressive four-week reign, Barbie‘s dominance at the box office finally yielded to a finish at #2, earning an additional $21.5 million this weekend. This marked a 36% decline from the previous weekend. Yet, don’t think for a moment that the summer’s sensation is ready to fade away. While it might not regain the top spot in the upcoming weeks, Barbie has proven its staying power, consistently holding strong with around 40% week-to-week declines. After 31 days, the dynamic collaboration between Warner Bros. and Hasbro has raked in an impressive $567.3 million domestically and an astounding $1.2 billion worldwide. In the span of the next weekend, Barbie is poised to surpass the $574.2 million garnered by The Super Mario Bros. Movie earlier in the year, cementing its status as the highest grossing film of 2023 within the domestic market.
Oppenheimer continued its weight alongside Barbie in their “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, securing the #3 spot with an additional $10.6 million in its weekend haul, experiencing a modest 44% drop. Despite some IMAX screen losses to Blue Beetle, Christopher Nolan‘s World War II drama held onto its audience with poise. Up to now, the film has impressively amassed $285.2 million domestically, with projections pointing toward a final tally of $300 million.
The “Barbenheimer” tandem is en route to achieving a staggering $900 million in the U.S. and Canada, a feat that nearly rivals the monumental $936.7 million achieved by Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, the reigning champion of domestic box office earnings. This attests to the resounding financial impact “Barbenheimer” has had on this summer’s cinematic landscape.
Taking the #4 spot at the box office, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem secured an additional $8.4 million, witnessing a 45% dip from the previous weekend’s numbers. The turtle quartet has managed to captivate family audiences, accumulating $88.1 million domestically.
It’s anticipated that this tally will easily cross the $100 million mark domestically and the $150 million mark worldwide by the time Labor Day weekend rolls around. This achievement marks a profitable venture for Paramount and Nickelodeon, also paving the way for potential sequels in the pipeline.
Universal’s bold move with the raunchy R-rated comedy, Strays, didn’t quite hit the mark as it opened in a somewhat disappointing 5th place at the box office with $8.3 million. The studio aimed to tap into a successful formula it pioneered in 2012 with TED—a wisecracking stuffed bear dishing out obscene quips and sexual innuendos.
TED’s unconventional pairing of cuddly and crude brought in a hefty $54.4 million domestically during its opening weekend, ultimately accumulating a whopping $549.4 million worldwide. Three years later, Universal attempted a sequel with TED 2, but the novelty had waned, resulting in a worldwide gross of $215.9 million, less than 40% of the original’s earnings.
Strays boasts a star-studded cast including Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte, and Sofia Vergara. The narrative follows the journey of Reggie, a lovable yet gullible border terrier portrayed by Ferrell, abandoned by his selfish and heartless owner Doug (Forte). The plot revolves around Reggie’s alliance with other strays to exact revenge on Doug.
Packed with a steady stream of sexual commentary and cheeky language, the core audience for this flick seems to be a mix of dog enthusiasts and those with an affinity for a dose of vulgarity.
Despite its star power, critics didn’t quite warm up to Strays, rating it 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, as opposed to the 69% garnered by TED back in 2012. Following this weekend’s underwhelming debut, it appears unlikely that Strays will hit the $100 million worldwide mark necessary to break even, given its production cost of $46 million.
In its third weekend at the box office, Warner Bros,’ Meg 2: The Trench fell 48% from the previous weekend and earned $6.7 million, and took the #6 spot at the box office. A24’s Talk to Me saw a 37% drop in its fourth weekend at the box office moving up the top ten list from #8 to #7 and earning $3.1 million. Also in its fourth weekend in theaters, Disney’s Haunted Mansion slipped from #6 to #8 earning just $3 million and suffering a 48% decline in ticket sales.
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One has been at the box office for 6 weeks and it seems like its days are numbered. The Tom Cruise-led action film maintained its #9 spot on the box office top ten list earning just $2.7 million and feeling a 41% decline in sales since its previous weekend in theaters.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter from Universal faced a rough journey right from the beginning, and its struggles continued as it plummeted by a staggering 62% in its second week. Just clinging to the #10 spot, it managed to eke out a lead over Sound of Freedom by Angel, which finally found itself outside the box office top 10 list for the first time since its premiere.
Despite its challenging ride, The Last Voyage of the Demeter has managed to accumulate a total of over $177 million in earnings.
The Top 10
1. Blue Beetle (Warner Bros.) NEW – Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 77; Est. budget: $120 million
$25,400,000 in 3,871 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $6,562; Cumulative: $25,400,000
2. Barbie (Warner Bros.) Week 5; Last weekend #1
$21,500,000 (-36%) in 4,003 (-175) theaters; PTA: $5,371; Cumulative: $567,283,000
3. Oppenheimer (Universal) Week 5; Last weekend #2
$10,600,000 (-44%) in 3,321 (-440) theaters; PTA: $; Cumulative: $285,232,000
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) Week 3; Last weekend #3
$8,425,000 (-45%) in 3,477 (-473) theaters; PTA: $2,805; Cumulative: $88,130,000
5. The Strays (Universal) NEW – Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 55; Est. budget: $46 million
$8,300,000 in 3,223 theaters; PTA: $2,575; Cumulative: $8,300,000
6. Meg 2: The Trench (Warner Bros.) Week 3; Last weekend #4
$6,730,000 (-48%) in 3,402 (-202) theaters; PTA: $1,978; Cumulative: $66,567,000
7. Talk to Me (A24) Week 4; Last weekend #8
$3,157,000 (-37%) in 1,789 (-590) theaters; PTA: $1,328; Cumulative: $37,366,000
8. Haunted Mansion (Disney) Week 4; Last weekend #6
$3,000,000 (-48%) in 2,180 (-680) theaters; PTA: $1,376; Cumulative: $58,832,000
9. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) Week 6; Last weekend #9
$2,725,000 (-41%) in 1,608 (-527) theaters; PTA: $1,415; Cumulative: $164,614,000
10. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal) Week 2; Last week #5
$2,500,000 (-62%) in 2,175 theaters; PTA: $; Cumulative: $11,362,00
This weekend, the collective box office earnings of all movies currently in theaters reached an impressive $99.0 million domestically. In contrast, during the same time-frame last year, the total haul was a comparatively lower $81.2 million.
This shift comes as no surprise, especially considering that in the previous year, the anime sensation Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero took the lead, storming onto the scene with an opening weekend box office triumph of $21.1 million.
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