The highly anticipated movie “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” failed to make a splash at the Christmas box office, debuting to $28 million over the weekend and an estimated $40 million through the four-day holiday weekend. While those ticket sales were enough to top domestic charts over three other newcomers, such as “Migration,” “Anyone but You,” and “The Iron Claw,” the sequel cost $205 million and ranks among the worst debuts of the year for a superhero movie.
“Aquaman 2” is shaping up to be the fourth of four DC movies this year to crumble at the box office, following in the footsteps of “The Flash,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” and “Blue Beetle.” This is a concerning trend for the superhero genre, currently finishing the year on a low note with a lack of potential billion-dollar blockbusters and many big screen disappointments.
Despite the disappointing debut, Movie theater marquees are getting more crowded on Christmas Day as Warner’s musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Neon’s racing drama “Ferrari” and director George Clooney’s inspirational story “The Boys in the Boat” open in theaters. Studios and exhibitors are hoping that moviegoing will pick up on Dec. 25 but overall it’s a lackluster holiday season without a potential billion-dollar blockbuster, like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” in the mix.
According to David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, “2023 is finishing on a low note.” He believes that while the growth of the genre has stopped, upcoming 2024 offerings such as “Deadpool 3,” “Joker 2,” and “Venom 3,” will connect with audiences.
Alongside “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” other debuts at the box office include “Migration,” “Anyone But You,” and “The Iron Claw,” while last weekend’s champion, Warner Bros. fantasy musical “Wonka,” took second place with $26 million.
Despite the industry’s current struggles, there is optimism that upcoming films will help revitalize the superhero genre and the box office.