Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the highly anticipated sequel in the DC Extended Universe, made a splash with a domestic opening weekend of $28.1 million, which ranks as the fourth-lowest in the franchise’s history. Falling short of industry expectations, the film was projected to earn between $32 million and $42 million. Comparatively, the original Aquaman movie debuted with a promising $67.8 million during its opening weekend in 2018. However, it is important to note that the film is expected to see a boost in ticket sales during the four-day Christmas holiday weekend, with an estimated total of $40 million.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s opening weekend performance aligns with the recent trend of Warner Bros.’ DC franchise films. Since 2018, only one film from the franchise, Black Adam, managed to surpass $60 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend, generating $67 million in early 2022 according to Comscore data. It is evident that the DC Extended Universe has faced challenges in captivating audiences with its recent releases.
While the domestic opening fell below expectations, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom achieved a more significant international success. The film gathered $80.1 million from international ticket sales over the weekend, bringing its projected global earnings to $120 million. The first Aquaman movie also relied heavily on international box office receipts, with more than 70% of its $1.15 billion gross coming from markets outside of the U.S. and Canada. This impressive global performance solidified Aquaman as the highest-grossing film in the DC Extended Universe, a record that no subsequent DCEU film has managed to surpass with over $400 million at the global box office.
The DC Extended Universe has faced criticism for its lackluster quality, particularly in regard to CGI-heavy action sequences and the disjointed execution of team-up movies. Additionally, pandemic-era restrictions in 2020 and 2021 caused smaller box office openings for many films, including those in the DC franchise. Even as theaters have reopened and audiences have returned, the DCEU has struggled to regain the enthusiasm of its dedicated fan base.
To further compound the franchise’s difficulties, Warner Bros. Discovery announced earlier this year that the entire DC Extended Universe would undergo a reboot in 2025. This decision, made by the new heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, disappointed fans who were unsure of the continuity between recent releases like Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Blue Beetle, The Flash, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Uncertainty surrounding the future of the franchise has potentially deterred fans from considering these films as “must-see” theatrical experiences.
Despite the challenges and low domestic opening, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may have a silver lining. The film faces limited competition in theaters next week and has the advantage of the upcoming holidays, with school vacations driving parents to seek out-of-home entertainment options. The late December release could work in favor of the film, as it has the potential to build a steady audience throughout the holiday season and into the new year.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s initial performance fell short of expectations, marking a challenging start for the DC Extended Universe. However, it is essential to consider the film’s global success and the potential for improved ticket sales during the holiday season. The DC franchise may need to reevaluate and address the criticisms it has faced in order to regain the enthusiasm of both casual viewers and devoted fans.
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