The highly anticipated release of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” fell short of industry expectations with a lackluster domestic opening of $28.1 million. This marks the fourth-lowest opening in the DC Extended Universe’s history, disappointing both Warner Bros. Discovery and fans alike.
Despite initial projections of an opening weekend between $32 million and $42 million, their $28 million estimate falls far below the $67.8 million debut of the first “Aquaman” film in 2018. However, sources suggest the latest aquatic adventure will still manage to rake in $40 million over the four-day Christmas holiday weekend.
This is expected to be Jason Momoa’s final performance as the Trident-wielding hero, leaving a big question mark over the future of the franchise. While the weekend performance of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is on par with recent releases from the DC franchise, only “Black Adam” has debuted with more than $60 million in ticket sales since 2018, generating $67 million in early 2022, according to Comscore data.
The underwhelming domestic opening of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” has raised concerns amongst industry experts about the future of the DC Extended Universe. However, there are also signs of optimism as the film had a strong international opening, earning more than $86 million from 57 overseas markets.
Many fans have noted that there are several factors that may have contributed to the film’s poor performance, including competition from other blockbuster releases and widespread concerns over the ongoing pandemic.
Despite these challenges, Warner Bros. Discovery remains optimistic about the franchise’s future potential. They have several exciting projects currently in the works, including “The Flash” and “Black Adam,” and are ramping up their streaming efforts with high-profile releases on HBO Max.