I just read a very interesting article by Mark Hughes over at Forbes.com. The article is titled “Box Office: ‘Superman’ Returns, But ‘Batman V Superman’ Is Now In Trouble.”
This article is really worth checking out. Hughes breaks down the box office results for Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and the results are quite alarming.
Man of Steel was a box office success. The film was released in June 2013 and grossed $291 million domestically and $668 million worldwide. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which was released in March 2016, has grossed $320 million domestically and $870 million worldwide.
When you look at the numbers, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is not a bad movie. It’s made more than Man of Steel domestically and worldwide. However, the film has underperformed at the box office.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was supposed to be a billion dollar movie. The film has been marketed for the past three years, and it’s the first time Batman and Superman have appeared on screen together. It’s also the first time Wonder Woman has appeared in a live action movie. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice should be breaking box office records.
Hughes also points out that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s box office results will have a direct impact on the future of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Warner Bros. has several DCEU movies in development, including Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, and Justice League. If Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice does not make a billion dollars, Warner Bros. may have to rethink their plans for the DCEU.
I think Hughes is right. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is not going to make a billion dollars, and that spells trouble for Warner Bros. I think the studio will have to make some changes to their DCEU movie slate.
I think Warner Bros. will have to push back the release dates for The Flash and Aquaman. The studio will also have to make some creative changes to the films. I would not be surprised if the studio has to do some reshoots on Justice League. I think Warner Bros. will also have to rethink their plans for the Batman solo movie.
I also think Warner Bros. should consider making a Justice League movie that does not include Batman. I think the studio should also consider making a Justice League movie that is not a sequel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I think a Justice League movie that is not a sequel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice could be a box office success.
I think the studio should also consider making a Justice League movie that is not a sequel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I think a Justice League movie that is not a sequel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice could be a box office success.
1. What’s the deal? Why are the latest Superman box office results so low?
The first question is the most obvious: what happened? The answer to that is a little complicated, but it’s rooted in a few key factors. The first is that, despite the fact that the movie was widely hyped, it was also widely panned by critics. That may not matter much to the most passionate fans, but it does matter in terms of the movie’s broader appeal and its ability to attract new fans to the franchise.
The second is that the movie is very long, and that makes it less appealing to casual moviegoers. The nearly three-hour runtime of The Batman is a testament to the fact that superhero movies can be long and still be successful, but it’s also a lot to ask of an audience. In the case of The Batman, the movie’s length was offset by a gripping story and a compelling lead performance by Robert Pattinson. That’s not to say that Henry Cavill’s performance wasn’t compelling, but rather that a long runtime is a risk that has to be carefully managed.
2. What about the rest of the DCU?
One of the most alarming aspects of the box office performance of The King’s Man and Sing 2 is that it raises serious questions about the future of the DCU. This isn’t just about the future of Superman, but the entire franchise.
With the exception of the first Wonder Woman and Aquaman, the DCU has been plagued by a string of poorly received films and underperforming box office results. That’s not to say that there haven’t been some bright spots, like Shazam! and The Suicide Squad, but overall, the franchise has struggled to find its footing.
This has led to a lot of speculation about the future of the DCU, and whether or not Warner Bros. is committed to continuing it. The lackluster box office results of The King’s Man and Sing 2 only add fuel to the fire, and raise serious questions about what comes next for the DCU.
3. What about the future of the DCU?
The future of the DCU has been a bit uncertain as of late. The franchise has seen a lot of change in the last few years, with a new Superman (Michael B. Jordan) and a new Batman (Robert Pattinson) on the way. The DCU has also seen a lot of success in the last year with the release of The Suicide Squad and The Batman. Both films were critical and commercial successes, and both films have sequels on the way.
But the latest box office results for Superman: Son of Kal-El could raise some questions about the future of the DCU. If a character as iconic as Superman can’t get butts in seats, what does that mean for the future of the franchise?
4. What about the future of Superman?
Finally, there’s the question of what this means for the future of Superman. Warner Bros. has been famously reluctant to embrace the character in the same way Disney has embraced Spider-Man, and the studio’s handling of his latest outing suggests that’s not going to change anytime soon.
The fact that the film’s box office performance is being spun as a positive is a pretty damning indictment of the studio’s handling of the character. The DCU has been in a state of flux since “Justice League” underperformed at the box office, and it’s unclear what the future holds for the Man of Steel.
In the meantime, it’s hard to imagine that Warner Bros. is going to be in any rush to greenlight a sequel.
5. What about the future of Henry Cavill as Superman?
As the star of the DCU’s most recent film, Henry Cavill is certainly the actor most affected by the box office results of The Witcher: Blood Origin. However, the future of the DCU’s Superman is a bit more complicated than the future of Cavill’s career.
The actor has been very vocal about his desire to play Superman again, but the studio has been less clear about their plans for the character. In fact, the box office results of the latest Superman film could very well determine whether or not we see Cavill don the red cape again.
If the movie is a success, it could open the door for a new Superman trilogy. If it flops, the studio may decide to take the character in a different direction.
6. What about the future of the DCU on the big screen?
The performance of “The Batman” at the box office has been a bright spot for Warner Bros., but it’s also raised questions about the future of the DCU on the big screen. The film has grossed $700 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2022 so far. That’s a big win for the studio, but it’s also a bit of a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, the success of “The Batman” proves that there’s still a lot of interest in the DCU. On the other hand, it raises the bar for future films. Fans will expect more from the studio, and they’ll be less forgiving of any missteps.
That’s why the disappointing box office results for “Superman & Lois” are so concerning. If the studio can’t find success with its TV shows, it could signal bigger problems for the future of the DCU on the big screen.
7. What about the future of the DCU on the small screen?
The DC Universe streaming service is set to launch next month with the premiere of Titans. The service will be home to several other DC Comics-based TV shows, including a new season of Young Justice, a Harley Quinn animated series, and a live-action Swamp Thing series.
But what about the future of the DCU on the small screen? Netflix has already announced that it will be canceling its DC Comics-based TV shows, including Gotham and Lucifer. And with the latest Superman box office results, it’s possible that other streaming services could follow suit.
If that happens, it could be bad news for the future of the DCU on the small screen. After all, the streaming service is set to be home to several other DC Comics-based TV shows, including a new season of Young Justice, a Harley Quinn animated series, and a live-action Swamp Thing series.
Conclusion
I hope I’m wrong, but things are looking pretty bleak for the Man of Steel right now. That’s a shame because he and the rest of the Justice League deserve better than what they’ve been getting on the big screen. What do you guys think? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
