The recent DC Universe (DCU) movies have faced significant challenges at the box office, indicating a failure in terms of successful worldwide earnings. Films like Black Adam, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and The Flash have not only performed poorly financially but have also received negative reviews from critics and fans.
Looking beyond the box office performance of 2022 and 2023, the commercial failure of the DCU becomes even more apparent. By examining the releases since 2019 and comparing their box office receipts to their budgets, a specific statistic emerges, highlighting the franchise’s bigger disaster.
Since 2019, with the exception of standalone films like The Batman and Joker, the DCEU has not had a genuinely successful release. Shazam!, released in April 2019, was the last film in the franchise to turn a profit. The subsequent film, Birds of Prey, fell short of breaking even, despite grossing over $200 million worldwide on a more modest budget of $85 million.
Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted box office numbers, The Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984 failed to meet expectations. Both films underperformed considering their budgets, making them disappointments despite their unconventional releases.
The recent releases of Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and The Flash also failed to achieve profitability. Black Adam’s budget of $195 million was not recovered, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods became the lowest-grossing DCEU film on a budget of $125 million. The Flash, with a budget of $200 million, joined the list of commercial failures.
This continuous failure raises doubts about whether the DCEU will have any box office successes before James Gunn’s rebranded DCU takes over. The upcoming releases of Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be crucial in determining the future of the franchise. Blue Beetle, being a lesser-known character, might face challenges, but positive word of mouth could lead to success. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, with its predecessor’s achievements and Jason Momoa’s popularity, is expected to at least break even.
The failures of the DCEU films may not directly impact James Gunn’s new DCU if he can establish a distinct and well-made universe. The success of recent superhero movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse demonstrates that quality films can lead to commercial success. James Gunn’s previous work in the superhero genre and the potential separation from the poorly-received DCEU give hope for success in the DCU. The examples of Joker and The Batman prove that well-made DC movies can resonate with audiences, leaving the outcome of Gunn’s franchise to be seen.