Though a fair amount of money by normal standards, a sizable jump from DCs last release, the Shazam! sequel, and enough for a first place start, its also muted by superhero standards where $100 million debut weekends are almost commonplace.
It was a crowded weekend at the multiplex overall. In addition to The Flash there was the new Pixar family film Elemental and the horror-comedy The Blackening. The only big win was Wes Andersons starry Asteroid City which earned $720,000 from just six theaters and the distinction of having the highest per-theater average ($132,211) since the start of the pandemic.
The Flash faced more complications than marketplace conditions. It has been in the headlines often over the past year, not because of the movie itself but because of its star Ezra Millers off-screen troubles, including arrests, erratic behavior and accusations of misconduct. Miller has apologized and said they are seeking mental health treatment. They also bowed out of participating in the normal publicity circuit, except for the premiere.
The studios leadership remained bullish on releasing their $200 million movie, however, confident in its quality and importance to future DC Studios storylines. The movie introduces the multiverse, which allowed for the return of Michael Keatons Batman in a movie that also had Ben Afflecks Batman.
Going into the weekend analysts expected The Flash to earn at least $70 million in its first three days, playing in 4,234 locations domestically. Now, its projected to net out with $64 million in its first four, including Mondays Juneteenth holiday.
Critics were mixed but more positive than not, with a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. APs Jocelyn Noveck wrote in her review that despite some breezily clever and entertaining moments, the final act bogs down in what feels like an endless, generic CGI battle and a kitchen-sink resolution.
Audiences polled for CinemaScore only gave the film a B, which has not historically been great news for word-of-mouth potential and longevity. But there is a bit of a gap in the schedule before the next major blockbuster comes in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which opens on June 30. Next weeks biggest offering is the R-rated Jennifer Lawrence comedy No Hard Feelings and the nationwide expansion of Asteroid City.
Second place went to Elemental with an estimated $29.5 million from 4,035 locations in North America a new low for Pixars three-day openings. Before, that title belonged to The Good Dinosaur and Onward, which both debuted to $39 million.
Elemental was greeted positively by critics, with a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences (A CinemaScore). APs Jake Coyle wrote that its probably in the lower half of the Pixar cannon but sincere and clever, with a splash of dazzle, it, comes closer to rekindling some of the old Pixar magic than some recent entries. Including $15 million from 17 international territories, Elemental launched to $44.5 million globally.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was a very close third, in its third weekend, with $27.8 million. Sony is projecting that its domestic total will have reached $285 million through Monday.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts dropped a steep 67% in its second weekend, adding $20 million to take fourth place. The Little Mermaid settled into fifth place with $11.6 million in its fourth weekend.
The Blackening was the other big release this weekend a bit of counterprogramming to the bigger branded releases with an original horror-comedy about a group of friends, who are Black, who get together for a weekend away and find themselves on the run from a killer. Lionsgate and MRC acquired the $5 million movie from director Tim Story after it debuted to positive reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival. Released in 1,775 theaters, The Blackening made an estimated $6 million.
