The Flash (film)
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UPDATED FRIDAY AM: The Warner Bros DC movie is settling at $9.7M for Thursday night after showtimes that began at 3 p.m.
That’s better than expected and $300K shy of what Sony’s Venom did back in previews in 2018. That pic got slaughtered on Rotten Tomatoes with 30% critics score but bettered its outlook with an $80M opening. The Flash could very well be following that box office trajectory this weekend. Venom‘s $10M previews repped 31% of its $32.5M Friday/previews, with a 19% ease on Saturday of $26.3M, then $21.3M Sunday.
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Early audience PostTrak exits from Comscore/Screen Engine for The Flash, which has a running time of 2 hours and 24 minutes, shows 4 stars for general audiences and a 60% recommend and 3½ for kids under 12 and 57% recommend. Remember, Thursday night always has better, skewed exits due to fans.
Flash among general audiences pulled in 47% guys over 25 (78% grade), 29% guys under 25 (73% grade), 17% women over 25 (76%) and 7% women under 25 (78%). Diversity demos were 35% Caucasian, Hispanic and Latino at 32% (who gave the Andy Muschietti directed movie its best grade at 87%), Black at 20%, and Asian at 9%. Boys under 12 showed up at 78%.
Other DC pics, The Flash beats preview wise: Birds of Prey ($4M, $33M opening), James Gunn’s Suicide Squad ($4.1M, $26.2M), Watchmen ($4.5M, $55.2M), and Green Lantern ($3.3M, $53.1M).
Everett
Elemental received great grades last night of 4 1/2 stars from general audiences and 69% recommend while kids under 12 gave it 5 stars and a 69% recommend. However, the movie came in lower than what rival distribution sources were expecting with a very low $2.4M. That’s slightly higher than Onward‘s $2M and that was off 6PM showtimes in early March 2020 when Covid fears were just bubbling. That Pixar troll movie posted a low $39.1M which tied with 2015’s The Good Dinosaur as one the Emeryville, CA studio’s lowest openings at the box office. Disney is hoping the movie gets to $35M. We’ll let this film breath, hoping it can get a boost on Father’s Day Sunday before we examine the corpse. The Disney/Pixar movie leaned 60% women, and 65% moms with girls outweighing boys, 66% to 34%. Women over 25 showed up at 32% (85% grade), women under 25 at 27% (89% grade), men over 25 at 25% (85% grade) and men under 25 at 15% (67% grade). Diversity demos were Caucasian 31%, Hispanic and Latino at 27%, Black at 17% and Asian at a very strong 20%.
Comedy Central
Lionsgate also has the Tim Story directed Juneteenth horror comedy, The Blackening, which launched Wednesday in previews, as well as last night. The movie did $900K in previews. Pic gets 3 1/2 stars on PostTrak and 52% reccomend, with Black moviegoers showing up at 55% (best grade at 81%), Caucasian at 23%, Hispanic and Latino at 15%, and Asian at 2%. Men over 25 at 39% were the biggest draw, followed by women over 25 at 30%, women under 25 at 17% and men under 25 at 14%. Outlook for the movie is mid-single digits at 1,775 theaters. Lionsgate acquired this feature which cost a low $5M from MRC.
Top 5 pics yesterday:
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony) 4,332 theaters Thu $5.2m (-18%), Wk $82.5M, Total $252.5M/Wk 2
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Par) 3,678 theaters, Thu $3M (-30%), Wk $80.6M/Wk 1
The Little Mermaid (Dis) 4,320 theaters Thu $2.5M (-17%), Wk $35.9M Total $241.9M/Wk 3
The Boogeyman (Dis/20th) 3,205 theaters, Thu $767K (-25%) Wk $11.1M, Total $28.9M/Wk 2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Dis) 3,175 theaters, Thu $752K (-20%), Wk $11M, Total $339.3M/Wk 6
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros./DC’s The Flash per box office sources is playing like a deeper universe superhero movie with around $9M in Thursday night previews which began at 3PM. While the pic’s critical score on Rotten Tomatoes has fallen to 67% fresh from 71% fresh, audiences are enjoying it more at 88%. That’s a good sign.
Already tonight, Warner Bros is celebrating before Flash‘s final Monday grosses: DC co-chief James Gunn and Peter Safran christened Flash director Andy Muschietti the official helmer of their future Batman reboot, The Brave and the Bold, while Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group and Television inked a multi-year pact with the Argentinian filmmaker and his sister producer Barbara Muschietti.
Flash‘s Thursday is in the vicinity of such preview nights as Sony/Marvel’s Venom ($10M), Marvel’s Doctor Strange ($9.4M), DC’s Aquaman ($9M excluding paid sneaks), yet above Marvel’s Ant-Man ($6.4M).
Wonder Woman did $11M on her Thursday night. But remember that was a long-awaited big DC superhero that female moviegoers were craving for, not to mention it had the big media wattage of Gal Gadot who was everywhere. Flash is in a very different situation: its star Ezra Miller literally just made their big PR debut for the film on Monday, four days before opening, at the Hollywood premiere; the actor kept largely out of the $200M pic’s promo machine given their tabloid history over the last year-plus. Also The Flash cast hasn’t been able to make a splash on late night TV since those shows are dark due to the WGA Strike.
The weekend outlook for Flash is between $70M-$75M, however, if it emulates the gross patterns of Doctor Strange and Venom, with tonight repping around 30% of its complete Friday+previews, then the Muschiettis’ DC superhero movie could find its way into the $80M+ neighborhood; Venom opened to $80.2M in U.S./Canada while Doctor Strange did $85M.
Gal Godot as Diana. Warner Bros. 2023
Both Wonder Woman and Aquaman are slightly different superpowered beings when it comes to their box office comps. Though tracking had Wonder Woman, which opened during the first weekend of June 2017, between $65M-75M (93% RT crtics, 83% audiences), it lassoed big buzz immediately and overpowered to a $103.2M start.
Warner Bros.
Aquaman played over a Christmas stretch at the end of 2018. While it posted a $9M pure Thursday in previews, the pic had an additional $4.7M added to its weekend from paid sneaks for a pure $67.8M 3-day, $72.5M running total before Christmas Eve Monday and Christmas Day Tuesday pushed it to a very good $105.4M 5-day+ previews start. Aquaman was 65% with critics, and 72% with audiences but ultimately finaled at $335M in U.S./Canada, a 4.6x multiple off that $72.5M number (it was Christmas, and Jason Momoa brought in the women).
Watch on Deadline
Now we have a majority of schools and people off from work on Monday, Juneteenth (June 19). So what can that bring to The Flash? Since it’s a new holiday, we have yet to see some major moviegoing action; last year’s top Juneteenth films (which were technically on June 20) — Jurassic World: Dominion, Lightyear and Top Gun: Maverick saw single digit takes between $6.5M-$8.6M, averaging a -55% dip from their Sunday gross.
‘Elemental’ Disney/Pixar
Disney/Pixar’s Elemental started previews at 3PM tonight and box office sources peg that pic’s Thursday night at around $3.5M (Lightyear, considered a misfire for Pixar, did $5.2M in previews before a 3-day of $50.5M). While Flash has Imax, Elemental has 2,400 3D locations, 275 PLF auditoriums and 140 4D/D-Box screens imbedded in its 4,000 theater booking. Low projections on the film, which audiences like more than critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 88% to 76%, are at $35M, though it wouldn’t be shocking if the Peter Sohn directed title gets into the $40M range.
Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, and Sasha Calle unite on screen in June.
The Flash is seeing some good days, as the marketing for the upcoming feature is getting fans warmed up to the movie as each poster, image, and teaser gives us some new clues to draw upon. The movie based on the Flashpoint event from comics will work as a doorway for fans to enter James Gunn’s planned Gods and Monsters chapter in the DCU. The movie looks fresh and has managed to grab the attention of nerds and casual onlookers alike.
Warner Bros Discovery has unveiled new posters that elaborate on the “Worlds Collide” theme of the upcoming movie. The first poster sees Barry Allen aka The Flash standing in the desert, which seems like the same one where the team goes up against General Zod in the trailers. His suit is in full glory as the speed force glows on his feet. It is to be noted that the desert looks the same as the one from Man of Steel, where Superman was handed over by the US government. The Batman poster sees Michael Keaton’s Batman in his Batcave against his Batmobile, and the poster evokes nostalgia for Tim Burton’s era. The final poster showcases Supergirl flying over Wayne Manor in all her glory in a completely new world.
How Worlds Will Collide in The Flash
One good look at the numerous Easter Eggs in the clips and images and it is evident that director Andy Muschietti has pulled references from all the past movies for The Flash. Unlike Shazam! The Fury of The Gods, which filled in the frames with notable DC merchandise and references without any meaning behind them the creative team behind the scarlet speedster has put in detailed thought in each frame. In the upcoming feature, Barry Allen will travel to the past to save his mother but will end up fracturing the timeline. This new reality has no Justice League, so he needs the help of an unlikely Batman, who will come out of retirement for this gig, and together they’ll rescue Supergirl to face a nemesis we’re all quite familiar with – General Zod.
RELATED: Michael Keaton Takes The Batcycle For A Spin In New 'The Flash' Footage
The movie features Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, Michael Shannon returns as General Zod, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, and Antje Traue as Faora-Ul. Along with Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Ben Affleck set to reprise his DCEU role as Bruce Wayne/Batman the final time.
The Flash speeds into theaters on June 16. You can check out the posters below:
Their time is now. THE FLASH - only in cinemas June 15. #TheFlashMovie
Although the DCEU kickstarted it all with 2013's Man of Steel, Henry Cavill's Superman has only actually appeared twice since then - plus four faceless cameos. Now, in the absence of Cavill's Man of Steel, Warner Bros. is preparing to introduce a new Kryptonian hero with Sasha Calle's Supergirl in The Flash.
After production issues and the recent controversy surrounding Ezra Miller, The Flash has been the victim of many delays that have now pushed it to June 2023. Based on the debut trailer, Barry Allen will meet Supergirl in the universe in which he crosses paths with Michael Keaton's Batman to recruit their help.
Moving forward from the Multiverse-altering effects of The Flash, Supergirl is reportedly placed to be at the center of the new DCEU, and as such, has been reported to have her own solo project in development. But in the wake of Batgirl's shocking cancellation at HBO Max, that appears to be in danger too.
DC's Supergirl Movie May Be Dead
Rolling Stone recently published a report to explain why Warner Bros. decided to cancel Leslie Grace's Batgirl which also offered an update of Sasha Calle's Supergirl. Calle will debut as the Girl of Steel in 2023's The Flash and was expected to spin off into her own movie, but that may now be in trouble.
According to the popular outlet, other DC films stand a chance of being "squashed," with insiders claiming the Supergirl project isn't expected to move forward at Warner Bros., despite currently being in development at the studio.
Reports circulated in 2021 that Warner Bros. intended to film Supergirl in the next three years - placing production plans sometime before 2024. Rumors have suggested DC was planning to use Calle's Supergirl in place of Superman in the DCEU going forward, but that may no longer be the case.
When Will Supergirl and Superman Return
Henry Cavill's Man of Steel has been absent from the DCEU for five years and Sasha Calle just saw a rather disappointing update regarding her Supergirl movie, so the future doesn't appear bright for the Kryptonians. The reported cancellation of two female-led spin-offs in a matter of days isn't a good sign, but perhaps Warner Bros. is looking to establish a more traditional DCEU status quo.
Previous reports indicated Batgirl, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman were set to lead the DCEU as an all-female trinity. Perhaps with Warner Bros. under new management, the studio is now eager to pivot focus back to The Dark Knight and Man of Steel, instead of using Batgirl and Supergirl in their places.
After all, Ben Affleck just signed on to reprise Batman once again in Aquaman 2, and there have been some intriguing reports as of late with regard to Henry Cavill's Superman. Maybe the goal is to get these actors back in the spotlight, even if the road to that goal appears rather messy.
Although that's not to say Affleck and Cavill coming back for the long run is at all certain, there's every chance DC will simply look to recast these actors. With Warner Bros. Discovery making massive changes on the DC front, a full-scale reboot may even be on the cards to simplify the situation and start fresh, possibly making The Flash Calle's only Supergirl appearance.
It's impossible to predict what the future holds, especially as Warner Bros. continues to make sweeping changes to its DC plans. The Flash is currently scheduled to hit theaters on June 23, 2023, but even that is far from certain in this current climate.