Aquaman 2's box office earnings have surpassed expectations, emerging as a surprising success and outperforming recent superhero blockbusters.
Aquaman 2 defied the odds, considering the challenging landscape of the superhero film genre following the first film’s triumph. The year 2023 posed significant challenges for both Marvel Studios and DC Studios, with major projects underperforming, culminating in The Marvels becoming the biggest box office disappointment for Marvel and being widely regarded as a low point for the genre, given its budget.
Despite being associated with the now-abandoned DCEU and the controversies surrounding lead actress Amber Heard, Aquaman 2 initially faced bleaker box office prospects than The Marvels. However, the film has defied expectations. According to Deadline, despite initial critical and commercial struggles leading up to its release, the sequel has crossed the $100 million mark domestically, with an additional $200 million from international markets, resulting in a current worldwide box office collection of over $300 million against a budget estimate of $215 million.
Although these figures fall short of Warner Bros.' expectations and the first film’s impressive billion-dollar earnings, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom has defied projections by surpassing not only The Marvels' disappointing $205.6 million at the box office, but also outperforming fellow DCEU films The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which grossed $270 million, $129 million, and $133 million, respectively. This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as Aquaman 2's box office debut was initially poorer than that of The Marvels and The Flash, with notably low Thursday preview numbers prior to its release.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has exceeded commercial expectations, despite its unfavorable reception among critics, resulting in one of the lowest Rotten Tomato scores in the DCEU. Despite the criticism, many reviews have lauded Jason Momoa's performance and his on-screen chemistry with Patrick Wilson, who portrayed Aquaman's brother Orm to widespread acclaim. Wan's ambitious directorial efforts, while not flawlessly executed, have also received recognition. The film's relative success can be attributed to the appealing lead duo and the unique elements intrinsic to an Aquaman narrative.
The Aquaman sequel was intended as the final chapter of the DCEU before the advent of James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DCU. With David Ayer relinquishing his cut of Suicide Squad, The Lost Kingdom indeed marks the conclusion of an era for Warner Bros. and DC. The film's impact on potential future additions to Gunn's new vision or its legacy of defying expectations remains to be seen.
Aquaman 2 is currently showing in theaters.
Source: Deadline