Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has emerged as the surprise box office winner, surpassing Pixar’s Elemental in its fourth weekend of release. The Sony film raked in an estimated $19.3 million, pushing its domestic total over $300 million to reach $317.1 million. This unexpected success showcases the enduring popularity of the Spider-Man franchise.
On the other hand, Elemental still managed to hold its ground in its second weekend, earning $18.5 million, only a 39 percent drop from its debut. This strong hold indicates that the film’s negative initial reception has been overshadowed by positive word-of-mouth. With a total of $65.5 million domestically after 10 days, Elemental is slowly gaining traction.
In contrast, DC and Warner Bros.’ much-anticipated superhero film, The Flash, faced disappointment as its box office numbers plummeted by 72 percent. The movie only managed to collect $15.3 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to $87.6 million. Exit scores for The Flash were also poor, implying that audience reception did not align with the studio’s expectations. The film’s star, Ezra Miller, faced personal issues and was unable to participate in promotional activities. The Flash is now considered a major misstep for Warner Bros.
The underwhelming performances of The Flash and Elemental have had a significant impact on overall summer revenue. Compared to the previous year, this weekend’s box office revenue fell by 20 percent, and it’s even 47 percent lower than in 2019. This decline is particularly evident when no film managed to surpass $20 million during a prime June weekend.
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Interestingly, The Flash narrowly edged out the new entry, No Hard Feelings, a comedy starring Jennifer Lawrence. No Hard Feelings exceeded expectations, earning an estimated $15.1 million. While this result bodes well for the upcoming lineup of raunchy, R-rated comedies this summer, it also demonstrates the decreased popularity of the genre compared to its past successes. The film revolves around Lawrence’s character being hired by the parents of an awkward teen to boost his confidence through dating.
There could be some changes in the rankings once the final weekend earnings are tallied. In terms of surprising performances, Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City also outperformed expectations as it expanded its release nationwide. The film, distributed by Focus Features, secured the sixth position with an estimated $9 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to $10.2 million. This box office achievement sets a new record for Anderson, providing a boost to the specialty market.
In conclusion, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’s success and Elemental’s strong hold signify the enduring popularity of these franchises. However, The Flash’s disappointing performance and poor reception highlight the challenges faced by even highly anticipated superhero films. The decline in overall summer revenue compared to previous years indicates that the industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic. Nevertheless, unexpected successes such as No Hard Feelings and Asteroid City offer glimpses of hope for the film industry’s future.
