After dominating the box office for four consecutive weekends, Barbie is finally relinquishing its top spot to DC’s latest superhero film, Blue Beetle. While still impressive, Blue Beetle’s opening weekend numbers are slightly below expectations, with projected earnings of $25 million to $27 million in North America. On Friday alone, the film grossed an estimated $10 million, including $3.3 million from previews.
Despite its success in dethroning Barbie, Blue Beetle may set a record for one of the lowest openings in the DC Extended Universe, without adjusting for inflation. However, the film holds significant significance as Hollywood’s first live-action superhero movie centered around a Latino protagonist. Director Ángel Manuel Soto aims to create a breakthrough film for Latino audiences, both in terms of representation on screen and behind the camera. Xolo Maridueña stars in the titular role, alongside an impressive ensemble of Adriana Barraza, Damían Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Harvey Guillén, and Becky G.
Unfortunately, the film’s release has been somewhat hindered by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, preventing Soto’s cast from participating in a full-fledged publicity tour. Nevertheless, Blue Beetle received positive feedback from audiences, earning a B+ CinemaScore. The demographic breakdown indicates a predominantly male audience, accounting for 66% of viewers.
Meanwhile, Barbie continues to perform well, expecting to gross $20 million to $21 million in its fifth weekend in North America. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer secures the third spot with an estimated $11 million. The film, distributed by Universal, will reach a significant milestone by surpassing the $700 million mark globally, making it Nolan’s fourth-highest-grossing film to date.
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Another notable release this weekend is Universal’s raunchy canine comedy, Strays, which is projected to open with a modest $8.5 million. This places the film in a close competition with Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem for the fourth-place rank. Similarly to Blue Beetle, Strays received a B+ CinemaScore. However, it falls within a string of R-rated summer comedies that have struggled to attract audiences. The star-studded voice cast, including Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, and Josh Gad, may not have had the opportunity to fully engage in publicity plans.
In conclusion, while Blue Beetle is poised to seize the top spot at the box office, its opening weekend earnings fall slightly below expectations. However, its significance as Hollywood’s first live-action superhero film centered around a Latino protagonist is not lost. The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike has also impacted the film’s release, preventing full participation from the cast in publicity efforts. On the other hand, Barbie continues to perform well and is on track to earn another impressive figure in its fifth weekend. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer maintains a strong presence in the box office, approaching the $700 million mark globally. Furthermore, Universal’s Strays faces stiff competition from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, highlighting the challenges faced by R-rated summer comedies in attracting audiences.
