Box Office: superhero film "Blue Beetle" failed to conquer the box office - only $25 million in its debut week

"Blue Beetle" still managed to knock "Barbie" off the leader's pedestal at the domestic box office. The new superhero adventure from the DC universe took the top spot, despite an unexpectedly weak start with $25.4 million.

But on the global stage, "Blue Beetle" grossed just $18 million from 63 markets. With total collections of $43 million worldwide, it's one of the lowest starts in the history of the DC film universe.

Here's What We Know

Blue Beetle cost over $100 million to produce, with tens of millions more to promote, on this film it looks like it will have to break all box office laws to justify its cost. Reviews and discussion among audiences are unlikely to help fill the halls.

The film has a B+ rating on CinemaScore and 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. In a press release, Warner Bros. noted that Tropical Storm Hilary is having a significant impact on theatre attendance, especially in southern California, where the film has been doing well.

This is the third film from DC in 2023 that failed to launch successfully. There was "Shazam: Fury of the Gods" with $30.1 million in March and "The Flash," which grossed $55 million in June. Even 2021's "The Suicide Squad," which was released simultaneously in theatres and on HBO Max, started with a bigger total of $26.2 million. However, it's worth noting that all three films that flopped at the box office are based on more popular characters compared to Blue Beetle.

Source: Variety