Despite high expectations, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” failed to make a significant splash in Hollywood’s Christmas box office. The comic book sequel headlined by Jason Momoa as Atlantis’s King, directed by James Wan, fell slightly short of projections, raking in $27.7 million over the traditional weekend and a lackluster $40 million across the four-day holiday frame. With a substantial production cost of $205 million, “Aquaman 2” appears to follow suit in a string of underperforming tentpole films from Warner Bros. and DC, trailing behind “The Flash” ($55 million debut), “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” ($30 million debut), and “Blue Beetle” ($25 million debut) earlier this year.
Despite its underwhelming performance, “Aquaman 2” managed to secure the top spot over several new contenders, including Universal and Illumination’s animated family film “Migration,” the romantic comedy “Anyone but You” featuring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, and A24’s sports biopic “The Iron Claw,” starring Zac Efron. Additionally, three other releases, namely Warner’s musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Neon’s racing drama “Ferrari,” and George Clooney’s directorial effort “The Boys in the Boat,” made their debut on Christmas Day, with opening day box office figures yet to be disclosed by the respective studios.
Despite the optimistic outlook from movie theater owners about the influx of new releases, the holiday season has lacked a standout hit or a potential blockbuster on the horizon.
Chris Randleman, the chief revenue officer of the Flix Brewhouse chain in Texas, emphasized the importance of film volume, anticipating a robust start to 2024 despite the modest December releases. He highlighted the trend where movies released in December tend to gain traction and endure into the following year.
“Aquaman 2,” unlike its predecessor that surged after a lukewarm start in 2018, faces a challenging landscape for superhero movies. The film’s international performance has been lackluster, notably in China, a once-prominent market for superhero blockbusters, contributing to a global tally of $120 million alongside negative reviews and average audience scores. Furthermore, the sequel grapples with its position as the final installment preceding a reset of the DC Extended Universe under the helm of new executives, James Gunn and Peter Safran.
In the box office rankings, Warner Bros.’ fantasy musical “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka, claimed the second spot, accumulating $18 million over the weekend from 4,213 locations and a total of $28 million through Monday. The prequel has grossed $85.5 million domestically and an impressive $254.9 million worldwide so far.
“Migration” secured third place with $12.4 million from 3,708 theaters during the weekend and a total of $17.5 million through Monday. The family-friendly film with a voice cast including Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, and Awkwafina, aims to follow the success trajectory of recent family movies like “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and Pixar’s “Elemental,” backed by positive reviews and audience reception.
Sony’s R-rated “Anyone but You” debuted in fourth place, collecting $5.8 million from 3,055 theaters over the weekend and $8 million through Monday, falling short of expectations despite its $25 million budget.
Meanwhile, “The Iron Claw” secured the sixth position, garnering $4.8 million from 2,774 venues and a total of $7.5 million through Monday. The film, recounting the tragic tale of the Von Erich family, professional wrestlers besieged by a series of misfortunes, had a budget of $15 million.
Overall, despite the anticipation and holiday season’s fervor, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” presented a lukewarm performance, signaling a challenging landscape for superhero films amidst changing audience preferences and global market dynamics.
