Aquaman 2 has defied expectations at the box office, proving skeptics wrong in a significant way, especially after the DCEU’s recent movie had a shaky holiday debut.
Contrary to predictions, Aquaman 2’s box office performance has exceeded expectations, surpassing even some seemingly invincible recent superhero projects. James Wan’s second underwater adventure with Jason Momoa at the helm has outperformed initial estimates, showcasing resilience in a superhero movie landscape that underwent significant changes since the success of the first film.
Amidst a challenging year for the superhero genre in 2023, with both Marvel Studios and DC Studios facing disappointing results from major projects, Aquaman 2 was initially poised to fall short. The Marvels, in particular, garnered the unfortunate title of the biggest Marvel box office flop, considered by many as a low point in the genre, considering its budget.
Compounded by its association with the now-abandoned DCEU and the controversy surrounding Amber Heard, a prominent star in Aquaman, the sequel faced bleak box office projections, even worse than The Marvels. However, the film’s trajectory has taken a more positive turn. According to Deadline, despite facing early challenges both critically and commercially leading up to its premiere, the sequel has surpassed the $100 million mark domestically. Additionally, it has garnered over $200 million in international markets, resulting in a current worldwide box office total exceeding $300 million and counting, all against a generous budget estimate of $215 million.
Aquaman 2 Small Box Office Victory
While Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’s box office performance falls short of Warner Bros.’ ideal and significantly lags behind the first film’s impressive billion-dollar earnings, the sequel has defied projections. Surpassing not only The Marvels’ disappointing $205.6 million box office revenue but also outperforming fellow DCEU films The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which amassed $270 million, $129 million, and $133 million, respectively, Aquaman 2 has showcased unexpected success. This achievement is noteworthy, especially considering the sequel’s box office debut was less favorable than The Marvels and The Flash, marked by discouragingly low Thursday preview numbers leading up to its release.
Commercially, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom have outperformed initial expectations. However, this success is not reflected in critical acclaim, as the film has received negative reviews across the board, earning one of the lowest Rotten Tomato scores in the DCEU. Despite the unfavorable reviews, many critics praised Jason Momoa’s performance and his on-screen chemistry with Patrick Wilson, who portrayed Aquaman’s brother Orm. Additionally, director James Wan’s ambitious efforts were acknowledged, even if not fully realized in execution. The film’s relative success can be attributed to the enjoyable lead duo, along with the unique elements inherent in an Aquaman storyline, providing a plausible explanation for its resilience despite noted challenges and shortcomings.
Intended as the concluding chapter of the DCEU before the emergence of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCU, and with David Ayer seemingly relinquishing control of his cut of Suicide Squad, The Lost Kingdom marks the end of an era for Warner Bros. and DC. Whether the film’s merits will influence a potential inclusion in Gunn’s new order or be remembered for surpassing expectations remains uncertain.
Suggested Read: Director Addresses Amber Heard Aquaman 2 Role Controversy
