‘Shazam! wrath of the gods
Warner Bros. / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
DC and New Line Cinema’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a despised superhero image.
The film opened domestically at a dismal $30.5 million in 4,071 theaters, well short of the $53.5 million the first Shazam opened domestically! in 2019, not adjusted for inflation.
This is one of the worst starts for a major Hollywood superhero film, as well as one of the worst for a title in the DC Cinematic Universe, including those released during the pandemic. Fury of the Gods cost at least $110 million to produce prior to commercialization.
The news was just as bad overseas, where Fury of the Gods opened for just $35 million from 78 markets – including the $4.4 million bombing in China – for a $65.5 million global launch -Dollar.
In North America, Prerelease tracking Shazam! Fury of the Gods would start this weekend with at least $35 million. Others believed it had a shot at $40 million.
Shazam 2’s critic rating at Rotten Tomatoes is a whopping 54 percent. Compared to 90 percent for the 2019 film. The sequel also received a more subdued B+ CinemaScore, compared to an A for the first.
Families – which played a key role in the surprise hit of the first film – remains a challenging theatrical demo in the pandemic era. Parents and kids also came out for the sequel.
Fury of the Gods is the 12th installment in the DC Extended Universe and the first to be released since Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav tapped into James Gunn and Shazam! Franchise producer Peter Safran takes charge of DC Studios and carries out a complete overhaul.
Fury of the Gods also comes as the future of DC characters and actors is at stake ahead of Gunn and Safran’s takeover. Superman actor Henry Cavill, for example, will not be returning. Speaking about his future at Tuesday’s Hollywood premiere, Levi told , “I’m very happy with this film. … I hope it won’t be my last.”
David F. Sandberg directed Shazam! Fury of the Gods from a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan. Asher Angel and Zachary Levi return as Billy Bastson aka Shazam. Also starring are Djimon Hounson, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and, in her first film since her breakthrough role in Spielberg’s West Side Story, Rachel Zegler.
The other big new release of the weekend was Roadside Attractions’ Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s Moving On, which debuted on 791 screens with around $2 million. The comedy focused on older adults who, like families, are a challenged demo. Moving On came in 12th.
Back in the top 10, Scream VI grossed $17.5 million from 3,675 theaters for a total of $76 million. The slasher image fell 61 percent. Overseas, it earned an additional $11.3 million from 53 markets for an overseas total of $40 million – a fine feat for a horror picture – and $116 million worldwide on a budget of $33 million.
Creed III also remained a notable contender, earning $15.3 million in its third appearance from 3,477 locations for domestic sales of $127.6 million. The image of Michael B. Jordan added US$12 million internationally from 75 markets, generating US$96.6 million in overseas sales and US$224.3 million worldwide.
On the Specialty Box Office, Focus Features’ Willem Defoe heist thriller Inside came in at number 14, grossing $470,000 from 375 locations.
March 19, 7:45 am: Updated with revised estimates.