The box office battlefield is heating up as “Blue Beetle,” the latest addition to the DC superhero universe, prepares to take on the reigning champion “Barbie” for the top spot. Despite “Barbie” holding strong in its fifth weekend, the competition is fierce as “Blue Beetle” sets its sights on a strong $25 million to $32 million debut. With 3,850 venues, including Imax screens, the comic book adventure is geared up for a thrilling showdown.
“Barbie,” on the other hand, is expected to continue its impressive run with an anticipated $17 million to $20 million weekend haul. Greta Gerwig‘s vibrant comedy has garnered $537.4 million in North America, inching closer to becoming the year’s highest-grossing release, currently held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($574 million). With an unparalleled streak as the No. 1 movie for four consecutive weekends and surpassing “The Dark Knight” as Warner Bros.’ domestic box office leader, “Barbie” is proving to be a formidable force.
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Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, “Blue Beetle” is the third of four DC films to hit theaters in 2023. Costing $125 million, the film aims to avoid the underwhelming box office performances of its predecessors, “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” and “The Flash.” As Warner Bros.’ new leadership plans to revamp the comic book universe’s direction, “Blue Beetle” carries the responsibility of setting a positive tone.
Originally intended for HBO Max, “Blue Beetle” secured a theatrical release and tells the story of Jaime Reyes, a college graduate who becomes the symbiotic host of an ancient alien biotech relic, transforming him into the superhero Blue Beetle. The film shares its opening weekend with Universal’s R-rated comedy “Strays,” targeting a $15 million to $17 million launch.
The ongoing SAG strike has impacted the promotion of both “Blue Beetle” and “Strays,” preventing their casts from making appearances on talk shows or in the press. Despite this, anticipation for the box office showdown remains high. While “Blue Beetle” forwent a traditional Hollywood premiere due to the circumstances, the battle for box office supremacy continues to captivate audiences and industry observers alike.