“The Flash” has made history for DC after the new superhero film suffered the biggest second-weekend box office drop domestically after the movie plummeted 72.5% from its dismal opening weekend.
The movie featuring Ezra Miller earned just $15.3 million in the United States in its second weekend out after it fizzled with a $55 million opening weekend at the box office, Direct.com reported.
The nearly 73% drop by moviegoers is the worst one for a DC film in its second weekend ever, beating out the previous record set by DC’s “The Suicide Squad” of 71.5% drop during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
“The Flash’s” flop also puts it on the list for the third-worse second-weekend drop in superhero movie history at the domestic box office. “Steel” in 1997 dropped off 78% followed by “Morbius” in 2022 with 73% and now “The Flash” brings up the rear.
Box Office: Ezra Miller’s ‘The Flash’ in Trouble, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Gets Iced https://t.co/Uycfu2udT4
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 17, 2023
The latest DC superhero film had a budget of $220 million, not including marketing and other major costs, which have been estimated at roughly $65 million. It has currently made a domestic total of $87.6 million and is estimated to possibly end with a total run of $110-120 million, for a total of $210 million worldwide, the outlet noted.
“The Flash” landed in third place domestically coming in behind “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” in the top spot after it scored $19.3 million in its fourth weekend out followed by Disney Pixar’s “Elemental” in second place with $18.5 million in its second weekend.
There’s been much speculation as to what has sunk the film, with some fans blaming superhero fatigue and others on the controversy surrounding the film’s leading character Ezra Miller.
Last year, Miller made headlines after he was arrested multiple times. In August 2022, the star who identifies as “non-binary,” released a statement that he was entering a treatment facility.
“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller’s rep told Variety on the actor’s behalf.
“I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior,” the statement added. “I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”
Miller was previously arrested in Hawaii for disorderly conduct following an incident at a bar. The actor was also accused by two parents of grooming their daughter with “cult-like” behavior since she was 12 years old.