With James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” earning just $26.5 million in its opening three days of release at the North American box-office, arguments and plenty of hand-wringing movie site editorials are being penned debating the question of who is to blame.
The $185 million budget film scored well with critics and with online audience polls, but intriguingly it earned a B+ CinemaScore from audiences polled at cinemas. That’s the same score David Ayer’s 2016 “Suicide Squad” film earned – a movie with far worse critical reviews, but far bigger box-office. It also suggests general audiences aren’t warming as much to Gunn’s film.
Many are claiming the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19 is undermining consumer confidence – suggesting this may not be the first underwhelming opening of the next few weeks. Should we brace for another round of blockbuster delays?
Exhibitors are naturally pointing to Warners’ day-and-date strategy with HBO Max, giving people the option of safely staying at home to watch the film. There may be a little truth there as HBO Max chief Andy Forssell tells THR that the film has: “emerged as the second most-viewed film over an opening weekend on HBO Max since we began day-and-date releases with theaters.”
The number one spot in the most-viewed release in its opening weekend was likely “Mortal Kombat” back in late April which opened to $23 million. However, HBO Max won’t share actual numbers so it’s not clear.
Intriguingly Disney showed that maybe day-and-date releases aren’t always to blame this weekend as its “Jungle Cruise” film took in $15.7 million in its second weekend – a low drop of 55% from its above expectations opening last week. That’s better than some other major tentpoles of recent months, including theatrical only titles like “F9,” which have fallen off closer to 65% in their second-weekend outing.
Whatever the case, it’s expected Warners isn’t happy with the performance of “The Suicide Squad” even as they are intent on staying in business with Gunn. DC Films president Walter Hamada recently told the trade: “Gunn is always welcome back, whatever he wants to do. He really has a vision, and he’s a great partner with us. Whenever he wants to come back, we’re ready for him.”
