Current:Home > News'Blue Beetle' rises to the challenge, ends 'Barbie's month-long reign at box office -NextFrontier Finance
'Blue Beetle' rises to the challenge, ends 'Barbie's month-long reign at box office
View
Date:2025-04-13 07:12:07
NEW YORK − The DC superhero film “Blue Beetle” led weekend ticket sales with an estimated $25.4 million, according to studio estimates, dethroning “Barbie” from the top spot after a record-setting run that left movie theaters pink for a month.
The “Barbie” phenomenon is far from over. Greta Gerwig’s film, which earlier this week became the highest-grossing Warner Bros. release ever domestically, nearly managed to stay No. 1 again with $21.5 million in its fifth weekend. Its tally in North America is up to $567.3 million.
And the other half of “Barbenheimer” also continues to perform remarkably well for a movie so far into its run. Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” took in $10.6 million in its fifth week. With a $285.2 million domestic total, “Oppenheimer” now owns the distinction of being the biggest box-office hit never to land at No. 1 at the weekend box office. The previous record-holder for that unlikely stat is 2016’s “Sing,” which grossed $270.3 million in the shadow of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Hidden Figures.”
“Oppenheimer” has done even better overseas. The global gross stands at an estimated $717.8 million through Sunday.
“Blue Beetle” came in on the lower side of already-modest expectations, notching one of the lower debuts for a DC Comics movie. Though earlier planned as a streaming-only release, the studio elected to put “Blue Beetle,” starring Xolo Maridueña as DC's first leading Latino superhero, into theaters in late summer, a typically quiet period at the box office.
The production price tag was lower for “Blue Beetle” (about $105 million) than the average superhero film. It’s the final release produced under an earlier regime at DC Studios, which James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins of last year.
'We never get this chance':'Blue Beetle' director brings DC's first Latino superhero to life
The film, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, drew solid reviews – certainly, better than the three previous DC releases this year (“The Flash,” “Black Adam” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”). “Blue Beetle” (76% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) is the rare comic-book film to put a Hispanic cast front and center.
But it also faced some tough luck, and not just the unexpected staying power of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” Southern California was bracing Sunday for Hurricane Hilary − potentially dampening ticket sales in the region. (Los Angeles was still its top market.) And like recent releases, “Blue Beetle” didn’t have its cast available to promote the movie due to the ongoing actors strike.
The raunchy R-rated canine comedy “Strays” showed even less bite. The film, with a voice cast including Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx, landed in fifth place with $8.4 million. Comedies have generally struggled in theaters in recent years, but “Strays” had it particularly rough given that its starry cast was unavailable.
Final numbers are expected Monday.
'Blue Beetle' review:Xolo Mariduena's dazzling Latino superhero brings new life to DC
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Southern California rocked by series of earthquakes: Is a bigger one brewing?
- In the Philippines, Largest Polluters Face Investigation for Climate Damage
- Coal’s Decline Sends Arch into Bankruptcy and Activists Aiming for Its Leases
- Remember that looming recession? Not happening, some economists say
- Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016
- Priyanka Chopra Shares the One Thing She Never Wants to Miss in Daughter Malti’s Daily Routine
- City in a Swamp: Houston’s Flood Problems Are Only Getting Worse
- Bow Down to These Dazzling Facts About the Crown Jewels
- Sam Taylor
- Real Housewives Star Lisa Barlow’s Mother's Day Amazon Picks Will Make Mom Feel Baby Gorgeous
Ranking
- Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
- Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes’ Latest Reunion Will Have You Saying My Oh My
- Wehrum Resigns from EPA, Leaving Climate Rule Rollbacks in His Wake
- How Queen Elizabeth’s Corgis Are Still Living Like Royalty
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- 2 teens who dated in the 1950s lost touch. They reignited their romance 63 years later.
- Apple unveils new iOS 17 features: Here's what users can expect
- Judge temporarily blocks Florida ban on trans minor care, saying gender identity is real
Recommendation
Former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder after video shows them holding down Black man
When Should I Get My Omicron Booster Shot?
SEC sues Coinbase as feds crack down on cryptocurrency companies
COVID Risk May Be Falling, But It's Still Claiming Hundreds Of Lives A Day
Small twin
Every Royally Adorable Moment of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the Coronation
Pregnant Bachelor Nation Star Becca Kufrin Reveals Sex of First Baby With Fiancé Thomas Jacobs
Trump Administration Deserts Science Advisory Boards Across Agencies