The Decline of Aquaman’s Sequel at the Box Office
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” the anticipated sequel to the DCEU’s highest-grossing film, “Aquaman,” has faced a significant underperformance at the box office. Despite initial high expectations, the sequel has not matched the original film’s success, marking a trend of box-office disappointments in the DCEU, including “Blue Beetle,” “The Flash,” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.”
Comparisons to the Original and Other DCEU Films
In its opening weekend, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” earned significantly less than its predecessor, hinting at a waning interest in the DCEU franchise. The film’s underwhelming performance mirrors the broader decline of the DCEU, with only two films since “Aquaman” grossing over $300 million worldwide.
The Bigger Picture: DCEU’s Commercial Struggles
The DCEU’s commercial struggles are starkly highlighted when compared to the success of the MCU. With declining box office returns and negative reviews, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” embodies the DCEU’s overall failure, marking a potential end to the franchise that began with “Man of Steel.”
| FILM | Domestic Box Office | Opening Weekend |
| Wonder Woman | $412,563,408 | $103,251,471 |
| Aquaman | $335,061,807 | $67,873,522 |
| Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | $330,360,194 | $166,007,347 |
| Suicide Squad | $325,100,054 | $133,682,248 |
| Man of Steel | $291,045,518 | $116,619,362 |
| Justice League | $229,024,295 | $93,842,239 |
| Black Adam | $168,152,111 | $67,004,323 |
| Shazam! | $140,371,656 | $53,505,326 |
| The Flash | $108,133,313 | $55,043,679 |
| Birds of Prey | $84,158,461 | $33,010,017 |
| Blue Beetle | $72,488,072 | $25,030,225 |
| Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | $58,345,000 | $27,700,000 |
| Shazam! Fury of the Gods | $57,638,006 | $30,111,158 |
| The Suicide Squad (Max Release) | $55,817,425 | $26,205,415 |
The decline of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” at the box office symbolizes the broader challenges faced by the DCEU, marking a turning point for the franchise amidst a changing superhero cinema landscape.
