Superhero movies are in a real sink-or-swim moment, with the sequel to 2018’s Aquaman treading water this week.
The original film, “Aquaman,” had a successful opening weekend, nearly grossing $28 million on its first day. On Christmas Day, traditionally a slow day for the box office, it added another $22 million, making it one of the few movies to exceed $20 million on that day.
Fast forward five years and numerous superhero movies later, the sequel, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” has achieved a similar feat. As reported by Comscore, the film has earned $28 million over a three-day weekend. With Christmas falling on a Monday, projections indicate that the Jason Momoa-led sequel is expected to reach $40 million. Aquaman treading water
Internationally, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” performed well, earning $80.1 million, resulting in a global opening of $120.1 million. The film, directed by James Wan, continues the story with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Black Manta attempting to defeat Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. Notable cast members such as Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, and Amber Heard reprise their roles from the first film, which became the highest-grossing film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), grossing nearly $1.2 billion.
Despite Jason Momoa expressing uncertainty about reprising his role as Aquaman, the film’s performance at the box office suggests continued interest from audiences. However, with reported production costs of $205 million, the movie’s financial outlook is less optimistic. DC Studios is currently undergoing changes in its superhero strategy under the guidance of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
In the domestic box office, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” claimed the top spot, while “Wonka” slipped to No. 2 in its second week with earnings of $17.7 million, bringing its total to $75.2 million. The animated family film “Migration,” written by Mike White of “The White Lotus,” opened in third place with $12.3 million, expecting a four-day total of $17.1 million domestically and $34.3 million globally.