DC’s Blue Beetle Starts Slow At Box Office, But Still Knocks Barbie Off Top Spot

DC’s Blue Beetle opened in theaters on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and earned an estimated $12.3 million over the weekend, according to estimates from Warner Bros. It was enough to knock Margot Robbie’s Barbie off the top spot, but it was still a modest opening for a superhero film.

Blue Beetle is the first major studio film to feature a Latino superhero as the lead. The film stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a teenager who gains the power of a scarab that transforms him into the Blue Beetle. The film also stars Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, and Susan Sarandon.

The film was directed by Angel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. It received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the film’s representation and humor, while others criticized its pacing and action sequences.

Despite the mixed reviews, Blue Beetle was able to open ahead of expectations. The film’s opening weekend was estimated to be between $8 million and $10 million, so the $12.3 million opening is a good sign.

However, it is still a modest opening for a superhero film. The film’s budget is estimated to be around $20 million, so it will need to make more money in the coming weeks to be considered a success.

The film’s opening weekend was also affected by the release of Barbie. The Margot Robbie-led film opened in theaters on Friday, August 18, 2023, and earned an estimated $17 million over the weekend. Barbie was expected to be the clear winner of the weekend, but Blue Beetle’s strong opening put a dent in its plans.

It remains to be seen how Blue Beetle will perform in the coming weeks. The film has a good chance of finding an audience among Latino and Hispanic audiences, but it will need to appeal to a wider audience if it wants to be a success.