For all the talk of low estimates and projections, there’s simply no getting around the fact thatJustice League,Zack Snyder’s latest DC project, will take this weekend at the box office. As of last night, the blockbuster had brought in $38.8 million, accounting for Thursday-night preview screenings as well. That’s slightly more than whatWonder Womanhad brought in by the end of Friday back in June ($38.2 million) and some $29 million more than this weekend’s other major new release,Wonder, which brought in $9.6 million by the end of Friday.
This is all to say that people are seeingJustice League. Whether or not enough people will see the movie to make up for its ludicrous budget, which has yet to be released but must be north of $200 milion at the very least, is another question altogether. And if we’re being blunt here, it’s not looking great for Snyder’s film, which had to clear a number of hurdles, includingHenry Cavill’s mustache andJoss Whedoncoming in to direct reshoots and finish the picture. Estimates now haveJustice Leaguecoming in with $93 million, and if thats accurate, finding the money to make another DCU title with a similar budget will prove difficult.Wonder Womanbrought in $103 million in its opening weekend off of a budget a little lower than $150 million.Justice Leaguecost a lot more than that and is looking to come in with $10 million less. The math is not that hard on this one.
Meanwhile, Marvel is continuing to enjoy its day in the sun withTaika Waititi’sThor: Ragnarok, which is hanging tight in third place with $5.8 million. That brings the cumulative take to $231.3 million domestically, placing the sequel in seventh place aboveLoganin the top ten most lucrative movies of the year thus far. I would not expect similar fates forMurder on the Orient Express, which is at fourth with $4 million, orDaddy’s Home 2, which is in fifth with $3.9 million. And at this point,Justice Leaguewill be lucky if it places in the same area asSplitorWar for the Planet of the Apesin this year’s box office charts. It’s good company but not up to the truly ridiculous financial standards that DC and Warner Bros. have set for themselves.
Here’s your top five at the box office for Friday:
Friday Domestic BO
Total Domestic BO
1. ‘Justice League’
$38,800,000
2. ‘Wonder’
$9,650,000
3. ‘Thor: Ragnarok’
$5,801,000
$231,397,170
- ‘Murder on the Orient Express’
$4,075,000
$42,003,362
- ‘Daddy’s Home 2’
$3,930,000
$39,706,447
