Shazam! Fury of The Gods, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 movie, hit theaters on March 17, 2023. Despite initial positive reactions from critics, the film has failed to meet expectations and is joining DC’s box office disappointments. However, Director David F. Sandberg was not surprised by this outcome, as he knew where the film was heading long ago.
While the original Shazam! The sequel picks up where the first film left off but could be better than its predecessor. It was well-liked among young adults for its humor and action; the second installment was underwhelming.
Shazam 2 Director knew the Movie Would Flop at Box Office
After a Reddit user tagged Sandberg in a thread that showed the box office numbers, he commented that he was not surprised and had known for some time that the film was not performing well.
“No worries. It’s not like this comes as a surprise. I saw where this was heading a long time ago. I’ll be alright though. I got paid all my money upfront [smiley emoji].”
Sandberg clarified on Twitter that his comment was meant to be bold and that he knew what the box office tracking looked like.
Oh no, this reply on Reddit, taken out of context, was made as a joke and is now being read all the wrong ways. I guess the smiley I added on the original comment didn’t do the trick… It was absolutely not a comment on the quality of the film which I’m very proud of. https://t.co/8Ob2U2luMR
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) March 18, 2023
Shazam! Fury of The Gods Box Office Collection
Shazam! Fury of The Gods had the worst opening in DC film history, earning only $3.4 million. The sequel is projected to collect $35 million domestically during its opening weekend, significantly less than the first film’s $53.5 million. On its opening day, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” brought in $11.7 million at the box office, including $3.4 million from Thursday previews. The critics’ response is also very septical for the movie, with only a 53% rating of 171 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Reason for Shazam! Fury of the Gods being a Flop
The movie’s poor performance did not surprise Sandberg or DC fans, but the director does not consider it a flop. He believes that there are two primary reasons why the film underperformed.
Firstly, the marketing for the sequel could have been better. Casual moviegoers who do not follow DC films were unaware that Zachary Levi’s character was getting a sequel. Sandberg emphasized that marketing is essential in creating hype among the audience, which can lead to a better opening day.
A Third movie in the Franchise?
The news of James Gunn rebooting the DC Universe secondarily overshadowed the sequel’s release. Since the doubtful sequel has put a question on Zachary Levi’s future in James Gunn’s DCU, the news of the reboot caused the sequel to be overshadowed.
If there is to be a third movie in the Franchise, star Zachary Levi said it would depend on whether audiences want it. Despite the apparent failure of the sequel, the Shazam franchise has successfully carved out its niche, in contrast to the more gravitas-heavy franchises of Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Flash.
Could The Flash, Starring Ezra Miller, revive DC Universe
The DC Universe has experienced a crisis over the years, leaving many fans to question if the series still had any chance. With the imminent premiere of The Flash, starring Ezra Miller, all of that may change. New characters will be introduced into the DC Universe in this eagerly awaited movie, and some beloved performers will return in intriguing new roles.
In The Flash’s various actors who played Batman, returning is one of its most thrilling elements. Both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck want to return as The Dark Knight in several alternate realities. This implies that viewers will be able to see two separate Batmans onscreen at the same time, which is a dream come true for many DC fans. Michael Shannon is also scheduled to appear as the evil Zod from the Superman movies further to connect the movie to the larger DC Universe.
Tom Cruise shared his thought on The Flash.
Even Hollywood legend Tom Cruise stated his enthusiasm for the upcoming DC movie Flash, which has created a lot of hype in the entertainment sector, Cruise, who had the good fortune to see it first.
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, was so moved by Cruise’s excitement that he set up a private screening of Flash for the actor. After seeing it, Cruise was highly complimentary of the film, describing it as “everything you want in a movie” and “the type of movie we need right now.”
