Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the sequel to 2019’s Shazam!, has faced a tough battle at the box office. Unlike other DC movies like Aquaman and Batman, the superhero isn’t a household name and has a different automatic draw for viewership.
Despite making $70 million worldwide, the film is considered a commercial disappointment, with an opening weekend of only $30.5 million in North America, making it the worst opening for a DC movie apart from those directly affected by the pandemic. With a reported budget of $125 million, the film must earn at least $312.5 million to break even, a goal that has yet to be achieved.
With the disappointing box office performance, the film’s producers have decided to release the movie on digital platforms sooner than expected. Warner Bros. and HBO Max released all of their 2021 movies day-and-date in theaters and on the streamer, and this strategy has continued with the merger with Discovery. Black Adam, DC’s final 2022 film, began streaming on HBO Max 56 days after its theatrical release.
Shazam 2 to be Released on HBO Max after Worst DC Box Office Opening
Given the poor box-office performance of Shazam! Fury of the Gods will be available for digital purchase from April 18, just 32 days after its theatrical release. A release date for HBO Max has yet to be set, but it is predicted to be available for streaming in May 2023.
Suppose Warner Bros. Discovery follows a similar timeline to The Batman, which was available on HBO Max 45 days after its theatrical release; the quick turnaround would be a wise decision for the company, especially given the competition in theaters.
