While critics, including ours, have dug the frenetic, girl-power action of Birds of Prey, critical acclaim doesn’t always mean much in the hard reality of ticket sales. And for a superhero film opening in February, things don’t always go as planned.
As reported by Deadline, Birds of Prey’s opening weekend was… not great. Breaking a streak of relatively healthy successes, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn romp opened at #1 at the box office but only managed to gross $US33.2 ($50) million in the United States, with a total of $US81.2 ($122) million globally. That’s well below Warner Bros’s desired opening of $US44 ($66) million domestically.
There’s a whole myriad of factors that could go into a movie like this performing below expectations—the fact that a lot of people disliked Suicide Squad, the early February release, the fact that it’s a new franchise, etc. Lots of things can go wrong with marketing and releasing a film. What probably isn’t to blame is the fact that this is a smart, women-led film. But I have a feeling that’s what’s going to be litigated the most when a lot of folks review these numbers.
Birds of Prey is still in theatres for a while yet, and you should check it out if you’re so inclined.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2020/02/birds-of-prey-review/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Screen-Shot-2020-02-06-at-10.17.05-am-410×231.png” title=”Birds Of Prey: The Gizmodo Australia Review” excerpt=”Birds of Prey could very well have bombed. As a spin-off to the mostly awful Suicide Squad, expectations certainly weren’t high. But, defying all expectations, Birds of Prey is great. It’s fun, over-the-top, colourful and extravagant. Join Gizmodo Australia as we discuss everything we liked, and didn’t like, about the film.”]
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2020/02/birds-of-prey-is-a-colorful-explosive-comic-book-extravaganza/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/r2lpcyyuuyexvkebvzmy.png” title=”Birds Of Prey Is A Colourful, Explosive Comic Book Extravaganza” excerpt=”Birds of Prey is not a Suicide Squad sequel. It is not DC and Warner Bros.’ follow up to Joker. It’s really not even particularly a comic book superhero movie, outside of the fact that it stars comic characters. Hell, depending on your point of view, whether or not it’s a Birds of Prey movie might be an argument. But here’s the thing: What Birds of Prey is, is loud, bright, and fun as all hell.”]