The Flash, one of DC Comics’ most iconic superheroes, has had a tumultuous journey on the big screen. The latest film installment, directed by Andres Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller, was highly anticipated by fans and critics alike. However, upon its release, it was met with mixed reviews and lackluster box office performance.

Some argue that The Flash is a box office bomb, failing to make a profit despite its digital success. Others contend that it is a brilliant film, which was simply misunderstood by audiences. Regardless of which side of the debate one falls on, it is undeniable that The Flash’s performance has been a hot topic in the entertainment industry. The film’s struggles have sparked discussions about the future of the DC Extended Universe and the superhero genre as a whole.

The Flash: A Synopsis

“The Flash” is a 2023 superhero movie based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film was directed by Andres Muschietti and stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, aka The Flash. The movie follows the story of Barry Allen, a forensic scientist who gains superhuman speed after being struck by lightning.

Main Plot

The film’s main plot revolves around Barry Allen’s quest to save his mother from being murdered by the Reverse-Flash, a villainous speedster from the future. In his attempt to change the past, Barry creates a multiverse that threatens to destroy the entire universe. With the help of his friends, including Iris West (Kiersey Clemons) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Barry must race against time to fix the damage he has caused and stop the Reverse-Flash from destroying everything he holds dear.

Key Characters

The Flash features a cast of key characters from the DC Comics universe, including:

• Barry Allen/The Flash: The main protagonist of the film, Barry Allen is a forensic scientist who gains superhuman speed after being struck by lightning. He is portrayed by Ezra Miller.

• Iris West: Barry Allen’s love interest and a journalist for Central City Picture News. She is portrayed by Kiersey Clemons.

• Cyborg: A former college athlete who is transformed into a half-man, half-machine superhero after a tragic accident. He is portrayed by Ray Fisher.

• Reverse-Flash: The main antagonist of the film, Reverse-Flash is a villainous speedster from the future who seeks to destroy everything Barry Allen holds dear. He is portrayed by Tom Cavanagh.

Overall, “The Flash” is an action-packed superhero film that brings the beloved DC Comics character to life on the big screen. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it has garnered a dedicated fan base and has found success on digital platforms.

Box Office Performance

The Flash had a disappointing box office performance, failing to make a profit despite finding success after its digital release. Let’s take a closer look at the film’s opening weekend and global earnings.

Opening Weekend

The Flash opened to a lackluster $63.9 million domestic box office, falling short of expectations. This was significantly less than other superhero films, such as Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame, which both grossed over $200 million in their opening weekends.

The film’s poor opening weekend can be attributed to a variety of factors, including competition from other films and mixed reviews from critics. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the film’s performance, as many theaters were still operating at limited capacity.

Global Earnings

Despite its disappointing opening weekend, The Flash managed to earn $210.9 million worldwide. Of this total, $87.6 million came from the US box office, while $123.3 million came from international markets.

While the film’s global earnings were higher than its domestic earnings, they still fell short of expectations. The Flash was expected to be a major box office success, but it ultimately failed to live up to these expectations.

Overall, The Flash’s box office performance was a disappointment, failing to make a profit despite finding success after its digital release. The film’s poor opening weekend and underwhelming global earnings can be attributed to a variety of factors, including competition from other films, mixed reviews, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Critical Reception

The Flash movie was met with mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the film for its action scenes and humor, others criticized it for its confusing plot and bad CGI.

Positive Reviews

Some critics enjoyed the film and praised its cast and humor. Screen Rant’s Alex Leadbeater called The Flash “fun, funny, and entertaining,” and praised Ezra Miller’s performance as Barry Allen. He also noted that the film’s humor and action scenes were highlights of the movie.

Meanwhile, The Guardian’s Ryan Gilbey praised the film’s humor and called it “a breezy and enjoyable ride.” He also praised the performances of the cast, particularly Michael Keaton as Batman.

Negative Reviews

Other critics were less enthusiastic about the film. Forbes’ Paul Tassi criticized the film’s confusing plot and bad CGI, calling it “a massive miss by DC.” He also noted that the film’s attempts to tie into the larger DC Extended Universe were confusing and unnecessary.

Similarly, The Ringer’s Miles Surrey criticized the film’s reliance on nostalgia and its bad CGI, calling it “the depressing culmination of the great IP experiment.” He also noted that the film’s attempts to introduce multiple versions of Batman were confusing and unnecessary.

Overall, the critical reception to The Flash was mixed, with some praising the film’s humor and action scenes, while others criticized its confusing plot and bad CGI.

Audience Response

The audience response to The Flash has been mixed, with some fans praising the film while others have criticized it for its flaws. Here is a breakdown of the audience response to The Flash:

Fan Reactions

Fans of The Flash were generally positive about the film, with many praising the performances of the cast, especially Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash. They also appreciated the film’s humor and action sequences. However, some fans were disappointed with the film’s portrayal of certain characters and its departure from the source material.

General Audience Feedback

The general audience feedback for The Flash was mixed. Some viewers enjoyed the film and found it to be a fun and entertaining superhero movie. Others, however, were disappointed with the film’s plot, pacing, and special effects. Many criticized the film’s reliance on CGI and its lack of character development.

Overall, while some audiences enjoyed The Flash, others were disappointed with the film’s flaws. The mixed response to the film may have contributed to its box office performance.

Comparative Analysis

Against Other DC Movies

The Flash’s box office performance has been compared to other DC movies, and it has not fared well in comparison. According to Screen Rant, The Flash’s opening weekend box office was only $55 million, compared to the projected $100 million. This puts it behind other DC movies such as Wonder Woman 1984, which made $85 million in its opening weekend, and Aquaman, which made $67 million.

The movie’s poor performance has been attributed to several factors, including franchise confusion, bad CGI, and a lack of interest in the character. Additionally, the controversy surrounding actor Ezra Miller may have contributed to the movie’s lackluster performance.

Against Other Superhero Films

When compared to other superhero films, The Flash’s box office performance is similarly lackluster. According to Digital Spy, The Flash has grossed $210.9 million worldwide after its second weekend, with $87.6 million coming from the US box office and $123.3 million from international markets. This puts it behind other superhero films such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, which made over $1 billion in its opening weekend, and even smaller films such as Shazam!, which made $53.5 million in its opening weekend.

The Flash’s poor performance may be due in part to the oversaturation of the superhero genre, as well as a lack of interest in the character. However, the movie’s success on digital platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu may indicate that it has found an audience after its disappointing box office run.

Conclusion

The Flash movie has had a mixed reception, both at the box office and among critics. While the film has found success after its digital release, it still failed to make a profit after its initial box office run. The reasons for this are varied, with some citing the film’s poor CGI, franchise confusion, and Ezra Miller’s performance as contributing factors.

Despite these criticisms, the film still has its fans. Some viewers appreciate the film’s fast-paced action and humor, while others enjoy the performances of the cast, particularly Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck. The film also offers an intriguing exploration of the multiverse, which could be further explored in future DC films.

Overall, The Flash is a film that has its strengths and weaknesses. While it may not have been the box office success that Warner Bros. was hoping for, it still has its merits and is worth a watch for fans of the superhero genre.