Summary
TheAquaman 2digital release date is coming sooner than expected. However, the announcement comes after the Jason Momoa film’s underwhelming box office run, which failed to reach the heights of the first movie.
The originalAquamancrushed it at the box office, earning over a billion dollars worldwide, partly due to overseas success in countries like China.The Lost Kingdom, which brought back stars like Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman, was unfortunately met with negative reviews from critics and underwhelming box office numbers.WhileAquaman 2was relatively successfulcompared to other recent DC releases likeBlue BeetleandShazam! Fury of the Gods, the sequel failed to reach even half of the first film’s earnings.
A recent announcement byDC Film Newson X revealed that theAquaman 2digital release is set for January 23rd, much sooner than initially expected. Some fans expressed excitement in the comments, while others questioned the rush. One commenter stated, “I’ve never seen a studio hate its own movie THIS much.” Another explained, “A new fail for [Warner Brothers and DC Studios] not as catastrophic as the flash, shazam 2 or [Blue Beetle] but still a flop.” WhileAquaman 2outperformed other DC flops and technically made back its budget, it’s still difficult to consider it a success in superhero movie terms, especially compared to theserecord-shattering MCU movies.
To some, the news of an earlyAquaman 2digital release may be a pleasant surprise, but for those familiar with the industry, an early digital release is never a good sign. For these blockbuster superhero movies, the objective is often to stay in theaters for as long as possible and earn the majority of revenue at the box office. However, if a film underperforms in ticket sales, a studio may move it to streaming faster to give it more chances to recoup costs and turn a decent profit. For example, following its disastrous box office bomb earlier last year,Blue Beetlefinally scored a win on streamingwhen it debuted at the top spot on U.S. streaming charts.
Flop or not,Aquaman and the Lost Kingdommarks the end of an era for DC as the final film in the bygone DCEU before the kickoff ofJames Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU. How Gunn’s new cinematic universe will combat the widespread superhero fatigue among audiences remains to be seen.
Aquaman 2will bereleased on VOD and digital platforms on January 23rd, 2024.
DC
DC is a brand of superhero comics, television shows, movies, video games, merchandise, and more. The company owns the rights to popular characters like Batman, The Suicide Squad, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and many more.
