Optimism is growing around Warner Bros./DC’s “Black Adam,”Dwayne Johnson’s first film as a superhero. Rival distributors and analysts tell that the first round of box office tracking has the blockbuster earning an opening weekend of over $70 million, which would be the highest opening weekend the industry has seen since Disney/Marvel’s “Thor: Love and Thunder”Three months ago
Johnson has been viewed for many years as one the few movie stars that can drive box office results on his own. “Black Adam” is new territory for him, placing him in the lead role of a film that’s part of one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. If it meets or exceeds tracking “Black Adam”Johnson would have a new career-record in a leadership role.
Warner Bros. has yet to release projections, according to a rep. “Black Adam,”This story received no comments.
So far, Johnson’s Top 3 Opening WeekendsAs part of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, where he co-starred as former secret agent Luke Hobbs opposite the series’ longtime main star, Vin Diesel. His debut blockbuster is fourth on his career-list. “The Mummy Returns,” where he played the film’s villain, The Scorpion King, opposite Brendan Fraser as it earned a $68 million opening in 2001.
Johnson is the top-billed actor in most films, but Johnson’s biggest opening belongs to “Hobbs & Shaw,”A “Fast & Furious”Spinoff focusing on Luke Hobbs, and his new partnership in former “F&F”Jason Statham plays Deckard Shaw the villain “Hobbs & Shaw”Openings reached $60 million in August 2019, and the country raked in just under $174 millions domestically and $760.3 million globally.
“Black Adam”It will be difficult to match the global total. “Hobbs & Shaw” without a release in China, but rival distributors tell that they are optimistic that Johnson’s DC debut can top $200 million in North America. The film has only three weeks to go before its release. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” on November 11, there’s confidence that the film could perform similar to last year’s “Venom: There Will Be Carnage”If strong word-of mouth is strong, it will cost $80 million to open the company and $213.5 million domestically.
The success of “Black Adam”Warner Bros. and movie theatres would both be relieved, as they have enjoyed a lot in recent months. Due to the lack of big releases in the summer, September’s box office totals dropped to $319million, the lowest figure since 1997.
Warner, on the other hand, has had to deal with PR nightmares when it comes DC. Warner faced fan outrage when it announced that it was cancelling release of HBO Max. “Batgirl.”Outside the backlot “The Flash”Ezra Miller, the star of the film, has been arrested for violent and erratic behavior. Warner decided not to cast Miller in the movie as they are currently in therapy. “complex mental health issues.”
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has promised in investor calls that he will implement a 10-year plan for DC after restructuring of the studio is complete, but as ’s Umberto Gonzalez reported, Zaslav is struggling to find a new head for DC Films to replace the outgoing Walter Hamada. Warner had been in talks to Dan Lin about the role. However, talks ended.