The Suicide Squad which was released in theaters on the 6th of August, has failed to meet projections, doing shockingly disappointing numbers in its opening weekend.
The action flick starring Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, John Cena, Viola Davis, Sylvester Stallone, and directed by James Gunn, trended top 10 all weekend alongside Jungle Cruise, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Black Widow to name a few, and was pegged to open at $30m (which is a quite conservative figure, considering)—this modest figure was attributed to low pre-ticket sales. Despite this, the industry was caught by surprise when the flick opened at $26.5 million in North American theaters against a $185 million budget.
These numbers are particularly disappointing when placed side by side with Ayer’s 2016 film, which made $133.7 million in its first 3 days. Obviously, there is a number of reasons for this gap, the top of the list being Covid-19 and all its variants. Recently, The Hollywood Reporter reported that with the rise in the Delta Variant of Covid-19 cases, the percentage of Americans who say they are willing to return to cinemas has tumbled 11 points within a month.
A number of other reasons have been attributed to the film’s performance, such as its availability via streaming— the film is available for streaming online on HBO Max. This is a huge contributing factor to the film’s weak performance at the box office, as most DCEU fans will simply watch the film from the comfort of their homes. It is however, unclear how the film is performing digitally, as Warner Brothers is yet to release the numbers.
Audiences have also criticized the film’s cast. There is an obvious lack of star power in a sense. It is no news that Will Smith was instrumental to the success of its predecessor and the effect of his absence in this film is evident in its numbers. Margot Robbie has not had the greatest luck with directors as far as the character of Harley Quinn goes, which is probably why audiences are not particularly itching to see her. Paired with Idris Elba (and yes, John Cena) it can be said that the cast does not quite carry enough bankability weight. Also, no Batman.
James Gunn has also drawn criticism, with his creative direction being called to question, as Warner Brothers are said to have allowed him a lot of (maybe too much) freedom. Gunn, as he said himself, pretty much called all the shots. Apart from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 which is set for a 2023 release, there are whispers that Gunn may not be seeing any big-budget movies anytime soon.
On the bright side, The Suicide Squad is one of the highest R-rated film openings in a pandemic, up there with The Conjuring 3, Mortal Kombat, Cruella, and more. The film has grossed over $72 million globally, as the world continues to battle with COVID-19.
In spite of The Suicide Squad’s disappointing numbers, high praises abound. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 92% certifying it “fresh”. It has been described on the site as “colorful, yet somber; hilarious, yet profound; violent, yet tender…”
Brian Tallecito of RogerEbert.com has described the film as “…a very well-calibrated action comedy, alternating humorous beats with bursts of intense violence.”
In David Sims’ (The Atlantic) words, it is “…very funny, bleakly self-aware, and shockingly violent—a refreshing mix of familiar conventions and gory satire.”
David Ehrlich of Indiewire says it is “the least depressing superhero movie in a long time”. That is a compliment…right?
Times like this remind us of some of our favorite and critically acclaimed films, which underperformed at the box office. Here are a few:
Shawshank Redemption (1994):
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Directed by Frank Darabont, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Shawshank Redemption bombed at the box office making $28.3 million domestically against a $25 million budget. The film was met with critical acclaim and is said to be one of the best films of all time, earning 7 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
“If you don’t love Shawshank, chances are you’re beyond redemption.”— Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine
Donnie Darko (2001):
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Directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the sci-fi thriller tanked at the box office making $1.5 million domestically, against its $4.5 million budget. The film was released six weeks after the September 11 attacks and its trailer featured an accident involving an aircraft, which affected its chances of box office success. It was, however, critically acclaimed. Allan Morrison of Empire described the film as “…a mini-masterpiece that marks the arrival of brave new talents in Gyllenhaal and Kelly”
Children of Men (2006):
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Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starring Julianne Moore, Clive Owen and Michael Caine, Children of Men was a box office failure, making $70 million against its $76 million budget. The film was very well received by critics. As Dana Stevens of Slate put it, “the herald of another blessed event: the arrival of a great director by the name of Alfonso Cuarón”. The film was nominated for 3 Academy Awards and won 2 BAFTAs.