Though Warner Bros.‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceundeniably had a huge opening weekend at the box office, it seems as if early estimates were slightly over-eager. Weekend estimates had the domestic tally at $170.1 million and a global total of $424.1 million. Those numbers were enough to putZack Snyder’sfilm in the top spot by far for the domestic box office race, as well as making it the biggest opening for: a DC Comics film, Snyder himself, movies opening in 2016 (beating outDeadpool), as well as the biggest openings ever for March, Spring, and Easter weekend. All of those records still stand.
However, thenew estimates, which putBatman v Superman’stake at $166.1 million domestically for an adjusted global total of $420.1 million. Still impressive. That 2.35% dollar deficit has knocked the film from the perch of Warner Bros. best opening ever; the #1 spot is still held byHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2with $169.2 million. So close.
And yet the reason for the drop in estimates from Friday and Saturday’s box office numbers to the actual report on Monday is this:Batman v Supermanhas apparently set the worst Friday-to-Sunday domestic box office drop rate for a superhero movie ever. AsForbesreports, the Stateside box office take forBvSdropped from Friday’s $82 million to Sunday’s $37 million, for a drop of 55%. For a comparison,Fantastic Fourdropped 48% over the course of its opening weekend. Even taking the Easter Sunday holiday out of the equation,Batman v Superman’sFriday-to-Saturday drop came in at 38%, second worst only toThe Dark Knight Rises'40% drop.
This opening weekend drop over the film’s first three days in theaters not only accounts for the over-estimated box office, it heralds lower-than-anticipated totals forBatman v Superman’stotal theatrical run. Negative critical reviews and already slackening box office turn-out suggest that the film will ultimately hit closer toIron Man 3’s$409 million thanMarvel’s The Avengers’$623 million. We’ve said it on previous box office write-ups:Batman v Supermanwas expected to have a massive opening weekend; the real test of its success will be told in the weeks ahead.
For more onBatman v Superman, be sure to check out some of our recent coverage provided at the links below:
