411 Box Office Report: Shazam: Fury Of the Gods Disappoints At #1 With $30 Million

Shazam: Fury Of the Gods took the top spot at the box office this weekend, albeit with less-than-ideal numbers. The DC sequel opened at the top spot with $30.5 million. That’s below the $35 million to $40 million that it was expected to bring in coming into the weekend, and well below the $53.5 million start of the first Shazam back in April of 2019.

The start is definitely a disappointment for Warner Bros. and DC, though not a particularly surprising one. The film had been tracking lower than most major superhero films for a while, and buzz was never particularly high for it. With James Gunn taking over and reshaping the DC Universe moving ahead, Fury Of The Gods was unable (fair or not) to shake the lame duck stigma around it, and a mild critical reaction didn’t help. The film has a 53% aggregated score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the RT audience rating (87%) and CinemaScore (B+) are on par with last year’s Black Adam.

Shazam is also suffering overseas, where it grossed just $35 million which is also below expectations. That gives it a $65.5 million worldwide start, not good against a $125 million budget. Fury of the Gods will have the benefit of perhaps some more repeat business due to being more of a family-targeted film, but it’s going to need to stretch to cross $100 million domestically. It’s likely that Warner Bros. Discovery is losing money on this one.

Scream VI took an expected fall in its second weekend, down 61% to $17.5 million. The slasher sequel’s larger drop is likely due in part to its overperformance last weekend, indicating that more people came out to see it in the first weekend rather than wait for the second. That number is just slightly higher than 2022 Scream’s 59% drop.

Even with a somewhat heftier fall, Scream VI is in very good shape. To date the film has $76 million domestically and $116 million worldwide, just a stone’s throw away from the fifth film’s $81.6 million domestic total. The film is targeting an easy $100-million plus and is likely to become the all-time domestic high point for Scream. It’s a big hit against a $35 million budget.

Creed III was down 44% in its third weekend to take in $15.4 million. The Michael B. Jordan-directed threequel is now up to $127.8 million domestically and $224.3 million worldwide, putting it in an easy profit margin against a $75 million production budget plus marketing. It has now become the highest-grossing film of the Creed trilogy and is a hair behind Rocky IV’s $127.9 domestic gross, which it will obviously pass by Monday. It should be able to hit $150 million with ease, and could still get as high as $165 million domestically.

The Adam Driver-starring 65 followed its low opening weekend with an inadvisable drop. The sci-fi action film slipped 53% in its sophomore frame to gross $5.8 million. That may not sound too bad, but 65 was already in financial trouble considering it had a $45 million budget that it will struggle to match in grosses, much less make back. The film is now at $22.4 million total and $38.8 million worldwide, with a likely $35 million to $40 million domestic total.

Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania was down a solid 43% in its fifth weekend with $4.1 million. The MCU Phase Five film has totaled to $205.8 million domestically and $462.6 million worldwide and will be profitable for Marvel and Disney, though still not as high as they hoped by any means. A $220 million domestic total is the likely endgame.

Cocaine Bear was down 38% in its fourth weekend to $3.9 million, good numbers for a film that arrived on digital last week. The action comedy has now grossed $58.5 million domestically and $75 million worldwide, a profitable venture for Universal against a $30 million budget. The film is on course for about $65 million by the end of its stateside run.

Jesus Revolution continues to bring in fans, down a great 32% in its fourth weekend with $3.5 million. The faith-based drama has now grossed $45.5 million against a $15 million budget, and should end its run around $50 million domestically.

Champions is having an okay run after opening quietly last weekend. The Woody Harrelson-led sports comedy was down 41% in its second weekend to $3 million, bringing its totals to $10.6 million domestically and $12.1 million worldwide. There is still no word on its budget, but it should end its run in the US at around $15 million.

Avatar: The Way Of Water’s was down 27% in its 14th weekend with $1.9 million. The sci-fi blockbuster is up to $678.1 million domestically and $2.303 billion worldwide. It is of course a massive hit, and should close out around $684 million domestically.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish held onto its spot in the top 10 again, down just 14% in its 13th weekend with $1.5 million. The animated sequel has now grossed $182.6 million domestically and $470.5 million worldwide, a huge hit against a $90 million budget. It will likely top $188 million by the end of its run.

Next weekend will see another new #1 as John Wick: Chapter 4 explodes into theaters with a likely $60 million to $70 million start.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Shazam: Fury Of The Gods – $30.5 million ($30.5 million total, $65.5 million WW)
2. Scream VI – $17.5 million ($76 million total, $116 million WW)
3. Creed III – $15.4 million ($127.8 million total, $224.3 million WW)
4. 65 – $5.8 million ($22.4 million total, $38.8 million WW)
5. Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania – $4.1 million ($205.8 million total, $462.6 million WW)
6. Cocaine Bear – $3.9 million ($58.5 million total, $75 million WW)
7. Jesus Revolution – $3.5 million ($45.5 million total, $45.5 million WW)
8. Champions – $3 million total ($10.6 million total, $12.1 million WW)
9. Avatar: The Way Of Water – $1.9 million ($678.1 million total, $2.303 billion WW)
10. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – $1.5 million ($182.6 million total, $470.5 million WW)