Warner Bros. is facing a major setback this weekend as its latest release, the DCEU flickBirds of Prey, has failed to make an impression at the box office. Well, technically it’s making an impression, but it’s not the one the studio was likely hoping for. TheCathy Yan-directed film, based on the characters in the DC ComicsBirds of Preyfranchise, starsMargot Robbie,Mary Elizabeth Winstead,Jurnee Smollett-Bell,Rosie Perez,Ella Jay Basco,Ewan McGregor, andChris Messina. All the star power plus Robbie’s return as the charming hellion Harley Quinn should have gotten folks to hustle into theaters, right?
Not so much. According to early Saturday morning reports on Friday’s box office results,Birds of Preyonly managed $13 million domestic, which includes the $4 million earned during Thursday night previews.Birds of Preyaveraged $3,075 per theater and opened on 4,236 screens nationwide. Overseas, the film opened in some major European, Central/South America, and Asian markets.Birds of Preyopened to number one in its top five markets, which include Russia ($1.6M), the U.K. ($1.2M), Mexico ($1.2M), Brazil ($1.1M), and Australia ($991K). All told,Birds of Preyearned $7.5 million internationally since opening midweek, bringing its global total to $20.5 million as it heads into the weekend. Expectations on the female-led DCEU pic’s earnings will likely be adjusted as we brace for a $35 million opening rather than the hoped-for $45-50 million opening weekend we thought would happen earlier in the week.
Post-opening, it’s still unclear whyBirds of Preyis taking such a big hit at the box office. The film scored plenty ofpraise from critics and audiencesalike. Critically, the film earned a B+ CinemaScore and an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews for the film have given a thumbs-up to the bright, zany, energetic aesthetics and pace of the picture and applauded the cast’s performances. There have been some notes in reviews on inconsistencies in screenwriterChristina Hodson’s script, with the plot’s focus occasionally wandering to and fro but not so much that it’s a life-ending detriment to the movie. In hisreview ofBirds of Prey, Collider’s ownMatt GoldbergnotedBirds of Prey"plays like a film that’s struggling to have a clear idea of what it wants to be" while also commenting that “Robbie’s Quinn remains outstanding and one of the finest realizations of a comic book character.”
As for the rest of Friday’s top five movies at the box office, it’s nothing but the usual suspects.Bad Boys For Lifecomes in at number two with $3 million domestic on its third Friday. The thirdBad Boysfilm dropped 42% from last week. The drop shows in its per theater average of $858 from 3,530 screens nationwide. Number three pic1917earned $2.3 million for Universal on Friday, bringing its domestic total up to $126 million.1917dipped a tiny 17% from last week, making its number three spot well-deserved. At number four is fellow Universal releaseDolittle, which dropped 25% and earned $1.5 million on Friday. To date, theRobert Downey Jr.flick has earned $59 million. Finally, going strong at number five isJumanji: The Next Level. The Sony Pictures feature has been in theaters since December 13 and shows no signs of losing it’s high-ranking slot with $1.2 million earned on Friday — a mere 18% dip from last week. To date, theJumanjisequel has earned $294 million domestic and has a global total of $757 million.
For more, check out our interviews withtheBirds of Preycastanddirector Cathy Yan. Plus, read up on our explainer on theBirds of Preycredits scene.
Birds of Prey
$13,025,000
Bad Boys For Life
$3,030,000
$157,352,207
$2,320,000
$125,862,909
$1,470,000
$58,769,985
Jumanji: The Next Level
$1,240,000
$294,170,411