After being panned by most country critics as one of the worst DCEU films, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom debuted with one of the worst opening weekends.
The sequel – which was expected to open at $32 million to $42 million, couldn't even reach the low end of expectations with an estimated $28 million.
It is estimated that the film will gross a total of $40 million over the four-day holiday weekend, with Christmas Day falling on Monday.
Still, it's considered one of the worst openings in DCEU history, with only The Suicide Squad ($26.2 million) and Blue Beetle ($25 million) and Wonder Woman 1984 ($16.4 million) debuting lower.
This film also marks the end of the DC Extended Universe, with James Gunn and Peter Safran's new regime beginning in 2025 with Superman: Legacy.
After being panned by most country critics as one of the worst DCEU films, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom debuted with one of the worst opening weekends.
The sequel – which was expected to open at $32 million to $42 million, couldn't even reach the low end of projections, with an estimated $28 million.
Aquaman 2 opened in 3,706 theaters and grossed a decent average of $7,582 per screen during its opening weekend.
The sequel pales in comparison to its predecessor, with 2018's Aquaman debuting to $67.8 million.
The film would gross $335.1 million domestic and $1.152 billion worldwide, the only DCEU film to cross the $1 billion mark.
With such a soft opening and a budget reportedly over $200 million, the film is likely heading for a colossal flop.
It fared better in foreign markets, raising another $80 million for a $120 million worldwide debut.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ultimately dethroned last weekend's winner, Wonka, who fell to second place with 54.6% with $17.7 million.
Aquaman managed to fend off a slew of newcomers at the box office in one of the last weekends of the year.
Universal's animated comedy Migration debuted with $12.3 million from 3,761 theaters for a per-screen average of $3,273.
Aquaman 2 opened in 3,706 theaters and grossed a decent average of $7,582 per screen during its opening weekend
The Sony rom-com Everyone But You debuted in fourth place with just $6.2 million from 3,055 theaters and for a paltry Averages $2,040 per screen, with Salaar ($5.4 million, 802 theaters, $6,834 average per screen) rounding out the 5th.
Rounding out the top 10 is The Iron Claw ($5 million, 2,774 theaters, average $1,824 per screen), The Boy and the Heron ($3.1 million, 1,580 theaters, $1,996 per screen average), The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes ($3.1 million, 2,509 theaters, average $1,255 per screen), Godzilla Minus One ($2.7 million, 1,965 theaters, $1,394 average per screen) and Poor Things ($2.1 million, 800 theaters, average $2,637 per screen).
While the weekend is over, Christmas Day brings three new films to theaters: the musical The Color Purple, Ferrari and The Color Purple.
As the year draws to a close, Barbie has easily become the highest-grossing film of 2023 with $636.2 million at the domestic boc occoe.