LOS ANGELES: “Blue Beetle,” the latest superhero film to feature a live-action Latino protagonist, made waves in North American theaters over the weekend, securing the top spot at the box office and temporarily dethroning the reigning “Barbie” franchise.
While the DC Studios/Warner Bros. production’s estimated earnings of $25.4 million marked a notable achievement, it also held the distinction of being “the lowest DC superhero debut of this era” except for the 2021 release “Wonder Woman 1984,” according to industry source Exhibitor Relations.
“Blue Beetle” introduces 22-year-old American actor Xolo Mariduena, of mixed Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadoran heritage, in the lead role. The film follows a fresh college graduate who becomes host to the enigmatic Scarab, an entity that bestows upon him superhuman abilities.
“Blue Beetle” Garners Positive Reviews
Despite a debut weekend that saw ticket sales around a third of the average for new superhero movies, “Blue Beetle” has garnered positive reviews, generating optimism for its international performance. Analyst David A. Gross noted that the film’s overseas prospects appear promising.
Meanwhile, “Barbie,” in its fifth week since release, accrued $21.5 million in ticket sales. The Warner Bros. fantasy-comedy maintained its strong presence at the box office, with Variety reporting the film’s cumulative global earnings reaching a remarkable $1.27 billion.
Claiming the third spot was Universal’s “Oppenheimer,” which raked in $10.6 million during its fifth week. The historical drama, centered on the origins of the first atomic bomb, has now crossed the $700 million mark in worldwide earnings.
In fourth place was Paramount’s animated feature “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” grossing $8.4 million. The film boasts a notable voice cast, including Maya Rudolph, Ayo Edebiri, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, and Paul Rudd.
Rounding off the top five was Universal’s latest comedy “Strays,” which brought in $8.3 million. This new talking-dog comedy’s debut earnings raised concerns, considering its production budget of $46 million.
