Blue Beetle Surpasses Shazam! Fury of the Gods At U.S. Box Office

DC Studios’ Blue Beetle has achieved a significant milestone in its box office performance in the United States. After three weeks in theaters, the film has officially surpassed Shazam! Fury of the Gods in terms of domestic box office earnings. This achievement marks a notable turning point for the young superhero’s solo movie.

Blue Beetle Overtakes Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Blue Beetle, despite initially being the lowest-grossing 2023 DC Extended Universe film in the domestic market, has now outpaced Shazam! Fury of the Gods. On Labor Day, the film raked in $2.3 million, pushing its total domestic box office earnings to $58.7 million. This surpasses Shazam! 2’s entire U.S. run earnings of $57.6 million. The impressive performance of Blue Beetle suggests that there is still potential for further growth, with expectations of reaching a final domestic box office figure in the range of $70 million.

International Performance

While Blue Beetle has made significant strides in the U.S. market, internationally, Shazam! Fury of the Gods maintains its supremacy with earnings of $76.2 million compared to Blue Beetle’s $45.9 million. Despite its domestic success, the film has some ground to cover globally to match the international earnings of its DC counterpart.

Blue Beetle’s Storyline

Blue Beetle follows the journey of Jaime Reyes, a college graduate who returns home with aspirations for his future. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he becomes the unexpected host of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology known as the Scarab. This transformation grants him a powerful suit of armor with extraordinary abilities, setting him on the path to becoming the superhero known as Blue Beetle.

Future in the DC Universe

Despite its relatively low worldwide gross compared to other superhero films, Blue Beetle has a promising future within James Gunn‘s DC Universe. Gunn has expressed enthusiasm for the character, played by Xolo Maridueña, and has confirmed that Blue Beetle will play a significant role in future DCU projects. While the exact form of this involvement remains uncertain, there is potential for a sequel or appearances in other characters’ projects, as hinted by the film’s director, Ángel Manuel Soto.

George Lopez’s Impact

Blue Beetle’s struggles at the box office have been contrasted by positive reviews from critics and fans. Notably, George Lopez’s portrayal of Jaime’s Uncle Rudy has garnered acclaim. Interestingly, it was revealed that Lopez was not the initial choice for the role, as the character’s original concept envisioned someone of a different physical build. However, Lopez’s performance, complete with a distinctive look, including a mullet, contributed to the film’s humor and appeal.

Blue Beetle’s success in surpassing Shazam! Fury of the Gods at the U.S. box office is a significant achievement for the film and its portrayal of the emerging superhero Jaime Reyes. Despite challenges on the international front, the character’s future in the DC Universe remains bright, offering the potential for exciting developments and continued adventures in upcoming DC projects.