Blue Beetle is scuttling toward a $17M domestic opening according to early box office predictions

Last Updated on July 24, 2023

DC’s Blue Beetle is skittering toward an unfortunate opening at the box office if the latest predictions are accurate. According to Boxoffice Pro, the superhero film starring Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes is tracking for the lowest opening weekend in the DC Extended Universe’s history. The site predicts a $12M-$17M domestic take for Blue Beetle’s opening gambit. Analysts also expect a domestic total of $27M-$55M for the film’s domestic run, a number that places Blue Beetle on the low end of DC‘s rickety ladder. However, it’s possible that the numbers are wrong, and Blue Beetle will open stronger than anticipated. We’ve seen underdog films blow past predictions, and positive word of mouth could boost the film’s performance.

Blue Beetle stars Xolo Maridueña as Jamie Reyes, a recent college grad who returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. “As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab,” reads the official Blue Beetle synopsis. “When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.”

In addition to Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai), Blue Beetle also stars Adriana Barraza (Rambo: Last Blood) as Jaime’s grandmother, Nana, Damían Alcázar (Narcos: Mexico) as his father, Elpidia Carrillo (Mayans M.C.) as his mother, Bruna Marquezine (God Save the King) as Jenny Kord, Raoul Max Trujillo (Sicario) as Carapax, with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) as Victoria Kord, and George Lopez (Rio) as Jaime’s Uncle Rudy. The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (American Horror Stories) as Jaime’s sister, Milagro, and Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) as Dr. Sanchez. Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) directed Blue Beetle from a Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) screenplay.

Unfortunately for Blue Beetle, the SAG-AFTRA strike prevents a traditional promotion cycle leading up to the film’s release. Blue Beetle is disadvantaged without actors on hand to promote the film, and DC refuses to push the movie to 2024 (unlike Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom).

Speaking as someone excited to see Blue Beetle, I hope the movie is good and that if people dig it, they sing its praises online. Fans could be the film’s most significant ally when Hollywood is in unrest. We’ll see.

Blue Beetle comes to cinemas on August 18, 2023.