Part 2/10:
Initially, projections from Box Office Pro indicated that Shang-Chi would earn between $35 million and $55 million during its opening. This range was consistent across multiple sources for months leading up to the release. Mainstream media, however, amplified a narrative suggesting the film would "flop" or at best, set Labor Day box office records at lower-than-expected numbers. Many outlets were quick to highlight headlines claiming that Shang-Chi would underperform compared to other MCU entries, despite the projections being based on industry analysis and tracking data.