Part 7/9:
Given the current tracking numbers, a sub-$100 million opening would be a catastrophic blow, especially considering the enormous costs involved. Even at a more optimistic $115 million opening, the studio would likely be underwhelmed. Historically, comparable films like Captain America: Black Panther—which also launched a new phase of comic book storytelling—debuted above this level.
More worrying is that if the film earns less than Man of Steel (which had a lower initial gross, not adjusted for inflation), Warner Brothers might face a "full panic mode" scenario. Not only because of the financial implications but because the success or failure of this film could determine whether James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe is viable moving forward.