Part 4/8:
Looking at the broader context of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the track record has been dismal. Films like Wonder Woman 84 and The Suicide Squad, released during COVID-19, faced unique challenges and underperformed. But even outside of those anomalies, titles like Shazam 2 and Birds of Prey debuted with modest numbers and inevitably failed to turn a profit.
Given the film’s budget and marketing costs, Blue Beetle would need to gross roughly $100 million locally just to cover basic expenses, and significantly more to become profitable. The current industry buzz is not promising. Some sources estimate an opening as low as $22 to $30 million, further discouraging prospects for a strong haul.