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The Flash’s underwhelming performance, with its international gross barely surpassing expectations, cast doubt over whether other DC movies could find success at the box office. Despite the excitement surrounding Keaton’s return, the film’s failure to generate strong audience turnout marked a significant blow to DC’s cinematic ambitions.
Sophomore releases like Blue Beetle and Aquaman 2 seemed to be riding on the coattails of the earlier box office disappointment, but initial forecasts did little to inspire confidence. The lingering controversies, especially surrounding Amber Heard’s participation and the fallout from her legal battles, added another layer of complication for Warner Brothers’ marketing and audience engagement.