From a likable lead to an interesting world, and positive feedback from the first film, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” genuinely has what it takes to break DC’s streak of box office failures. Following the back-to-back disappointments that were “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” and “Blue Beetle,” James Wan’s latest DC flick has the positive momentum that Warner Bros. desperately needs.
While December is relatively packed, “The Lost Kingdom” is one of the few films this crowded winter to appeal to older, male-identifying audiences. A majority of the Christmas slate is dedicated towards children and families, with projects like Illumination’s “Migration” and Warner Bros.’ very own “Wonka,” which is still a huge question mark in terms of profitability and viability. “Aquaman” will definitely find an audience with children and teenagers, especially as the Christmas holidays kick off. The first film, which was released on December 21, 2018, debuted with an average $67 million but managed to have strong legs, remaining in the top five until February 2019. While a bulk of the film’s profits manifested thanks to international receipts, it’s impossible to ignore the competition that “Aquaman” faced stateside thanks to “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Bumblebee,” with the latter vying for the same audience as the DC film.
As far as large-scale, action-oriented blockbusters go, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is the only show in town this winter. And with “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” becoming billion-dollar grossers thanks to similar release dates over the last two years, it’s near-guaranteed that “The Lost Kingdom” will become one of this year’s biggest films.
Now, can Wan and Momoa’s sophomore flick crack a billion? It’s complicated.
