Summary

  • The Flash, despite its initial box office failure, is finding success on digital platforms, leading the video-on-demand charts on iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu.
  • The ongoing success on digital can help alleviate some of the damage done by the movie's disastrous box office run and attract fans who didn't see it in theaters.
  • However, even with digital success, The Flash is predicted to lose over $200 million and is unlikely to become profitable. The movie would need to make around $200 million from digital sales alone to break even, which is unlikely.

DC's The Flash finally finds success after its historic box office bomb, but the movie still won't make a profit. Ezra Miller stars as Barry Allen in The Flash, the first movie for DC's speedster in history. The Flash tells the story of Barry going back in time to save his mother from being murdered, but when he returns to the present, everything is different, similar to the classic Flashpoint comic book story, but with a unique spin that brings multiverse characters like Michael Keaton's returning Batman and Sasha Calle's Supergirl into the fray.

Despite being praised by several celebrities and being hailed by DC Studios' co-CEO James Gunn as one of the best superhero movies ever before it was released, The Flash became a historic box office bomb. According to the box office tracking website Box Office Mojo, The Flash's worldwide total currently stands at $268.1 million, severely underperforming. There are several aspects that contributed to The Flash bombing, going from Miller's controversies, the DCEU being rebooted with the new DC Universe, The Flash's controversial cameos, and more. However, while the film had a terrible box office, it appears that not all is bleak for The Flash.

The Flash's Digital Success Can Help Balance Its Box Office Results

Batman, The Flash, Supergirl, and cash.

The Flash has hit digital, and according to Indie Wire, the DC movie is leading the video-on-demand charts. The Flash leads all three major VOD platforms, which include iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu. At $19.99 per purchase, The Flash's ongoing success on digital can help the DC film alleviate some of the damage done by the movie's disastrous box office run. With The Flash only achieving $268.1 million at the worldwide box office, there are many DC fans that did not show up for the speedster in theaters, meaning the movie has a lot of potential on digital as fans watch The Flash for the first time.

Why The Flash's Digital Success Isn't Likely To Totally Fix Its Box Office Bomb

The Flash running with superspeed in 2023's The Flash

While The Flash being successful on digital could help the movie recoup some of its losses, the DC film simply can't fix its box office bomb. The Flash is predicted to lose over $200 million, which makes sense, given the film has a reported budget of around $220 million. The rule of thumb for a movie to be successful is that it needs to do a little over double its production budget, and with The Flash's worldwide box office sitting at a measly $268.1 million, it is very unlikely that the movie will become profitable thanks to its digital release.

An amount around the $400-$450 million mark would be needed for The Flash to break even. The DC movie would need to make around $200 million from digital sales to be able to even get out of the red, which is a tall order in itself, let alone The Flash turn in a profit for the studio. Based on the numbers and the poor public opinion around the movie, The Flash's digital success is unlikely to fix the movie's box office bomb.

Source: Indie Wire