But if the studio is tracking $65M then they're low balling and more than likely will make more than that. All studios lower their expectations publicly on what they predict how much the film is going to debut. Batman Begins came out with JUST $48M in its 1st weekend. And this was BATMAN we're talking about. So, $65M means little and it more than a sign that's the lowest the studio expects it will debut. Either way $65 million is not a flop.
Most of you are so accustomed to these extraordinary 1st weekend debuts that you assume anything under $100M is an automatic flop. The reality is most summer films on its 1st weekend debut ranges between $55-75M and that's considered satisfactory.
Lastly, and this is where people get it CONFUSED... it is never how much it debuts in its 1st weekend, that's only telling part of the story... mostly how well it was hyped up, advertised and how much interests people initially wanted to see the film. The REAL QUESTION is will this film have LEGS or will get it swallowed up by the other upcoming blockbusters. WBs are banking on woman and girls to flock to see this in a larger than average number, which is very possible. This is an unique film as it is the 1st FEMALE superhero movie on the big screen so it is a plus AS WELL a huge risk. The risk factor is precisely why those studio executives lowballed to $65M. The 1st is the usual sexism factor, because action films in GENERAL that have female leads typically do not sell well. In fact, LUCY was one of the rare FEW female led action films that was considered a HIT and that debuted around $43M in its 1st weekend. The 2nd risk is, despite it supposedly being an iconic character, Wonder Woman in 2017 is not that HUGE of a brand name. Unless you read the comics, or a big DC animated Justice League fan (to which there's not really any animated solo films exclusively about her), the general AUDIENCE really do not know much of Diana Prince. You have to go as far back as the SEVENTIES to see Wonder Woman as a POP icon. That's FORTY YEARS AGO! So, there's that hurdle. It's different from Superman or Batman to which we are reminded endlessly of their backstories and so forth. It's easy to get with Marvel because it's the dominated brand to which all you have to say it's from Marvel and people are on board. With DC still finding it's footing, two commercially successful but critically bashed films, and leading off a superhero film starring a woman.... I can understand WB being apprehensive. But with all that said, $65M isn't viewed as a flop. That's a typical number for any summer film.
