Did DC just experience a transition from Detective Comics to Dead Cinema? As the question hangs in uncertainty, Aquaman is collecting the final few bucks to pay off the bills for the universe as a reboot is lurking on the horizon.
However, similar to the fall of Rome, DC didn’t meet its destiny in a single day, but the entirety of 2023 contributed to this downfall altogether. The downfall isn’t just in terms of quality, but the finances were practically abysmal as well.
Shazam 2 has unquestionably been one of the worst films produced by DC. Despite its humorous tone, it fails to grab the attention of audiences. Even in terms of finances, it has been abysmal, with a budget of $125M, barely crossing the threshold of $132M to be profitable.
Then comes The Flash, which came and went like the scarlet Speedster as one of DC’s oldest projects. With numerous delays on and off-screen incidents, though it didn’t guarantee success, it guaranteed delays.
When it finally hit theaters, despite good reviews from critics (a rare occurrence for any DC film), the audience neglected it. It also came with the assurance that the whole universe is getting rebooted, and fans didn’t take it gently, especially as it meant bidding farewell to Ben Affleck, one of the best on-screen Batmans.
Blue Beetle then joined the lineup, providing a Latino spice to the universe but wasn’t meant to last long. With abysmal finances, it couldn’t dream of sustaining itself. With a low budget of $120M, it just crossed $128M, and though people loved the film for being different, it wasn’t enough to save the universe.
Now, it’s the ongoing phenomenon Aquaman 2, an attempt to build on the legacy of the only Billion Dollar DC film. Right now, it is definitely trembling in the Christmas market, and with $120M, DC’s headquarters won’t be celebrating Christmas this year.
So, yes, DC did face its biggest enemy in 2023, and that is definitely not Darkseid or the Joker but its finances and strategy. As they head towards a fresh start, a retake and rethink of their entire universe with two passionate people, fans already hope that it goes well.
2024 will mark the start of the new DC universe as the journey comes to an end for the DCEU. Though it was bittersweet, it was indeed a fun and passionate one for the fans.