The DC superhero film “Blue Beetle” has emerged as the weekend’s top-grossing movie, raking in an estimated $25.4 million in ticket sales and knocking “Barbie” from its previous spot. “Barbie” had enjoyed a record-breaking run, becoming the highest grossing Warner Bros. release domestically and accumulating $567.3 million in North America.
Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” managed to hold strong in its fifth weekend, earning $21.5 million and maintaining its significant sales momentum. The film’s success has been remarkable, with its box office performance setting new records for Warner Bros.
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” the other half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, also continued to perform well despite its advanced run in theaters. In its fifth week, “Oppenheimer” earned $10.6 million, bringing its domestic total to $285.2 million. Notably, “Oppenheimer” has the distinction of being the highest-grossing film that has never secured the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office. The previous holder of this record was 2016’s “Sing,” which grossed $270.3 million.
“Oppenheimer” has enjoyed even greater success overseas, amassing a global gross of approximately $717.8 million by Sunday.
“Blue Beetle,” on the other hand, debuted on the lower end of already modest expectations for a DC Comics film. Originally intended for streaming-only release, Warner Bros. decided to release “Blue Beetle” in theaters during the late summer, a typically quieter period at the box office. The film stars Xolo Maridueña as the first Latino superhero in a DC movie.
Overall, the weekend’s box office results reflect the diverse range of films capturing audience attention, from established hits to new releases with different expectations.
