The highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s “Shazam!” is finally coming to the streaming service, which will eventually be called Max, on May 23. While the first film was a box office success and received critical acclaim, the follow-up didn’t perform as well on both fronts. We’ll delve into the reasons “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” fell short of expectations in this post.
Box Office Performance
“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” chronicles Billy Batson’s (Zachary Levi and Asher Angel) exploits as he battles the Daughters of Atlas with the help of his foster siblings. who threaten to destroy the world. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Lucy Liu, and Helen Mirren, and is directed by David F. Sandberg.
Despite opening at number one at the box office, “Fury of the Gods” failed to live up to its predecessor’s success. The film barely cracked a $30 million debut, which is significantly lower than the first film’s opening weekend of $53 million. The movie’s production budget of $125 million makes its underperformance even more concerning.
Not only did “Fury of the Gods” perform poorly at the box office, but it also received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently has a 26% approval rating from leading reviewers. In comparison, the first film had an approval rating of 90%.
Reasons for Underperformance
There could be several reasons why “Fury of the Gods” didn’t perform as well as the first film. One reason could be that the novelty factor of the first film had worn off, and audiences weren’t as excited to see a sequel. Additionally, the film’s release was affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which could have impacted box office numbers.
Another possible reason for the underperformance could be the film’s tone. While the first film was praised for its humor and heart, the sequel seemed to focus more on action and spectacle, which could have alienated some fans. The film also introduced new characters and storylines, which could have made the plot feel convoluted.
If you missed “Fury of the Gods” in theaters and aren’t interested in signing up for an HBO Max account to stream the film come May, it’s also currently available to rent or buy on-demand on Prime Video, home to the original film. For those searching for a less expensive option to binge both movies, HBO Max is also available through Prime Video for a 7-day free trial.
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