In a chilly reception at the Christmas box office, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom“ made a splash with a debut of $28 million, according to box office reports. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 blockbuster “Aquaman“ had a challenging start over the holiday weekend.
The film, starring Jason Momoa as the titular hero, struggled to compete with other holiday releases, and its opening numbers were noticeably lower than expected. Despite its significant marketing campaign and high hopes from fans, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” faced stiff competition from other new releases and some lingering challenges in the movie industry due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Warner Bros. production, directed by James Wan, follows Aquaman as he embarks on a new underwater adventure to uncover the lost history of Atlantis. Despite the film’s visually stunning underwater sequences and an action-packed storyline, it appears that it couldn’t lure audiences to theaters in the same numbers as its predecessor.
The holiday season usually brings a boost to box office numbers, but “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” struggled to find its footing amid a crowded lineup of films, including family-friendly animated features and other blockbuster releases. This competition, combined with ongoing health concerns, may have impacted the film’s initial performance.
Industry analysts had initially projected a higher opening weekend figure for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” but it will be interesting to see how the film performs in the coming weeks as more viewers have the opportunity to see it. Word of mouth and positive reviews could potentially boost its box office performance over time.
Despite the challenging start, the studio remains hopeful that the film will gain momentum and achieve success at the box office, much like its predecessor did in the long run. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is set to continue its underwater journey in theaters, hoping to ride a tide of positive audience feedback as the holiday season continues.
As the holiday season progresses, moviegoers can expect more films vying for their attention in the ever-competitive Christmas box office. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom“ may yet find its place among the season’s hits as it swims deeper into its theatrical run.