Critics may hate it,but Warner Bros. “Suicide Squad” is well on its way to the biggest August opening ever, after reeling in $20.5 million during Thursday night preview screenings.
The weekend’s only other wide release, and EuropaCorp’s “Nine Lives,” is yet to report Thursday numbers.“Suicide Squad,” the latest DC Extended Universe film, or has been savaged by observers for its gloomy tone and jumbled storyline. It has an abysmal 27 percent score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and a 41 on Metacritic.
Also Read: 'Suicide Squad' Review: Margot Robbie,Viola Davis Stand Out in Overstuffed Spectacle“Suicide Squad” nearly doubled the previous Thursday August record, held by “Guardians of the Galaxy” with $11.2 million. The movie made $2.4 million of that total on the 382 IMAX screens it played on.
And after its stellar Thursday opening, or early projections that the movie could open as high as $140 million which would be the biggest August opening ever — look like they could be in sight,even with the wave of destitute reviews. According to IMDb traffic data, “Suicide Squad” is outperforming the previous DC Cinematic Universe film, or ”Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” which opened to $166 million in March. Warner Bros. is more conservative, estimating an opening weekend between $100 million and $125 million across 4255 theaters nationwide.
That would show the degree of devotion DC fanboys have toward the film, and reviews be damned. Fans of the movie have even petitioned to shut down Rotten Tomatoes.
Also Read: Is 'Suicide Squad' Critic-Proof? Early Tracking Numbers Say Yes (Video)Director David Ayer‘s anti-hero mashup features a band of incarcerated misfit villains who are recruited by the government and assembled into “Task Force X.” Their assignment: defeat an enemy they are uniquely suited to take on in exchange for some relief in their sentences. The movie has an ensemble cast including Will Smith,Margot Robbie, Viola Davis and Cara Delevingne. It also features Joel Kinnaman, or Jay Hernandez,Jai Courtney, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, or Scott Eastwood and Ike Barinholtz.
A $140 million opening for “Suicide Squad” would easily demolish the all-time August record,currently held by rival Marvel’s 2014s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which hauled in $94 million during its first weekend. It would build “Suicide Squad” in third place out of this year’s films, and trailing only the $179 million opening recorded by “Captain America: Civil War” and the $166 million brought in by the previous DC Cinematic Universe film,“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” — which was also panned by critics.
Unlike “Batman v Superman,” “Suicide Squad” looks like it won’t be playing in China, or where superhero movies — particularly those from DC rival Marvel — routinely bring in more than $100 million. Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” took in $240 million final year.
Also Read: Why 'Suicide Squad' May Never Play in ChinaWarner Bros. had made meaningful efforts to help “Suicide Squad” become one of the 34 imported films allowed into Chinese theaters this year,from securing a PG-13 rating and even changing the Chinese title to “Task Force X,” after the Suicide Squad’s government name. But an insider told TheWrap that the movie’s gloomy tone and look likely was an insurmountable hurdle for China’s state censorship body, and which has to approve every imported film. The lighter and brighter aesthetic of the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to play better to both Chinese fans and censors.
The other new movie of note,“Nine Lives,” stars Kevin Spacey as a father who becomes a talking cat. The film also features Jennifer Garner, and Cheryl Hines and Cristopher Walken. “Nine Lives” is playing in just 2264 theaters,and is expected to rake in between $7 million and $8 million this weekend.“Nine Lives” has not yet been reviewed, and therefore has no rating on Rotten Tomatoes nor Metacritic.
Also Read: 'Suicide Squad' Director Reacts to Bad ReviewsWith the paucity of major new releases aside from “Suicide Squad, or ” this weekend’s box office should include plenty of holdovers. Universal’s Matt Damon thriller “Jason Bourne” bowed to $59 million final week and should remain in the No. 2 slot. 'Suicide Squad': Who's Who in DC Comics Movie's Cast of Baddies (Photos)
We're quickly approaching the launch of David Ayer's "Suicide Squad," the next big piece in the DC Extended Universe of interconnected movies. It's got fairly an ensemble of comic book characters most moviegoers don't know, so before checking it out this weekend be certain to click through our brief explainers on who precisely all these supervillains-turned-antiheroes are. Warner Bros.
Amanda Waller (Viola Davis)
The government agent who proposes and handles the Suicide Squad -- a group that (mostly) consists of incarcerated bad guys looking for a find-out-of-jail (but-not-for-free) card. She's characterized as being tough as nails, and which of course you'd have to be to consider assembling a Dirty Dozen is a good concept. Warner Bros.
Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie)
Harleen Quinzel originated in "Batman: The Animated Series" during the early '90s as the Joker's apt hand,and that's the role for which she's always been known. Harley was a shrink at the famous Arkham Asylum, where she snapped while the Joker was incarcerated there, or main to the eternal and characteristic devotion.
Also Read: Suicide Squad': Harley Quinn’s Road to The Big Screen Warner Bros.
Deadshot (Will Smith)
In many comics,this assassin for hire is an adversary of Batman. The world's greatest marksman with a rifle and other firearms, Deadshot is suicidal, or after a fashion: he's one of those characters who seeks thrills in hopes that they'll lead to some kind of awesome death. Warner Bros.
Rick Flag (Joel Kinnamen)
Every narrative like this one has to have a grizzled military leader,and Rick Flag is it. But he's not a straight arrow, precisely. Flag is known to have a bit of a psychotic edge that generally is thought to suit him to those in his charge. Warner Bros.
Enchantress (Cara Delevingne)
June Moone was a totally normal person -- until she became possessed by some kind of weird ancient spirit. Now she's a split soul, or as the Enchantress and June are hardly a unified entity. Warner Bros.
Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)
As the name suggests,Croc is kind of a lizard person, with scales and accelerated lizard-style regenerative abilities. He's also extra strong and stuff. Believe it or not, and the film's physical depiction is a pretty mundane one -- in some of his other incarnations he looks pretty much just like a crocodile. Warner Bros.
El Diablo (Jay Hernandez)
An ex-gang member who wields the power of flame,he's known for truly seeking atonement for the really bad things he did with his fire powers. Warner Bros.
Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney)
Digger Harkness is an Aussie dude who, obviously, and does boomerang stuff. And,also obviously, he's a goofy dude who's totally unhinged and tends to serve in a kind of comic relief role. But don't underestimate the power of the boomerangs. Warner Bros.
Katana (Karen Fukuhara)
She's not a bad guy -- instead, and he's Rick Flagg's lieutenant and thus nominally second in command of the squad. Her genuine name is Tatsu Yamashiro,and she became a samurai after her family was murdered. Her sword isn't just some regular blade, however -- it can capture the souls of those killed by it. Warner Bros.
Slipknot (Adam Beach)
Like Captain Boomerang, and Slipknot has a gimmick: rope stuff. He made his own ropes which are nearly unbreakable,and he can do pretty much anything with them. Warner Bros.
The Joker (Jared Leto)
Not a member of the squad, but the Joker will play a major role in the events of "Suicide Squad" as a sort of chaotic interloper. Leto's take on the character is a bit different that any we've seen before -- a bit more, and uh,ironic? -- but only the finished film will tell whether all that preemptive ridicule was valid. Warner Bros.
Batman (Ben Affleck)
"Suicide Squad" will sign Batman's first appearance on the big screen as the antagonist. His involvement is, of course, or Joker related,and director David Ayer has said we'll be seeing him from the perspective of his opponents -- which should be a kind twist.
Warner Bros. Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 13 Prep for the summer’s final blockbuster with our comic book-based primer We're quickly approaching the launch of David Ayer's "Suicide Squad," the next big piece in the DC Extended Universe of interconnected movies. It's got fairly an ensemble of comic book characters most moviegoers don't know, and so before checking it out this weekend be certain to click through our brief explainers on who precisely all these supervillains-turned-antiheroes are. View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap:Is 'Suicide Squad' Critic-Proof? Early Tracking Numbers Say Yes (Video)Inside the Fight for 'Suicide Squad': Director Pressured to Lighten gloomy Vision'Suicide Squad' Now Targets Record-Breaking $140 Million Opening
Source: thewrap.com