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Despite strong critical and audience reception, Warner Bros.\/DC\u2019s \u201cBirds of Prey\u201d is proving not to be the February box office success industry observers had hoped. After grossing $13 million on Friday from 4,236 screens, the film is now estimated to earn an opening weekend of $34 million, which would be the lowest start for a DC Comics adaptation since the $5.3 million opening of the box office bomb \u201cJonah Hex\u201d in 2010.<\/p>\n
Heading into the weekend, trackers had been projecting an opening weekend of $55 million while Warner Bros. was more conservative with a $45 million start. An opening at that lower figure might not have been the foundation for a particularly strong February box office, but still would have been a decent return on investment for Warner. Reports on the budget for \u201cBirds of Prey\u201d have varied but have tended to be around $85-95 million.<\/p>\n
Also Read:<\/strong> Why Harley Quinn Became a Bernie Sanders Supporter in ‘Birds of Prey’<\/p>\n But a $32 million opening would make it difficult for \u201cBirds of Prey\u201d to even cross $100 million domestically, something that should be a given for any DC film and especially one that has a known star in Margot Robbie returning to her breakthrough role as Harley Quinn after 2016\u2019s \u201cSuicide Squad.\u201d Reception for the film has been generally positive too, with an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes along with a B+ on CinemaScore and a 4\/5 on Postrak.<\/p>\n Instead, \u201cBirds of Prey\u201d is turning out to be similar to \u201cDoctor Sleep\u201d in that both Warner Bros. releases earned thumbs up from those who saw it but fell well short of both analyst projections and studio investment. With no other major films coming until May, Warner Bros. faces more pressure on summer releases like \u201cIn the Heights,\u201d \u201cScoob!\u201d and \u201cWonder Woman 1984\u201d to deliver.<\/p>\n Also Read:<\/strong> ‘Birds of Prey’ Director Cathy Yan Wants to See a Harley Quinn – Poison Ivy Film as Much as You Do (Video)<\/p>\n \u201cBirds of Prey\u201d was the only new wide release this weekend, so holdovers fill up the rest of the charts. Sony\u2019s \u201cBad Boys for Life\u201d is estimated to earn $12 million in its fourth weekend to bring it to a total of $166 million, while Oscar favorite \u201c1917\u201d is projected to earn $9 million in its sixth wide weekend, giving the Universal\/Dreamworks film a total of $132 million.<\/p>\n Universal\u2019s \u201cDolittle\u201d is in fourth with $6.5 million in its fourth weekend and a $63.8 million total, while Sony\u2019s \u201cJumanji: The Next Level\u201d is on the verge of crossing $300 million domestically with $5.5 million in its ninth weekend in theaters. Another Sony film, Oscar nominee \u201cLittle Women,\u201d became the fifth film in this year\u2019s Best Picture race to cross $100 million in North America this past Wednesday and is projected to add $2.4 million this weekend.<\/p>\n Read original story \u2018Birds of Prey\u2019 Lays an Egg at Box Office, Set for Worst DC Opening Since \u2018Jonah Hex\u2019 At TheWrap<\/p>\n<\/div>\n