How Does DC Continue To Find Success In Film And Television?
DC Films sure does look a lot different in 2022 than in 2013 when Man of Steel first launched and gave us the first real glimpse at what a connected DC universe may look like. Fans have poured their souls out on social media, being both supportive and critical of the many choices along the way. DC may be in for a massive overhaul now that Discovery has taken over, but the question that remains on everyone's mind is, how can DC continue to find success?
Answering that question is a little more complicated than the standard question because it really comes down to what you prefer. More fans seem to be gravitating towards the later installments, which have infused the brand with more humor and more insane stories, such as The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. Both coincidentally are from the crazy mind of James Gunn. While The Suicide Squad did not do great at the box office (and some will point to this, meaning it was a bomb), there were factors involved. One being it was R-Rated. The movies are often a family affair, and this was definitely not a movie for children. The second is the day and date release via HBO Max amidst a Covid surge in the US. According to Samba TV, it was the most-watched DC film via HBO Max, with 2.8 million views during the opening weekend and 4.7 over the first three weeks.
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The 4.7 stands higher than Wonder Woman 1984 (3.9) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (3.2). While Zack Snyder's Justice League is an epic movie, it hurts this film because it has no box office run to fall back on. Certainly, streaming numbers are by no means a call to action on whether the final product is good or not, but it sure does lend some insight as to where viewers' minds are at in terms of what they are seeking to watch. Wonder Woman 1984, Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, and the original Suicide Squad movie are the four lowest reviewed films in the DCEU.
That does set a precedent coming into an epic installment like Zack Snyder's Justice League, and we all know the debacle of the reshoots that turned the 2017 film into a disaster. While Suicide Squad itself was a financial success but not a critical one or audience hit, the brand seems to have found its footing with James Gunn. While Box Office is significantly lower than Suicide Squad in 2016, audiences have been vocal about the fact The Suicide Squad is a vast improvement in quality.
All the data and information show that fans undoubtedly enjoy creative visions. WB had a notorious reputation for meddling during the early going and since then has reaped the rewards when keeping their hands out of the creative process. Joker, Aquaman, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker are all seen as independent creative processes where the writers and directors were able to see their vision through with resounding success with the audiences. WW84 seems to be the only film in recent years met with skepticism, but even the one point of optimism is that it was undeniably the vision Patty Jenkins wanted for the film. Unfortunately, it just seems like that vision did not translate well with the audience.
WBD must continue to give its directors the freedom to pitch their visions and see them through. Of course, we want to minimize the number of times writers and directors are painted in a negative way for doing this, but that does seem to somewhat come with the territory. The one way DC has set themselves apart with Birds of Prey and now The Suicide Squad is that they are not afraid to lean heavily into that R Rating and still aim for the classic cinematic comic experience we all love with Zack Snyder's Justice League and Shazam!.
DC is at the highest point they have ever been at in terms of creative output, post-Christopher Nolan and while fully embracing the depths of their roster. If the goal is to have a DC Kevin Fiege-type who is an overseer of all things DC, I hope the one thing that does not occur is a complete turnaround in terms of creative output. They seem to be on the right path, with various voices like James Gunn, Cathy Yan, Christina Hodson, James Wann, and Patty Jenkins leading the way. Say what you want about any film in the library; each one has a unique style and that, to me, is what makes DC such a unique brand overall.
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Source(s): Deadline