Directed by James Wan, Aquaman 2, aka Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, marks the final chapter of the DCEU before James Gunn eventually reboots the franchise. As a result, there wasn’t much hype surrounding the sequel to one of DCEU’s biggest commercial successes in the past decade. Despite getting off to a meddling start at the domestic box office, the film is impressing audiences in one major territory.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was poised to be another failure from the DCEU, capping off the franchise’s box office struggles that have come to define it. However, despite debuting to poor reviews, the film opened big in China. The film’s Chinese box office might just be the boost needed for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to avert a disastrous box office run and potentially emerge as a hit. Here is what you need to know about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s box office collections in China.
Aquaman 2 Opens Big at the Chinese Box Office
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, who comes into conflict with Black Manta as the latter tries to destroy his family and Atlantis. The film is a follow-up to 2018’s Aquaman, which grossed $1.152 billion at the global box office and became one of DCEU’s biggest hits. However, constant reshoots, an uncertain future, and actress Amber Heard’s legal woes were just some of the issues plaguing the sequel even before it premiered.
Consequently, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom got off to a modest start at the domestic box office, grossing $40 million. However, a big surprise came with the movie’s Chinese box office numbers. The film debuted at $30.4 million in China, almost on par with the film’s domestic collections. The sequel currently sits at a worldwide total of $120.1 million. However, with almost one-fourth of that figure coming from the Chinese box office, the film’s chances of becoming a hit could be bolstered if it continues to perform well in China.
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Can Aquaman 2 Become a Box Office Hit?
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s box office numbers certainly aren’t impressive when compared to its predecessor. The first installment debuted at $67.9 million at the domestic box office and a whopping $93.6 million in China, where it was released two weeks early. In contrast, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s opening weekend figures do not inspire hope of matching its predecessor’s over $1 billion collection. However, the sequel might just emerge as a modest hit if it performs well in China.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has already debuted bigger when compared to The Flash, which only managed to gross $13.7 million on its opening weekend and a total of $25.9 million in China. Furthermore, the film also outdid the Chinese opening weekend collection of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which debuted at $27.7 million in China and became the year’s highest-grossing superhero film worldwide.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was made on a budget of $205–215 million, which means it would at least have to gross over half a billion dollars to turn over some profit for the studio. Therefore, the film’s bright start in China certainly keeps those hopes alive. Although Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might not be a home run for Warner Bros, the film could still rise above expectations by delivering a profitable bottom line in an abysmal year for DC superheroes at the box office.
