The Flash’s turbulent journey from inception to the so-so box office outing sees another chapter as it arrives on the Max streaming service next Friday, August 25.
While the speedster superhero, known for his ability to navigate through time, could not dodge the series of challenges thrown at the film itself.
From delays in production and release to fluctuating audience reception, the journey of The Flash into the theaters and subsequently onto screens worldwide has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. And now, with its expected drop on Warner Bros.’ semi-premier streaming platform, Max, it’s left for fans and critics alike to determine whether this is a worthwhile cinematic gamble or if it’ll be regarded as yet another blip in the ever-evolving tapestry of superhero films.
The initial hype surrounding The Flash is understandable. Social media was abuzz with positive impressions. Critics, too, largely found it to be an ambitious and earnest superhero tale, celebrating its multifaceted portrayal of doppelgangers, its multiverse concept brimming with cameos, and the awaited return of Michael Keaton’s Batman.
Directed by the acclaimed Andy Muschietti, famed for his work on IT, the movie featured an ensemble cast, with Ezra Miller reprising his role as the titular hero.
However, the path wasn’t all smooth. Not long after its theater debut, the movie faced its fair share of criticism. Clips on platforms like Twitter revealed questionable narrative choices, such as the Flash’s dubious interaction with a microwave and a baby, the surprising demise of central characters, and an unnecessarily cameo-overloaded finale. The said scenes, detached from their context, further deterred potential viewers. Coupled with the fact that lead actor Ezra Miller was embroiled in controversies ahead of the release, with Warner Bros. electing to stay silent on the matter, the film struggled.
Though positioned as a pivotal juncture in the DC Extended Universe, potentially reshaping the multiverse landscape as well as featuring characters like Keaton’s Batman and introducing Sasha Calle’s Supergirl, The Flash faltered at the global box office. Garnering a mere $268 million globally, the film barely made a mark against its colossal $200 million production budget – a figure not inclusive of marketing expenses.
The aftermath of its subpar box office performance mirrored that of another DC venture, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which faced similar challenges earlier in the year. The swift move to bring The Flash to Max, merely months post its theatrical release, seems reminiscent of Shazam’s trajectory.
With the subsequent release of Blue Beetle”in theaters, and with a stellar Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%, Warner Bros. perhaps perceives no incentive to delay The Flash’s streaming debut any longer. It’s speculated that the studio might be riding the potential surge in DC Universe searches post the Blue Beetle release.
For traditionalists who prefer physical copies, The Flash will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD shortly after, on Tuesday, August 29. Although it remains uncertain if the bonus features that accompany purchased digital and disc versions will be present on Max.
