Warner Bros. is getting some disappointing news this morning as we learnBirds of Prey, starringMargot Robbieas head mischief-maker Harley Quinn, underperformed big time during its February 7 opening weekend. The action-packed, female-led film from directorCathy Yanincorporates characters from the belovedBirds of PreyDC Comics franchise and features the star power ofEwan McGregor,Rosie Perez,Mary Elizabeth Winstead,Jurnee Smollett-Bell, andChris Messina.
Birds of Prey, which reportedly cost around $80 million to make, was expected to earn somewhere between $45 and $50 million. After Friday’s numbers, expectations were adjusted, with hopes for a $35 million opening weekend.Birds of Preyearned just $33 million domestic this weekend, less than the adjusted expectations following Friday’s $13 million opening. This makesBirds of Preythe DCEU film with the worst opening weekend. The Harley Quinn-focused film averaged $7,849 per screen and was shown on 4,236 screens nationwide. Overseas, the feature film opened to $48 million in 78 markets on 22,362 screens. The strongest turnouts for international viewers was seen in Latin America as well as the UK and Russia — traditionally strong locations for DC fans. The top five highest-earning markets were Mexico ($4.6M), Russia ($4M), UK ($3.9M), Brazi ($2.8M), and France ($2.7M). As it heads into its first full week in theaters,Birds of Prey’s worldwide total sits at $81.25 million.
TheBirds of Preyopening weekend numbers might come as a surprise consideringinitial critical reactionswere enthusiastic. Praise was plentiful for the performances turned in by the cast, including Robbie, as well as the energetic fight sequences and vivid, lively sets and attention-grabbing costume design. Heading into its opening weekend,Birds of Preywas armed with a B+ CinemaScore and an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. All things considered, this unofficialSuicide Squadsequel (a film which opened to $133 million domestic and carried a PG-13 rating) was poised for success. However, it’s possible the film’s R-rating was more prohibitive than anticipated, holding back teens — and especially younger female audiences — from enjoying all the film had to say about championing female perspectives and showing women in their full power as DCEU heroes.
As we pan out, we seeBirds of Preystill managed to come out on top this weekend, outdoing previous box office winnerBad Boys For Life, which came in at number two with $12 million domestic. The 35% dip from last weekend might have something to do with losing 175 screens nationwide, butBad Boys For Lifeis undeterred as it averaged $3,401 per theater. To date, the threequel has nabbed $166 million domestic and has a worldwide total of $336 million. At number three is1917, theSam MendesWWI epic poised to win big at the 2020 Oscars on Sunday night. The Universal release managed $9 million here in the U.S. this weekend and currently boasts an impressive $132.5 million domestic total. At number four is fellow Universal releaseDolittle. Overcoming the sting of a near-universal pan from critics,Dolittlehas triumphed once again with $6.7 million in its fourth weekend and brings its domestic total up to $64 million. Holding strong at number five isJumanji: The Next Level, which added $5.5 million to its domestic total, bringing it up to a whopping $298 million as it passes nine weeks in theaters.
Elsewhere in the box office top 10, Oscar-nominated filmsKnives OutandLittle Womenhold strong in eighth and ninth place, respectively. Lionsgate’s runaway hitKnives Outearned $2.4 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $159 million.Little Women, which passed the $100 million domestic total mark earlier this week, brought in $2.3 million domestic this weekend.Guy Ritchie’sThe Gentlemenis holding on at number six with $4.2 million andStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkermake a now-rare appearance in the top 10 at number 10 with $2.2 million earned domestically.
For more, check out our interviews withtheBirds of Preycastanddirector Cathy Yan.Plus, read up on our explainer on theBirds of Preycredits sceneand read ourBirds of Preyreview.
Birds of Prey
$33,250,000
Bad Boys For Life
$12,005,000
$166,327,207
$9,000,000
$132,542,909
$6,660,000
$63,959,985
Jumanji: The Next Level
$5,530,000
$298,460,411
The Gentlemen
$4,180,000
$26,851,981
Gretel & Hansel
$3,510,000
$11,534,240
Knives Out
$2,350,000
$158,941,650
Little Women
$2,325,000
$102,673,143
Rise of Skywalker
$2,226,000
$510,547,478
