Summary
- Fan-poll data shows that DC's Blue Beetle could break the streak of poorly-received movies in the shared universe and have a chance to succeed.
- Despite limited marketing, Blue Beetle has generated excitement among fans and is the most anticipated movie according to Rotten Tomatoes' August movie fan polls.
- Blue Beetle offers a self-contained story with lower stakes and lower budget compared to other superhero movies, which may appeal to audiences and help it commercially.
Fan-poll data from Rotten Tomatoes reveals that the upcoming Blue Beetle may finally give DC's shared universe a critical hit after several poorly-received big-screen projects. After the DCEU started relatively strong with the Henry-Cavill-led Man of Steel, the franchise quickly found itself in a tough position as the should-be hit Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice failed to live up to its exciting premise. Despite a few hits - namely Wonder Woman, Shazam!, and The Suicide Squad - DC never reached the same consistency in critical reception the MCU has largely enjoyed. Most recently, Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash have received poor to middling reviews.
Fortunately, that streak may be broken soon. Rotten Tomatoes August movie fan polls have revealed the five movies fans are most excited to see this month. The site took data from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and DC's Blue Beetle came out on top. The movie was the number one most anticipated movie from fans on Facebook and Twitter and took the number two spot on Instagram on YouTube. Rounding out the rest of the top five are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Meg 2: The Trench, Gran Turismo: The Movie, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter. Despite limited marketing, Blue Beetle clearly has fans excited.
Why Blue Beetle Could Break DC's Movie Bomb Streak
Fan excitement clearly isn't a direct indicator of positive critical reception, but it does bode well for the movie getting people into the theater and having a chance to succeed if its quality matches the lead-up hype. With multiple strikes currently ongoing, marketing for Blue Beetle has been limited compared to other DC projects, but Blue Beetle fans have taken promotion into their own hands. The movie, which features the first DC Universe character (despite the movie itself not being part of the rebooted DCU) according to DC Studios co-head James Gunn, has several things going for it that may help it find an audience.
A common criticism of superhero movies by both Marvel and DC is that too many projects are focused on setting up future stories. Blue Beetle is set to buck that trend, staying more self-contained and delivering a story with lower, more personal stakes. Both may be appealing to those either not interested or caught up with the DCEU.
Finally, while specific numbers aren't yet available, Blue Beetle is reported to have a much lower budget than most tentpole superhero movies, which will help it commercially, if not critically. After The Flash's historical box-office bomb, DC will surely appreciate if Blue Beetle can find a solid return on investment. If it can, and if audiences find a lot to like in the new character, Blue Beetle will be set to have a long, prosperous future as Gunn's new DC Universe begins in 2025.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
