The Batman flew into first place at the box office, raking in just over $128 million on its opening weekend, more than any other movie this year. The three-hour superhero movie, which stars Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, is only the second pandemic era flick to earn more than $100 million in a single weekend.
Clocking in at two hours and 56 minutes, the Matt Reeve’s directed reboot is one of the longest superhero movies ever made. The logistics of the film's lengthy run time meant that theaters had to limit the number of showtimes per day, making it difficult to maximize viewings and profits.
The film also catered to a mature audience with its violent and dark tone, likely stopping many ticket buyers from bringing their kids.
The opening still managed to fly past industry expectations, which predicted that the film would rake in closer to $100 million, thanks to positive reviews and strong word of mouth.
The Batman received an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A-" CinemaScore from audiences.
The film was hailed by critics as “enthralling,” and many praised Pattinson's dark and broody portrayal of the dark knight. The positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth recommendations helped the film become the second pandemic era flick to surpass $100 million in a single opening weekend, after Spider-Man: No Way Home, which had a $260 million opening weekend in December.
“It’s fun to see the public really embrace the movie,” Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros., told Variety. “That bodes well for its run on the big screen. It helps that the word of mouth is so strong.”
The blockbuster showing also represents one of the largest openings for the cape-crusader, which is impressive considering Batman is one of cinema's most popular franchises. Films based on the character have brought in more than $5 billion at the box office since Michael Keaton first portrayed the superhero in 1989s Batman.
Reportedly, Pattinson's salary for The Batman was only $3 million. The actor, who rose to fame by portraying Edward Cullen in the four-film Twilight saga, will likely return to the role. Warner Bros. has not yet officially announced a sequel to The Batman, but Reeves has confirmed that plans are already underway.
Source: CNN, ScreenRant