THE FLASH Director Andy Muschietti on Film’s Box Office Failure: ‘It’s the Result of a Mental Health Situation’

This is not a secret The Flash proved to be one of the most notable box office disappointments of 2023. Despite DC Studios co-CEO James GunnAfter initial approval from , calling it “one of the best superhero films” he had ever seen, the film failed to connect with fans and audiences.

With a global box office gross of $271 million against a production budget of $200 million to $220 million, it struggled to break even, let alone succeed.

Now, director Andy Muschietti recently spoke out for the first time about the film’s disappointing performance. During a recent interview in Spanish (Via Reel Anarchy), Muschietti addressed the challenges plaguing the film, citing a mix of external factors that were out of his control.

One thing Muschietti pointed out was Ezra Miller’s personal struggles as a significant obstacle, calling it “a mental health situation.” He elaborated:

“It went the way it went, let’s say. I mean, they were dealing with a mental health situation and, well, when you make a movie, there are things that you just can’t control.

“One of them is when actors have a PR crisis. You know, they got in trouble, got arrested in Hawaii, etc. Etc.”

Despite the controversy, Muschietti praised Miller’s work on the project, saying, “Overall I had a great experience with them. I’m a great actor, a great comedian. I was very surprised by them. But then, towards the end, I came across all this.”

Beyond the off-screen actor’s problems, Muschietti noted other factors that may have contributed to the film’s failure, including growing “superhero fatigue” among audiences and the challenge of creating a film that appeals to all data demographics.

The director said: “When a $200 million movie is made, the studio expects to bring everyone, even your grandmother, to the theater. And… I think [the movie] it failed in the sense that all four quadrants of the audience didn’t like it.”

He went on to highlight a lack of interest in Flash as a character, particularly among women:

“Half of those four quadrants – the two female quadrants – a lot of women didn’t care about Flash as a character. These are things that worked against the film and I gradually discovered them.

Despite poor box office results, The Flash received moderate praise from critics, with a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also has its share of defenders among fans.

Even though the movie wasn’t perfect, I ended up liking it and there was a lot to love about it.

As for the character’s future in the DC Universe, James Gunn has hinted at potential plans. When asked why similar projects Clay face have priority The Flash OR Wonder WomanGunn said they are “maintaining the pace of development” for Flash-related projects.

While The Flash performed underwhelmingly at the box office, Muschietti remains proud of the film, saying, “I am very satisfied with the film and highly recommend it.”