The Flash had a disappointing opening weekend at the box office, falling short of Warner Bros.’ expectations. The superhero film generated $55.1 million over the three-day weekend and $64 million over the four-day Juneteenth holiday weekend in 4,234 theaters. The studio had anticipated a higher opening of $70-75 million. In comparison, Elemental, a Disney and Pixar film, debuted with $29.5 million over three days and $33.3 million over four days, securing the second spot. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse came in third, earning $27.8 million over the three-day weekend and $32.4 million over four days.
The controversies surrounding The Flash were also a factor in its underperformance. Lead star Ezra Miller has faced legal issues, including accusations of physical abuse, disorderly conduct, harassment, and burglary between 2020 and 2022.
In April 2022, Ezra Miller acknowledged that they were seeking treatment for “complex mental health issues.” In a statement provided to People Magazine, Miller addressed the controversies surrounding them.
“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller said. “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”