Birds of Prey Opening Weekend Tracking Below Expectations

February 7, 2020

By ComingSoon.net Editor

Despite a lot of very positive buzz from critics and anticipation being high for the project, the latest spin-off in the DCEU Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) has hit a rocky start as early box office numbers are coming in and pointing to the Margot Robbie-led female team-up film bringing in less money than originally expected. (Via Deadline)

The Suicide Squad spin-off was originally projected to open between $50-55 million, but after Thursday night previews only brought in $4 million, Friday’s take looks to be around $12.6 million for a weekend total of around $33.5 million. This number is far below the minimum $50 million Warner Bros. was hoping to bring in, as well as the lower updated projection of $45 million after its Thursday night showings, falling short of similar projects such as Logan and Deadpool. However, given the critical and audience response being far more positive than many other projects in the franchise, including its predecessor, the studio is still holding out hope that the numbers will turn around on the R-rated, $85 million risk.

RELATED: Birds of Prey Review

Margot Robbie will be reprising her Suicide Squad role of Harley Quinn in the film, which also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, Ewan McGregor as the villain Black Mask, Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya. Ali Wong (Fresh Off the Boat), Robert Catrini (American Crime Story), Steven Williams (IT) and Derek Wilson (Preacher) round out the ensemble.

Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) will direct the spin-off, making her the first female Asian director to helm a superhero film. The script was penned by Christina Hodson (Bumblebee).

In the DC Comics, the Birds of Prey are a mostly female superhero team has included Oracle/Batgirl, Black Canary, Huntress, Catwoman, Hawkgirl, Power Girl, Poison Ivy, Vixen, and Katana, who was played by Karen Fukuhara in Suicide Squad. A short-lived live-action TV series titled Birds of Prey aired on The WB from 2002-to-2003 for 13 episodes, starring Ashley Scott as Huntress, Dina Meyer as Barbara Gordon/Oracle, Ian Abercrombie as Alfred Pennyworth and Mia Sara as Harley Quinn.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is in theaters now!