In a world dominated by superheroes, it's no surprise that Warner Bros. Discovery has its fair share of masked vigilantes. Indeed, it seems that even in a universe where the laws of physics can be bent and reality can be warped, superheroes are not immune to the harsh realities of market trends and box office ratings. This truth has struck a blow to DC’s superhero roster with the recent disappointments of their latest production, The Flash.

One of the most anticipated superhero films of the year, The Flash, recently opened in theaters, banking on its nostalgia factor and the global popularity of its titular character. The film's underwhelming reception, however, has cast a dark cloud over Warner Bros. Discovery's revenue projections.

Despite the global popularity of the Flash character and the hype surrounding the film, including rave reviews from critics, the movie only made a disappointing $55.1 million during its opening weekend, falling short of its projected earnings. Its total domestic earnings as of Monday were estimated at $64 million, a far cry from the initial hopes of the producers. The Flash's global debut now stands at $139 million. 

This troubling performance by The Flash continues a troubling trend that started after James Wan's Aquaman pulled in a billion at the global box office in 2018. Since then, each DCEU film has disappointed, with the most recent outings, Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, failing to impress audiences.

The Flash, despite all the critical acclaim and praise it received ahead of its launch and a production budget of $200-$200 million, might fail to achieve the needed earnings to cover its total costs, which is worrying when no live-action film since 2011 has opened in June with a local box office take of less than $75 million and grossed more than $22 million.

In the best example of the phrase "misery loves company", The Flash isn't the only blockbuster that struggled to find its footing. Pixar's Elemental also opened to a meager $29.5 million, the lowest debut in Pixar's history since November 1998, when A Bug's Life made just $33.5 million in its debut weekend.

The recent string of lackluster performances leading up to The Flash and including it might be taken as proof that the DCEU is and was always beyond redemption. In an ever-competitive superhero market, Warner Bros. Discovery might have been right to reboot everything and start from scratch.

Unfortunately, the drought might not end with the scarlet speedster's solo outing. With Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom scheduled to hit theaters on August 18 and December 20, respectively, Warner Bros. Discovery might have to prepare itself for more bad news before James Gunn officially takes over with the premiere of Superman Legacy some time in 2025.

If nothing else, Andrés Muschietti will be able to redeem himself with The Brave and The Bold as part of the incoming DCU lineup.