DC Comics’ sequel of “Shazam” is projected to open at No. 1 in the box office with $30 million in opening weekend ticket sales, despite falling short of the original’s $53.5 million opening weekend earnings. Critics’ approval rating on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes is also lower, with the sequel earning a 26% approval rating compared to the original’s 71. The sequel’s production budget is $125 million, $25 million more than its predecessor’s.
The film features Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Lucy Liu and Helen Mirren in its cast. The film’s release represents a throwback to DC Comics’ earlier era, as it was conceived prior to the tenure of new DC Studios leaders Peter Safran and James Gunn, who have expressed greater confidence in the upcoming Ezra Miller-starring “The Flash.” At any rate, the film has garnered mixed reviews, with some finding the movie lacking compared to its predecessor’s fun factor.
