Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s highly-anticipated superhero flick Black Adam recently made headlines, but it’s not for the reasons fans had hoped. Reports have surfaced that Box Office Pro’s pre-release box office tracking estimates have repeatedly undervalued the Dwayne Johnson-led film. Many industry experts and movie buffs have labelled the situation both absurd and embarrassing.
To put the situation in perspective, Black Adam had a pre-release box office tracking estimate of $125 million. However, it ended up grossing $400 million. This outrageous disparity between estimates and results have caused many people to question the accuracy of pre-release box office tracking.
The most concerning aspect of the situation is the amount of damage it is doing to The Rock’s reputation. Johnson has always been a reliable box office draw and is easily one of the biggest names in the industry. The fact that his latest movie was so egregiously underestimated is concerning and could potentially hurt his standing in the industry.
Additionally, the Black Adam situation is clouding the successes of other movies opening at the same time as it. Wonder Woman 1984, for example, also had pre-release box office tracking estimates that were way off the mark. Wonder Woman 1984 was estimated at over $120 million but ended up grossing a whopping $800 million. While that’s still impressive, it falls short of Black Adam’s success.
The Rock’s team is doing their best to navigate the aftermath of this situation, but it’s an uphill battle. Their goal is to limit the damage done to The Rock’s reputation and prove that these boxes office estimates aren’t always reliable. They have a lot of work to do, and the process of damage control will likely take some time.
Obviously, the successes of Black Adam and Wonder Woman 1984 has been a major boon for the movie industry. While it’s great news, it’s unfortunate that it had to come at The Rock’s expense. It’s clear that Box Office Pro needs to refine its estimate system if it wants to remain a relevant source in an increasingly competitive market. The Rock’s reputation as a reliable box office draw is now at stake, and it’s up to his team to make sure that damage is minimized.